The Book Of Galatians – Chapter 3:1-9 - Message 6 – Paul Chastises The Galatians With Questions; And Righteous Abraham Justified By Faith Series

THE BOOK OF GALATIANS – CHAPTER 3:1-9 - MESSAGE 6 – PAUL CHASTISES THE GALATIANS WITH QUESTIONS; AND RIGHTEOUS ABRAHAM JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

PART 1. THE BEWITCHING OF THE GALATIANS

{{Galatians 3:1 “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?”}}

WOW! What an opening this is to the new section. Paul calls them foolish and states they have been bewitched; have come under a spell of witchcraft. Imagine reading that for the first time, but the Apostle had led up to this by challenging their error and then exposing it in Chapter 2.

So far in the epistle Paul has written much about his own personal experience as a background for setting out before the Galatians the great error of their way. In no other letter does he explain so much of his life and actions. The reason he did that was to reinforce AGAIN his credibility as an Apostle of Jesus Christ for it is authority that is fundamental in this letter. The Galatians had accepted the authority of the sneaky false teachers while rejecting Paul’s authority.

I remember when I was young; I think in my late childhood, an uncle or my grandfather chastised me for calling someone a fool. Obviously I have never forgotten that. The purists say that the only fools are those who do not believe in God according to this verse – {{Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have committed abominable deeds. There is no one who does good,}} - and no one else ought to be called a fool except the atheist.

That idea might also be backed up by this verse – {{Matthew 5:22 but I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court and whoever shall say, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”}}

However Paul writes to the Ephesians not to walk as unwise men wasting time, and then adds -

{{Ephesians 5:17 “so then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”}} Not to understand and to walk unwisely is for them to be like fools (the suffix “ish” meaning “like”). The foolish man built his house upon the sand, those virgins who were fools did not ensure their lamps were filled with oil.

So . . . it was a real slap in the face for these Galatians who were acting like fools and hopefully it stopped them in their tracks and made them think of their situation.

WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR BEWITCHING THEM?

Paul also questioned who had bewitched them. Holman in his excellent translation renders it as “who has hypnotized you?” [[Strongs Concordance says this - from baskanos, "to cast an evil spell, wishing injury upon someone; to bewitch") – properly, to exercise evil power over someone, like putting them under a spell; (used only in Galatians 3:1)

[In classical Greek, Aristotle used (baskaíno) for "bewitching through the use of an evil power." That is, putting someone under a spell so they no longer could think (act) according to reason.]]

Who was it that cast a spell over the Galatian churches? The evil power was twofold. It was demonic activity exercised through the false teachers, those wanting to place the Christians under the Law in addition to grace. It is sinister and demonic.

PART 2. BEFORE WHOSE EYES . . . PUBLICLY PORTRAYED AS CRUCIFIED

When the Galatians first heard the gospel it could be said of them they had the clearest vision, without defect or cataract, for the Holy Spirit showed then the sharpest contrast of death and life, and they were converted thoroughly. Paul said “before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.”

There are ideas on this but this is what it means to me. The gospel was so clearly preached with the power of the Holy Spirit, and the personal application of the gospel was so clear, that it was as if these people were there at the crucifixion to understand all that was happening. “Jesus was on the cross for ME. It was MY sin that nailed Him there. He was pierced through for my sin. Look at him hanging there – that was done for me because He loved me. Take my life, Lord, and come into my life – save me and make me a child of God. I am totally without merit, undone and dead in sin. I receive Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.”

Yes, the gospel was “publicly portrayed as crucified” and NOTHING was added to faith. Salvation comes through faith and by no other means, and by no extra additions. The Galatians had added additions because they had been bewitched.