By Faith, or by Works of the Law? &

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.         The Judaizers, those Jewish Christians, by their insistence that Gentiles who came to Christ must be circumcised and obey the Mosaic Law, caused considerable turmoil among the Galatian believers.

2.         Paul appeals to these by stating they have been foolish to yield to those who denied that salvation was by grace alone. He points out the extreme difference between law keeping and faith in the work of the crucified Christ.

3.         Indeed, the God who gave them the indwelling Holy Spirit did so not by law keeping but through “hearing with faith.” Paul refers to Abraham’s faith, who was accounted righteous and this centuries prior to the giving of the Law.

4.         Therefore, all who believe in Jesus, even the Gentiles, are accounted as “sons of Abraham.”

5.         Those who depend upon keeping the Law are even “under a curse” since none are accounted as righteous by the keeping of the Law. Those who are righteous live by faith.

6.         The “curse of the law,” resulting from our failure to keep the Law of Moses, is removed by the crucifixion of Jesus, who took the curse upon Himself. Thus, salvation extends to the Gentiles, and that on the basis of faith alone.