GALATIANS 3
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justifythe Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. – Galatians 3:1-9
GALATIANS 3 FAITH COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for
It is also the conviction of things not seen
When we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ
Our faith is counted as our own righteousness
Even if things aren’t visible or we don’t understand
We know that what is promised by God is going to happen.
In this letter, Paul explains to the Galatian church about true faith which is the opposite of works. He stresses that faith comes from the Holy Spirit and not from the usual fleshy works they do. He gives Abraham as an example of faith. Abraham originated from a family of pagans in the land of Ur. According to truthunity.net “The city of Ur is an important example of the Sumerian cities and civilization in Southern Mesopotamia. The excavated objects from the Royal Tombs of Ur (First Dynasty of Ur, ca. 2600 BC) can be considered as emblematic of the wealth, power, and sophistication of the Sumerian civilization.” Do you ever wonder why God called Abraham out of his birthplace? He was being prepared to be the father of faith and of all nations. Wealth and power don’t mix with the life that God wants his people to lead. Abraham’s obedience proved his faith.
REFLECTION
- How do you think wealth and power can be hindrances to true faith?
