If you are a fan of classic TV, you will remember the show Bewitched. It was an American situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972. The show stared Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York (1964–1969), Dick Sargent (1969–1972), Agnes Moorehead and David White. It continues to be seen throughout the world in syndication and it is the longest running supernatural themed sitcom of the 1960s–1970s. The focus of the show is on the mixed marriage of a nose-twitching witch, Samantha Stephens (Montgomery), and her mortal husband, Darrin (originally played by Dick York and later by Dick Sargent). Set in an upper middle class suburb, from which Darrin commutes to Manhatten for work, it is described by the producers as a romantic comedy, showing how true love can endure the most vexing of situations, even between a witch and a human http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bewitched. One of the cleaver results is to protray as innocent and normal, the occult.
From the first lie to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, Satan has always desired to downplay his actions as benine and confuse. The primary area upon which he desire to confuse is people’s understanding on the way of Salvation. The most successful effort has been in the almost endless combinations of world religions that all desire to have people earn God’s favor in order to achieve eternal life. God’s way is by His grace working through man’s faith. On October 31 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 thesis on the Church door in Whittenburg for Christians to realize God’s way of salvation by Grace though faith alone.
When Paul first came to Galatia, he marveled at his gracious reception (Gal. 4:14). Now the apostle marveled at their defection from the gospel he had preached to them (1:6–7). Having received new life in Christ by faith, they had been persuaded to live out their new lives by the old way of works. They had turned back from grace to law from faith to works, from Calvary to ceremony, from freedom to bondage.
In Galatians chapters 3–4 Paul gives a classic defense of the doctrine of justification by faith, a defense he had introduced in 2:16–21. In 3:1–5 he defends the doctrine from the standpoint of personal experience, and in 3:6–4:31 from the standpoint of scriptural revelation. Paul always promoted the coherence of sound doctrine and holy living. While it is true that experience minus theology will surely lead to a distorted spirituality, it is also true that theology minus experience can only issue in a dead orthodoxy. (George, T. (2001, c1994). Vol. 30: Galatians (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (210). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
In Galatians 3:1–5 the apostle Paul asked the Galatians a series of six rapid-fire questions, all of which he expected them to answer on the basis of their Christian experience. Paul was not so much arguing from experience as he was asking the Galatians to examine the basis of their Christian experience.
He reminds his readers that 1) A believer’s experience of the Lord Jesus Christ, 2) of the Holy Spirit, and 3) of God the Father are incontrovertible evidence of having been graciously made acceptable to God through personal faith in the perfect, complete work of Christ, apart from any human supplement.
1) THE BELIEVER’S EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIST
Galatians 3:1 [3:1]O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. (ESV)
• We are going to spend just about all our time on the first two verses
Paul beginning chapter three by addressing the Galatians as foolish probably reflects a combination of anger and love mixed with surprise. Like many believers before and after them, they had been victimized by Satan and induced to slip away from the moorings of the truth by which they had been saved. Those believers were especially foolish because they had been so carefully and fully taught.
The nature of God’s judgment described in Romans 1 and elsewhere is for those who knowingly and willingly exchange the truth of God for a lie. This implies basic mental ability to understand God’s standard but a rejection of such. This is one reason I believe God does not hold to account those who are of extreme mental impairment and babies.
Although people with leaning disability and children may not fully comprehend the ins and out of salvation and technical terms, there is a basic understanding of right and wrong (Romans 2-Conscience) the need to be sorry (repent) for doing and thinking what is wrong (sin), and failing to do what is right (God’s standard of perfect righteousness). There is the necessity to understand to some measure God’s work to provide salvation in the death of Christ and the need to trust in this work alone for eternal life.
The believers in Galatia were not stupid; they simply failed to use their spiritual intelligence when faced by the unscriptural, gospel-destroying teaching of the Judaizers. They were not using their heads.
Anoētos (foolish) does not connote mental deficiency but mental laziness and carelessness. The Greek term frequently carried the idea of a wrong attitude of heart, a lack of faith that clouds judgment. Paul uses the Greek term anoeµto (NIV foolish) to denote the improper thinking of those who, otherwise, should be expected to perceive things correctly. They are not incapable of proper thought. (Elwell, W. A. (1996, c1989). Evangelical Commentary on the Bible . (electronic ed.) (Ga 3:6). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.).
The Holy Spirit has a restraining hand on evil in the world. I believe that God occasionally allows evil to run its course for people to visibly see the effects of sin. I believe that the present worldwide economic meltdown is an example of this.
People have been motivated by foolish greed and mistakenly though that money would bring happiness and fulfillment. In seeking selfish gain:
1 Timothy 6:9 [9]But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (ESV)
• Even many Christians have brought ruin to themselves, ministries and their families through the misuse of money.
Paul himself confessed that before salvation:
Titus 3:3 [3]For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. (ESV)
Jesus used the word to rebuke the two disciples He encountered on the road to Emmaus:
Luke 24:25 [25]And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (ESV)
• The disciples’ basic problem was not mental but spiritual. Because they had not carefully studied to believe the prophets, they failed to understand that, as the Messiah, Jesus not only had to die but that He would be raised and return to His Father in heaven (see v. 26). Their understanding failed because their faith had failed.
The Galatians were actually bewitched by the Judaizers. Or ‘who has cast the evil eye on you?’ It is unlikely that Paul is suggesting that the Galatians have been beset by magicians or sorcerers, but it may well be that Paul is referring to the ancient concept of the evil eye. The verb βασκαίνω is found only here in the NT and it is clear enough that originally it was used to refer to the casting of the evil eye on someone (cf. Plutarch, Quaest. Conviv. 680C–683B) Basically the concept is that certain persons (or even certain animals or demons or gods) have the power of casting an evil spell on someone or causing something bad to happen to them by gazing at them. (Witherington III, B. (1998). Grace in Galatia : A Commentary on St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (201). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)
Bewitched is from baskainō, which means to charm or fascinate in a misleading way, as by flattery, false promises, or occultic power, and clearly suggests the use of feeling over fact, emotion over clear understanding of truth.
• It can be understood as spoiling the sight so that one cannot discern an obvious object (Poole, Commentary. P.647)
• He is more likely using “bewitched” in a metaphorical sense, and he probably means by it “to pervert,” “to lead astray,” or “to confuse the mind.” (Arichea, D. C., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Originally published under title: A translator’s handbook on Paul’s letter to the Galatians. c1976. UBS handbook series; Helps for translators (53). New York: United Bible Societies.)
Illustration: The murder of millions by the hands of the Nazi’s during WWII is seen as one of the most evil acts of history. Considering how this was allowed to occur, a group of ministers met to discuss why the church in Germany had failed to take a stand against the evils of the Third Reich. Some of them tried to justify their actions by appealing to the “demonic forces” that had led them astray. But another minister stood up and said: “Gentlemen, we have all been very foolish”. When it comes to theological error therefore, we should all beware the wiles of Satan without overlooking our own seemingly boundless capacity for folly. (R. Alan Cole: The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: IVP, 1965. p. 86).
Who then is responsible for folly? Paul asked “Who rhetorically, fully aware of the answer. “Who could have dragged you away from the solid foundation of truth in which you were once so well grounded?”
• We need not fear Satan or that someone can cast a spell over us.
• The Galatians were not victims of a magical spell or incantation, but were misled pupils of teachings they should have instantly recognized as false. They were willing victims who succumbed to the flesh-pleasing works righteousness of the Judaizers. They had been convinced that faith was not enough, that something was lacking that could be fulfilled by returning to the ceremonies and requirements of the Old Covenant.
Quote: as William Hendricksen has said in his Galatians commentary, “A supplemented Christ is a supplanted Christ.”
The Galatians’ own experience of salvation should have prevented their falling for the Judaizing falsehood. First of all, they had experienced the powerful, transforming, mind-changing truth of the gospel in the crucified Christ. They were people before their eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
• This could be construed as a play on words with the concept of being bewitched with the evil eye. The real issue therefore is what has been publicly portrayed before their eyes not on a curse from an evil eye. They needed to get their eyes back on Christ and not to distractions.
• They saw clearly the meaning of the cross. The gospel had come to them with the full clarity and power of Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf, and by faith they had believed and received it.
When Martin Luther posted his 95 thesis on the Church door in Wittenburg for Christians to realize God’s way of salvation by Grace though faith alone, he was making a public proclamation.
Publicly portrayed translates prographō, a word that was used of posting important official notices on a placard in the marketplace or other public location for citizens to read. Jesus Christ had been figuratively placarded before the Galatians by Paul himself for everyone to see clearly. The public portray of the sacrifice of Christ is in the teaching from scripture and one major intent in the celebration of the Lord’s Table.
Paul’s preaching of Jesus Christ and the Galatians’ acceptance of Him by faith was all done publicly. The believers there were witnesses to each other’s salvation by faith in Him alone.
“Christ crucified” was a compressed term referring to the entire gospel message (see 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2:2; 2 Corinthians 13:4). The tense of the verb crucified is perfect passive, denoting a past action with a continuing effect or result.
John declares:
1 John 1:9 [9]If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (ESV)
• Literally: “He is still righteous to keep on forgiving our sins.”
Christ had been crucified; Paul had clearly explained the significance of that crucifixion to the Galatians. (Barton, B. B. (1994). Galatians. Life application Bible commentary (84). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House)
• Yet they were missing the ongoing benefits of the Crucifixion—an assurance of faith and standing with God based on the work that He had done on behalf of those who believe and not on our own efforts.
• No ritual, ceremony, regulation, or any other thing devised or accomplished by men can pick up where the cross leaves off- because the cross never leaves off.
• Because of Christ’s work on the cross, it is the continuing and eternal payment for the sin of every believer, and every sinner who puts their trust in the work of Christ for their behalf on the cross is forever and continually being forgiven.
• A believer can no more stay saved by works than he could have been saved by works in the first place.
• The cross stands forever as living proof that men cannot redeem themselves.
In considering Salvation by Works, William Cowper said this:
Poem: Not of Works
• Grace, triumphant in the throne,
Scorns a rival, reigns alone;
Come and bow beneath her sway!
Cast your idol works away!
• Works of man, when made his plea,
Never shall accepted be;
Fruits of pride (vain-glorious worm!)
Are the best he can perform.
• Self, the god his soul adores,
Influences all his powers;
Jesus is a slighted name,
Self-advancement all his aim.
• But when God the Judge shall come,
To pronounce the final doom,
Then for rocks and hills to hide
All his works and all his pride!
• Still the boasting heart replies,
What the worthy and the wise,
Friends to temperance and peace,
Have not these a righteousness?
• Banish every vain pretense
Built on human excellence;
Perish every thing in man
But the grace that never can.
Olney Hymns, William Cowper, from Cowper’s Poems, Sheldon & Company, New York
2) THE BELIEVER’S EXPERIENCE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Galatians 3:2-4 [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? (ESV)
To rectify the Galatians’ confused thinking, Paul returned to the basics. Four simple questions in the following verses will reveal their foolishness.
• Paul’s first question was most basic, for it focused on how their Christian life had begun (Barton, B. B. (1994). Galatians. Life application Bible commentary (84). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House).
Paul’s next appeal was to the Galatian believers’ experience with the Holy Spirit. “Don’t you remember what the Spirit accomplished in your lives when you trusted in Christ for salvation?” he asks in verse two[2]Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
The verb ‘received’ is in the aorist indicating a definite event in the past. Paul is referring to what happened to the Galatians at the point of their conversions.
• “To receive” in these texts does not refer to a self-prompted taking but rather to a grateful reception of that which is offered. Thus the Galatians received the Holy Spirit as an unfettered gift from the sovereign God quite apart from any contribution of good works or human merit on their part. (George, T. (2001, c1994). Vol. 30: Galatians (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (211). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
• As Dunn points out, the phrase about receiving the Spirit is something close to a technical phrase for early Christians when they wanted to talk about conversion (cf. Rom. 8:15; 1 Cor. 2:12; 2 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 3:14; Jn. 7:39; Acts 2:38; 10:47; 19:2).( Witherington III, B. (1998). Grace in Galatia : A Commentary on St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (210). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
cf. confer (Lat.), compare )
• G. D. Fee emphasizes that Paul is referring to what he deems to be unimpeachable evidence, which suggest he is surely referring to some dynamic experiences of the Spirit in Galatia that could have been neither forgotten nor denied (G. D. Fee, God’s Empowering Presence. The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), pp. 384ff.)
• He is asking the rhetorical question: Did you have to fulfill some further requirements? Go through some special ceremony, or perform some additional rites? Or did you receive the Spirit by God’s grace at the same time you received Christ as Lord and Savior?” The question rhetorical and the answer obvious: They received the righteousness of Christ and His Holy Spirit at the same time.
The gift of the Holy Spirit is the believer’s most unmistakable evidence of God’s favor, his greatest proof of salvation and the guarantee of eternal glory
Romans 8:16 [16]The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (ESV)
Conversely,
Romans 8:9 [9]You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (ESV) (cf. 1 John 4:13; cf. 3:24).
• Every true believer in Galatia had received the Holy Spirit the moment he received Jesus Christ as Savior (Eph. 1:13-14). “Don’t you remember,” Paul asked, “that you received the Spirit … by hearing with faith?
This phrase describes how the Holy Spirit brings people to faith in Christ:
Romans 10:17 [17]So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (ESV)
Comparing how the Spirit works with faith from the works of the Law:
Quote: John Stott said: “The law requires works of human achievement; the gospel requires faith in Christ’s achievement. The law makes demands and bids us obey; the gospel brings promises and bids us believe” (Barton, B. B. (1994). Galatians. Life application Bible commentary (85). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.).
• Like the Judaizers, many groups and movements today want to introduce special conditions or requirements that supposedly add blessings to the finished and perfect work of Christ-such as a greater fullness of the Spirit, speaking in tongues, or a more complete salvation. But all such things are forms of works righteousness.
Chart:
Religion by Human Effort Life in the Spirit
Goal Please God by our own good works Trust in Christ and then live to please God
Means Practice, diligent service, discipline, and obedience in hope of reward Confess, submit, and commit yourself to Christ’s control
Power Good, honest effort through self-determination The Holy Spirit in us helps us do good work for Christ’s kingdom
Control Self-motivation; self-control Christ in me; I in Christ
Results Chronic guilt, apathy, depression, failure, constant desire for approval Joy, thankfulness, love, guidance, service, forgiveness
(Barton, B. B. (1994). Galatians. Life application Bible commentary (86). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.)
In Galatians 3:3, Paul specifies that the Galatians were “begun by the Spirit”
Philippians 1:6 [6]And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (ESV)
• It is the Holy Spirits work that changes the hearts of people and it is by His power that the work of sanctification, progression in holiness, continues.
Paul is saying that it is foolish to think that a spiritual work begun would continue by human effort. That is what he refers to with “are you now being perfected by the flesh?
• The most literal sense of understanding this is related to the Judaizers claim that the sign of circumcision could make someone right with God.
• In a more broad sense, Paul is asking how could you think that your weak, imperfect, still sinful flesh could improve on what the divine Spirit of God began in you when you first believed?” Drifting from the provisions of grace into the efforts of law is ludicrous.
• Analogy: How ludicrous it would be for a modern airline passenger to entrust his life to a jet aircraft but still insist on flapping his arms to help the plane stay in the air (Barton, B. B. (1994). Galatians. Life application Bible commentary (87). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.).
• Just as the Holy Spirit in His timing brought us to faith, it is easy to forget that He continues to work out sanctification in us, often in ways and timings we do not expect. It is easy therefore for us to become impatient and become discouraged almost longing for a time before the difficulty in sanctification.
• The Holy Spirit gives Christians great power to live for God. Some Christians want more; they want to live in a state of perpetual excitement. The tedium of everyday living leads them to conclude that something is wrong spiritually.
• The Galatians quickly turned from Paul’s Good News to the teachings of the newest teachers in town; Often the Holy Spirit’s greatest work is teaching us to persist, to keep on doing what is right even when it no longer seems interesting or exciting.
The phrase in Galatians 3:3 about being perfected has caused great confusion with some.
• The word perfect (Gr epiteleō) most certainly does not mean sinless, but complete, spiritual maturity. The middle voice implies “making yourselves perfect” by means of self-effort. The present tense indicates that the action is in progress and that there is still time to correct the error (KJV Bible commentary. 1997, c1994 (2383). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.).
Please turn to Hebrews 7
There are some who believe, like the Judaizers, that by certain we do, we can perfect ourselves. The book of Hebrews, which was written primarily to Jewish believers, some of whom, like those in Galatia, were in danger of turning back to Judaism says:
Hebrews 7:18-25 [18]For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness [19](for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. [20]And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, [21]but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ’You are a priest forever.’" [22]This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. [23]The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, [24]but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. [25]Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (ESV)
• The person who puts his trust in the law obligates himself to keep the entire law, which is humanly impossible, and he also cuts himself off from the benefits of the cross, whereby sins are forgiven and obligation to the law is fulfilled.
In verse four Paul’s next question asked the Galatians to apply their past experience to their immediate situation: Paul asks: Did you suffer so many things in vain?. Suffer is from paschō, a word that carries the basic idea of experience: the believers’ personal experience with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father. Paul is asking, “Did you experience so many things in vain? Did you learn nothing at all from them? Can’t you think things through and see that the claims of the Judaizers cannot possibly square with the gospel you have been taught and have experienced yourselves?”
Paul softens the blow by adding, If indeed it was in vain, leaving open the possibility and hope that it was not. In other words, “I hope what I have heard about you is not true or that you have come back to your senses.” (cf e.g., 4:9–14, 20; 5:2–10).
3) THE BELIEVER’S EXPERIENCE WITH THE FATHER
Galatians 3:5 [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-- (ESV)
By asking these questions, Paul hoped to get the Galatians to focus again on Christ as the foundation of their faith. While this seems to repeat Paul’s first question (3:2), there are key differences. Paul’s question in verse 2 focused on the Galatians’ point of view (receiving): This question restates the question in verse 2, but it reflects God’s point of view (giving): Verse 2 is in the past tense, reminding the Galatians of their initial response of salvation and what happened because of that response. This verse, however, is in the present tense, focusing on what God continued to do. (Barton, B. B. (1994). Galatians. Life application Bible commentary (90). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House.)
Supplies/Provides is from epichorēgeō, which means to supply abundantly and with great generosity. The leader of one political party in the last election got into hot water for suggesting that most Canadians do not relate to fancy arts galas. This word here for supplies/provides was used of patrons of the arts who underwrote productions of Greek plays and of patriotic citizens who gave of their wealth to help support their country’s army or government. It was also used of a groom’s vow to love and care for his bride.
From the Father’s superabundant generosity to His children, God provides them with the Spirit and works miracles among them. Miracles translates dunamis, which refers basically to inherent power or ability. Paul may have been referring to miraculous events God had worked among the Galatian believers, or he may have been referring to the spiritual power over Satan, sin, the world, the flesh, and human weakness that the Father bestows on His children through His Spirit.
Do not be intimated that you do not have some special intellectual ability of have some mental or physical handicap. There is something that God the Father does in these unique circumstances. Paul explained this while preaching in Corinth that:
2 Corinthians 12:9 [9]But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (ESV)
• God often uses the weak in the world’s sense to show His power. As in Salvation, His ultimate aim is that it would be obvious that God has provided an ability that no human physical or intellectual effort could achieve.
How far can we go, how much can we achieve from God working in us:
Ephesians 3:20 [20]Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (ESV)
Paul’s argument is itself powerful: If a person has received eternal salvation through trust in the crucified Christ, received the fullness of the Holy Spirit the same moment he believed, and has the Father’s Spirit-endowed power working within him, how could he hope to enhance that out of his own insignificant human resources by some meritorious effort?
(Format Note: Outline and some base commentary from MacArthur, J. (1996, c1987). Galatians. Includes indexes. (61). Chicago: Moody Press.)
