Salvation is by Faith And Not by Feeling

Topic: Salvation
Passage: Galatians 3:6–14

December 21, 2022

Commentary

The main argument of the Judaizers was that Gentiles had to become Jews in order to become Christians. To show the error of their way Paul now turns from subjective experience to the objective evidence of the Word of God. We should never judge the Scriptures by our experience but  should always test our experience by the Word of God. The Law says “do and live” but grace says “believe and live,” The Law could only inform man of his sin and it could never save him from his sin. In these verses Paul quotes Old Testament statements to prove that salvation is by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law:

  1. Salvation for Abraham was by faith (vv. 6-7). Verse six  is quoting from Genesis 15:1-6 “And believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Paul reminded the Galatians that works played no part in Abraham’s life with God.
  2. Salvation is for the Gentiles (vv. 8-9). The word heathen (v. 8). simply means Gentiles and proves that from the beginning that the blessing of salvation was promised to all the nations of the world.
  3. Salvation is by faith and not the law (vv. 10-12). Paul quotes from Deuteronomy (27:26). “Salvation could never come by obedience to the law because the law brings a curse, not a blessing.” The law is not a “religious cafeteria” where people can pick and choose.
  4. Salvation comes through Christ (vv. 13-14). Paul quotes Deuteronomy again, “He that is hanged is accursed of God” (21:33). This reference to hanging relates to the cross on which Jesus died.

Application

I do not become godly because my mother or dad were godly people? I must stand alone for Jesus, and I am relying completely on Christ, by faith, for my salvation?

Galatians 3:6– 14 (NET)

6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, 7 so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. 10 For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.” 11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. 12 But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.