The Righteous Live By Faith
The groundbreaking sketch comedy show “In Living Color” had a theme song starting in the 3rd season that began with an existential question… How you livin?. The prophet Habakkuk said that “the righteous shall live by faith”, but in Galatians 3:1-14, the Judaizers were pressuring Christian gentiles to pursue righteousness through another means…. their works to keep the Law (circumcision, etc). The apostle Paul impressed upon Christians that their faith was sufficient to receive righteousness. By contrast, any failure to obey the Law perfectly would result in their being cursed. May you be blessed in the knowledge that you have been saved by your faith and not your works. Amen!
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? (Galatians 3:1-5) Paul called the Galatians foolish, and asked if they have been bewitched (as a spell cast over them that has voided them not to perceive what is obvious). They had received the Holy Spirit, but now they were foolishly trying to achieve spiritual maturity through the Law and by their works (including circumcision). Paul asked them whether they had received the Holy Spirit and God’s miracles because of their works and observance of the Law or because of their faith. The obvious answer was that these things occurred because of their faith, and therefore they should not expect their works to suddenly produce what they had only received through their faith.
So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:6-9) Paul went back in the scriptures to Abraham (i.e. preceding the Law of Moses) to show the Galatians that Abraham’s faith was the only thing necessary for God to view Abraham as being righteous. Paul’s point was that the real descendants (children) of Abraham were not those who were circumcised or followed the Law of Moses, but those who came to God by faith. And, like Abraham, their faith was viewed by God as righteousness. Paul then stated that God’s plan from the outset was that the gentiles would righteous by faith. As proof, Paul cited God’s covenant promise to Abraham that “all nations will be blessed through you.” With this, Paul made the logical connection between Christians and Abraham. We are the real heirs of Abraham’s covenant blessing of righteousness through faith in Jesus.
For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:10-14) After calling on the Galatians to (1) reflect back on their own experience of receiving the Holy Spirit and (2) their connection as heirs to Abraham’s covenant blessing: righteousness through faith, Paul offered them one more proof point that faith was sufficient and superior to the Law for salvation. The problem with works and. trying to satisfy the Law was that the Law had to be observed perfectly. Anyone who failed to do so was cursed and not justified before God. Since no one was able to keep the Law perfectly, the Law became a curse upon us. Jesus, took on the curse of being hung on a wooden cross (tree), and by substitution, He also took on our curse. Paul concluded that Jesus took away our curse, and offered instead that all who have faith in Him will receive the blessing of Abraham and be justified before God as righteous.
From Paul’s tone and vehemence in this scripture, it is clear that he couldn’t believe that the Galatians had been swayed by outsiders to set their faith aside in favor of trying to achieve righteousness by works. Their own experience of receiving the Holy Spirit and the teaching they had received about righteousness and salvation through faith, were all ignored when outsiders convinced them they could only be righteous by their works in keeping the Law. This is Paul’s bottom line message to Christians on this matter: You can’t work your way into heaven! It’s not what you do but what has been done for you by Jesus on the cross. Believe on Him and be saved. Don’t let anyone tell you anything differently or make you feel less than because you aren’t living perfectly according to the Law. Your faith has justified you and God has credited it to you as righteousness. That is His covenant blessing to you through Abraham. Now go and keep living blessed!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
The righteous will live by faith ~ Hab. 2:4
