Faith and Works

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Galatians 3:1-14; genesis 15:1-6

v. 1: The Galatians had been "bewitched." It was as if someone had cast a spell on them so that their minds were confused and befuddled, and they couldn't think clearly. They had been distracted from the Jesus who had been publicly portrayed as crucified.

vv. 2-7: Before the Galatians had been bewitched, they had believed what they had heard. Here Paul moves from eyes to ears. Our eyes see what happened, but our ears hear the interpretation and give meaning to what we have seen. With our eyes we can consider the heavens, which declare the glory of God, but with our ears we can listen to the word of God that tells us who made those heavens. Verse 5 says that God supplies the Spirit "by hearing with faith." Abraham is an example of someone who heard the promise of God with his ears, he believed it, and God counted Abraham's faith as righteousness (Genesis 15:3).

vv. 8-13: God is in the business of blessing. The outcome of Abraham's faith in God's promises was that Abraham was blessed and through him all the nations were blessed. We receive the blessing of entering into a right relationship with God not by keeping the law but by accepting the free gift of God in Christ Jesus. 

Questions for personal reflection and/or group discussion

1. How might you become "bewitched" and therefore distracted from keeping your eyes on Jesus and him alone?
2. When did you first hear the good news of Jesus and believe? Are you continuing to receive this good news and believe it today?
3. A consistent theme throughout the Scriptures is that God blesses us so that we might bless others. In what ways has God blessed you, and how are you using those blessings to bless others?