The Gospel According to Abraham (in Galatians) - Overview Part 3

We are looking at Paul's letter to the Galatian Churches and seeing how he understood the Gospel. We have looked at Galatians 1 and Galatians 2, so far.  Today we note the Gospel as revealed in Galatians 3.  

“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.” (Galatians 3:1, NIV). Chapter 3 of this letter is essentially all Gospel. "Paul issues a second direct appeal to the Galatians: it is not just their own experience of receiving the gospel by faith that should teach them that salvation is not by the law but by grace. Rather, the OT example of Abraham also teaches that it is through genuine faith, not the law, that one is counted righteous (see Gen. 15:6)." [1]

In this chapter Paul gives us some more insight into the true Gospel.  They are:

• The Gospel is about "receiving" the Spirit; and it too comes through faith (v2 and v14);
• The work of the Gospel is accomplished by the Spirit (v3);
• The Gospel embraces the notion that we were held captive by the curse of the Law and Christ came and redeemed us (paid the ransom) for our freedom (v13);
• The reality of the Gospel is not that Israelites become Christians; it is that to become a Christian is to become a true Israelite (vv7-9, 14);
• Inherent in the Gospel is the idea of "promise" (vv14, 16, 17-19, 21, 22, 29).  Promise implies grace, not reward;
• Law is not disregarded in the Gospel.  It is the Law that that is our "guardian" -- our jailor that brings us to Christ (v.24); and
• The ultimate Promised Son is Christ, Jesus. Isaac prefigured Christ.  Therefore the Covenant promises through Abraham are for all who have faith in Christ (regardless of gender or race.) Paired with this idea then is that there is likely an escatological end to all the other aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant.

Father, around eight times in this chapter alone You inspired Paul to use the term "promise". The Gospel is indeed a wonderful promise.Imprisoned by sin and the demands of the Law; guarded by the curse of the Law, it carried us handcuffed and in despair to Christ.  All this occurred by Your Spirit who brought us to Grace.  The Promise was neither a family of friends nor a piece of property -- the promise was Jesus Christ, the Righteous.  To have Jesus is to have everything.  The prerequisites to have Jesus are not law-keeping, not gender or not race -- it is faith: faith in the Promised One -- the same faith that Abraham had.  This is the faith that saves.  Lord what a wonder this is!  What glory this is?  Thank you for Your mercies, Father.  Today, because of Your mercy, I give myself a living sacrifice to You.  Father use my inept, incomplete and insignificance to bring glory to You, today.











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1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2249). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.