Today’s passage: Galatians 3:1-9
Helpful thoughts:
- Paul reminds the Galatians that their lives changed when they heard the true Gospel and believed.
- When we repent and call on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our lives change.
- When we base our salvation on successfully accomplishing works, we fail and are condemned.
- Legalism is believing you have to obey the Law in order to be saved.
- Variations of legalism may include other rules (Especially new ones we make up!) that we place on others in order to accept them as believers.
- Abraham was saved by grace through faith before the Law was even written and before God commanded his circumcision.
- Jewish people who do not believe in the promise are not true sons of Abraham. Jews and Gentiles who do believe by faith are.
- Remember, no person has ever been brought into a saving relationship with God by any means other than faith.
Questions to consider:
- If they had heard the Gospel and seen what God had done through it and through them, why would they doubt the authenticity of the message? What caused the Galatians to think there could be more?
- Once works get added into the requirements of salvation, what does our focus tend toward when we are instructing others? Grace or works?
- What is the sad irony of being a legalist? Are legalists without err? Have they perfectly kept whatever version of the law they have decided to follow? Are we allowed to add to the Law? Are they believing in the Gospel at all?