I love Paul's letters to the churches. He pulls no punches and tells it straight up, just like it is! Remember, Paul got His knowledge of the Gospel from JESUS Himself, supernaturally, by spending time in the presence of the risen Lord. He did NOT even spend much time with the other disciples and apostles until after this time. He is of the idea that those who were with JESUS when He ministered should be speaking the plain truth, just as he was. So, as we get into Galatians 3, Paul speaks pretty bluntly to them! Look at verses 1-2 as he speaks to them of the false teaching that had crept into the church that was requiring works to be saved along with faith.
O you poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?]
Paul didn't waste a moment! He got right to the point and the very heart of the matter that he was addressing this church about! And this isn't all of it! Look at verses 3-5:
3 Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things and experienced so much all for nothing (to no purpose)—if it really is to no purpose and in vain. 5 Then does He Who supplies you with His marvelous [Holy] Spirit and works powerfully and miraculously among you do so on [the grounds of your doing] what the Law demands, or because of your believing in and adhering to and trusting in and relying on the message that you heard?
Did these people REALLY think that what JESUS accomplished through His death, burial and resurrection was NOT enough? I am sure that if they actually thought it through (you know, meditating on the Word as we are instructed in Joshua 1:8) they would NOT have come to the conclusions that they had. But, still in the habit of being intimidated by others who appeared to know more, they just simply began to believe that it must be true! The difference, though, is that every born again believer has the Spirit of Almighty God IN them, to teach and train them according to God's perfect Word and will and plan. There can be no excuse for laziness concerning the Word of the Living God! Each believer has the individual responsibility to get that Word into themselves, meditating on it until they can be a DOER of it! But Paul did not leave them in condemnation, he trained them further in the Word with verses 27-29:
27 For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. 28 There is [now no distinction] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed], then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise.
AMEN! We have been given pastors and teachers of the Word of God as helping gifts to us, to make it easier to get the Word into us, but Holy Spirit is the only One Who can make that Word come alive and be real and easily understood. So, spend time in the Word of God every day, and then time in HIS presence, meditating on that Word by asking Holy Spirit questions to make things clearer. That IS one of His roles! Thank You, JESUS! Here is Hillsong with "Say The Word", which can only be effectively done when we KNOW the Word! AMEN! :
Shalom in Him!
