Gal 3

Our salvation is based on “Christ died for me” – it is a substitution atonement. Our sanctification is based on “I died with Christ” (2:20) – it is an identification. Both of them are based on faith alone. In our natural thinking, we want to “help” God in our salvation or sanctification by contributing our own effort. But this only makes the matter worse. Gal 3:3 says, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

Legalism (i.e. rely on observing the law) is very danger. A legalist may behave just like a Christian externally but they are motivated by a merit system (3:12) not by faith (3:11). Legalism is so common that Paul repeatedly warns us in Ro 7; Col 2; Phil 3.

My sharing: One of the sign of legalism is we take pride in what we have done. If we live by faith, we would understand all we have done is done by God’s grace. Then, how can we be proud of what we have done?

Comments

Audrey said…
From v.28, " There is neither Jew nor Greek..." we know that the argument of ch 2 continues in ch 3 here. The Jews are distinct from the Gentiles because of their Law. Therefore, Paul here demonstrates that the Law has no place in only salvation (2:16) nor in sanctification (3:2). In fact, he put faith and law as exclusive to each other (3:9-12). Again, gentiles do not need to become Jews, or follow the Law of the Jews in our salvation or sanctification. Anyone who thinks that we should live according to the OT law is contrary to Paul here.
May 28, 2007 at 10:41:00 AM CST
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