Galatians Chapter 3 Commentary

This is a very important chapter, as it deals with righteousness by faith — the most important topic in the Bible. Many people claim to know Jesus, and many claim to be Christians, yet they still try to earn heaven through their own works. In this Galatians chapter 3 commentary, we see that many Christians still believe their works will secure them a place in heaven.

Many non-Christians are also legalists at heart — they believe that following rules can get someone into heaven. Galatians chapter 3 tells us that we do need to obey God’s law, but we cannot obey the Ten Commandments unless God gives us the power to do so. What is this power called? Who gives it? Where can I get it for myself? Let’s find out.

GA 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

The belief that one is saved by keeping the law, or by works, troubled Paul so deeply — Paul, who was led and inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the book of Galatians — that he says someone who claims to be a Christian while trying to be saved by works is actually disobedient to the truth. They can keep every rule in the Bible, yet if they deeply believe their works are enough for salvation, they remain entirely disobedient to the truth of the gospel.

Here we see the most important topic, of which we can only scratch the surface in this commentary: righteousness by faith. In Galatians chapter 3, it says that Jesus was openly and evidently crucified. When someone tries to be saved by works, they effectively deny the cross of Jesus — because if works alone were sufficient, there would have been no need for Jesus to die on the cross at all. The death of Jesus on the cross is absolute proof that we cannot be saved by works. If it were possible to save ourselves, Jesus would never have needed to die. Because we truly cannot save ourselves, our works should only ever flow from our love for Jesus — they cannot be brought forward as currency to purchase salvation.

GA 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Can the Holy Spirit be earned through works? No. It is, in a sense, an offense to God to think that we gain entrance to heaven and receive the Holy Spirit through our own efforts. Pagans used to believe this, and sadly, many Christians today still hold onto remnants of this pagan-influenced teaching. How offensive it is to God to think our works earn us a place in heaven, when our works should only ever be done out of love for Jesus.

In this Galatians chapter 3 commentary, we see that intention is everything. Do you perform good works in order to be saved, or because you are already saved and want to express your love for Jesus? Even then, it is God who works through us.

GA 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Some Christians in Galatia had originally heard and accepted the message of salvation by faith. But sometimes, churches have preachers who instead teach salvation by works. After hearing such sermons repeatedly, people begin to believe this false message, and the church becomes corrupted by legalism.

Those who still believe there is inherent goodness within human beings will inevitably rely on “the flesh,” as Paul puts it. The flesh is largely about believing oneself to be good and taking pride in that belief. As this works-based message of salvation spreads through many churches, those who are not firmly grounded in the truth of righteousness by faith become legalists, and the church becomes corrupted as a result.

GA 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

GA 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Legalism thinks so highly of human ability that it leads people to believe they can perform miracles apart from God — that humanity has enough inherent power to save itself and work wonders on its own. Some people hold both beliefs simultaneously, which is still a false gospel: they say they’re saved by faith, yet still believe they must contribute some part of their own salvation through works. But we are saved by faith, apart from the works of the law. Good works — loving God and others — flow naturally because of, and with the intention of, loving God and others, not in order to earn salvation.

GA 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Abraham was accepted by God because he believed and was saved by faith. God accepted Abraham’s faith even before Abraham left his country to go where God had called him. Faith naturally produces works, but those works are accomplished by God, automatically, once we receive this power called righteousness by faith — because we have no righteousness of our own.

This is where we must come to realize that only God possesses true righteousness. Until we understand this, we cannot receive righteousness from God, because as long as we cling to our own works and our own sense of righteousness, we cannot receive His. We must first recognize our own nothingness, and then ask God daily to give us His righteousness.

GA 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Here we see, as Galatians chapter 3 makes clear, that part of the church operates by faith, while another part operates by works. Can the works-based side of the church enter heaven? No — the Bible says we cannot save ourselves. Only by trusting in the merits of Jesus can we be saved, since our own works are tainted and unworthy on their own.

But can a Christian who believes in Jesus, yet claims to be saved by works, enter heaven? No — because they ultimately trusted in themselves rather than in God. They believed their good works would bring salvation, as long as they kept doing them. This is a deception. Who we are matters far more than what we do. Who we are — our love, kindness, forgiveness, humility, sincerity, and loyalty — is what will ultimately enter heaven. A wicked person can perform good works, and yet their character can still be marred by many flaws.

GA 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

People from every nation will be saved if they are people of faith. I also believe that all who are led by the Holy Spirit — who follow that still, small voice saying, “this is the way, walk in it” — will make it to heaven. All those who do things for God and others without expecting anything in return are of God.

GA 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

There is a blessing in this life for those who give God all the glory and recognize that only God has the power to grant righteousness by faith. Their works are accomplished through God’s power, out of love for others and for Him. Their works are not tainted by selfishness, by expecting something in return, or by expecting salvation as payment for what they’ve done.

GA 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

GA 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

No one is justified by the works of the law. Those who believe they are saved by works must keep every single requirement of the law without a single fault — and this is the curse, since God requires absolute perfection from those attempting to be saved by works alone, which is impossible. For this very reason, God shows us another way: His own righteousness.

GA 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

The law points us to our sin; faith shows us the way to receive power over sin. This is righteousness by faith.

GA 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

We do not need to die on a cross and suffer as Jesus did — He took our sins upon Himself so that we could be set free from the curse of the law, since, as the Bible says, the wages of sin is death.

GA 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

We can now all come to Jesus exactly as we are, receive forgiveness, and ask for His power to work in our lives — to transform us and accomplish His will through His righteousness.

GA 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

GA 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

All Christians are, in a spiritual sense, children of Abraham — the children of the one who had faith and believed God, whose faith God accepted apart from any works.

GA 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

The law cannot be done away with. As long as sin and life exist on earth, the law of God will remain binding on all humanity.

GA 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

God provided a way out of the condemnation brought by the law, which is death. The law itself cannot save us — it can only tell us what sin is.

GA 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

People in Old Testament times were saved by faith, just as we are today. In Old Testament times, people were saved by faith in the Jesus who was yet to come. Today, Jesus has already come, and we can ask forgiveness through His loving sacrifice on the cross.

GA 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Just as one man’s sin brought condemnation, one man — Jesus, who is also God — paid the price for all humanity. This sacrifice is sufficient on its own. Our works cannot add anything to it. Our works simply show gratitude for Jesus and the great love with which He loved us.

GA 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

The law cannot save us — it only tells us what is right and wrong. Paul says that if he had not read in the law “You shall not covet,” he would never have known what sin truly was.

GA 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

This settles the argument for salvation by works, since here the Bible plainly states that we are all sinners, all concluded under sin.

GA 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

This does not mean Old Testament believers were saved by works. Rather, since the sacrifice of Jesus had not yet been completed, they showed their faith in the coming Savior by offering an animal sacrifice each time they sinned.

GA 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
GA 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

This does not mean the law has been abolished. It says we are no longer under the “schoolmaster” — which is the same as saying we are no longer “under the law.” Being “not under the law” means we no longer need to perform sacrifices to demonstrate our faith in Jesus. We are no longer bound by that particular requirement.

GA 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

GA 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Our faith is expressed through baptism, when our old sins are put away and Jesus gives us new life. Yet many go through the act of baptism without truly understanding this crucial truth, and they emerge from the baptismal waters still believing, deep down, that their works will save them.

GA 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Everyone who believes in Jesus will be saved, regardless of what country they come from. There is no racism in Jesus, since all nations are, in truth, one nation — one earth that God has created.

GA 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

All Christians are spiritual children of Abraham, the father of faith, who believed what God told him and was accepted by God before he even set out on his journey. Jesus truly loves you — what is keeping you from accepting Him into your heart right now? Repeat after me: “Father God, please forgive my sins, come into my heart, give me Your righteousness. Heal and bless me, please, in the name of Jesus. Amen.”