Deep Dive into Galatians by Charles Spurgeon - Galatians 3

The core doctrine established in the sources is that men are justified before God solely by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by the works of the law. This principle is rooted in the glorious covenant of grace made with Abraham, who was accounted righteous because he believed God, not because of anything he did. This covenant of promise was ratified four hundred and thirty years before the Law was given on Sinai, demonstrating that the Law cannot revoke or affect the established foundation of salvation by grace.

The Law was never intended for man’s justification or salvation. Its proper function is admirable and divine, serving primarily to reveal sin and condemn the transgressor, acting as a "light" and a "jailer." The Law demands absolutely perfect obedience, and failure in even a single point places a person under its curse. Therefore, the Law serves as a "guardian" or pedagogue, whipping sinners toward Christ by showing them that self-salvation is impossible. The spirit of the law is entirely the spirit of works, demanding doing, while the gospel enjoins believing.

Christ redeemed believers from this inevitable curse by substitution, becoming a curse for us upon the cross and suffering the penalty we ought to have endured. All those who believe in Him are forever justified because He fulfilled the law’s demands and bore its penalty. The gospel is this simple truth—the good news of Christ crucified—which is received by the hearing of faith, leading to the reception of the Holy Spirit.

Those who trust in Christ become the spiritual seed of Abraham, or the "faithful," inheriting the blessings of the promise. Spiritual sonship to God is granted exclusively through faith, abolishing earthly distinctions like race or social status, as all believers are one in Christ Jesus. Paul severely rebuked the Galatians as "foolish" for abandoning this simple, saving truth and attempting to complete what began in the Spirit by reverting to human ceremonies and self-effort, a deviation he called "witchery." The way spiritual life begins, by faith, is the only method by which it can be sustained.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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