Galatians 3:1-5 says,...

Today's verse are Galatians 3:1-5, which read,

v.1 - You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

Paul is bewildered that the Galatians have followed the way of Peter temporarily and the Judaizers.  In the face of Paul speaking publicly about the death and resurrection of Jesus, they have turned to another gospel.  He calls them "foolish" for following conversations in private instead of the truth spoken in public.
v.2, 3 - This is the only thing I want to find out from you:  did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Paul calls them "foolish" again.  It is a "foolish" thing they are doing.  A simple question:  how did you receive salvation and therefore the Spirit?  Was it through what you did and your good works or was it from hearing with faith what Christ did on the cross?  The obvious answer to the question of salvation is that it is about what Jesus did.  Therefore,....we have received this gift but now we continue on under our own power?  "Jesus got me over the hump but now I'm good again and don't need Him" could be the thought or action here that Paul is pointing out.

v.4,5 - Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain?  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

"...suffer..." - This word can also mean "experiences."  Since their salvation, God has been giving them experiences that have been given to build up their faith.  God has given them the Spirit to guide them in their times of need and even has shown His hand in miraculous ways.  "Did that come when you were working 'for' your salvation or when you heard with faith what Jesus had done when I (Paul) spoke to you of the cross?"
 
I think Paul is trying to get the Galatians to put "two and two" together here.  They were trying to "earn" their salvation and then they "heard" about the salvation that Jesus willing supplies and they accepted it but now they are living as if they need to "earn" it again.  Why then would you even need Jesus?  You are right back where you started.  Someone had changed their minds about the completed mission of Jesus.

Any "lessening" of Christ and His full salvation is "foolish" thinking.  This happens today because Jesus has become for many Christians just an "add on" to their lives.  When we think this way it is very easy to take Him from Lord of our lives (His rightful place) to being a deck hand to us, the captain of the ship.  We will call upon Him when we need Him, when the ship is rocking and really messed up.  We need to turn over the wheel of the ship to Him and report to Him about where He wants us to serve.  Jesus not at the wheel of our lives is "foolish" position to be in.

"Lord, I am so thankful that I am on 'Your' ship.  I have surrendered 'my' ship to join Yours.  You have taken me on great adventures and through terrible storms but You are so much better at the wheel than I could ever be.  May I not be 'foolish' and try to take the wheel from You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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