You foolish Galatians

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain if indeed it was in vain? - Galatians 3v1-4

Wow! These are pretty harsh words. “O foolish Galatians!” It appears to me here that Paul’s frustration now carries over to the Christians who are being affected by the “works righteousness” teachers in Galatia.

He makes an amazing point here. “Having begun the in the Spirit are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” Somehow, a belief had developed that though they were saved by faith that was not enough. Now that they were saved they had to “finish the job” by carrying out works of righteousness.”

How clear can it be? There is nothing we can do to add to “It is finished.” All that needed to done was done when Jesus said “It is finished!”

In spite of this there are some today who think we can somehow placate Jesus or make Him happy with us by the way we live. Our works have nothing to do with producing any kind of righteousness. They therefore cannot be used as a measure of our righteousness. People make rules and, like the Galatian judaizers, say, “If you want to be spiritual you will do these things.”

Is it not the same idea – “You were saved by faith in Christ, but now you need to finish the job by your own works. If you want to be mature as a Christian, this is what you have to do.”

Paul makes it clear. Works of the flesh are meaningless. We can’t do anything to make God happy with us. The truth is that our faith is always evidenced by our works. Works are the result of, not the requirements for righteousness.