Holding Firmly to the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:1-14) Bible Reading: You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing - if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Galatians 3:1-14 Scripture Reflections to Consider: Why is Paul so harsh at the opening of this chapter? How clearly was Jesus Christ portrayed? What is the heart of the Christian Gospel? What does it mean to believe in Jesus? How are we justified before God the Father? How do we rely on observing the law? What is our curse if we rely on observing the law? Why were we given the law? What does it mean to be redeemed? For more information about our ministry, please visit https://www.kingdomd.org. If you'd like to email us directly, you can reach us at contact@kingdomd.org.