GALATIANS ~ Chapter 3/Thursday Bible Study

This chapter is the 3^rd chapter of Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians; written between 49 to 58 AD.

In this chapter, Paul continues to reprove the Galatians for departing from the New Covenant teaching – and he stresses that salvation is through faith in Christ, alone.

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GALATIANS ~ Chapter 3/Thursday Bible Study

The *Ruach HaKo’desh Received by Faith, Not by Law

“O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you so that you do not obey the truth? Was not ***Yeshua Ha’Mashiach (Jesus Christ) clearly pictured before your eye as the Crucified One? I wish to learn from you only this one thing: did you receive the Ruach HaKo’desh through obedience to The Law, or through believing the message that you heard? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now reaching perfection in the flesh? Have you suffered so much in vain (ineffective, unproductive, useless, empty, pointless; inflated, big-headed)? It really seems so. When He gives you the Spirit and works miracles among you, does He do so by means of the works of The Law … or by the call to believe? (vv. 1 – 5)

The ****Abrahamic Covenant, One of Faith

Abraham believed ****Elohim, and it was accounted to him for justification. You can be sure, then, that it is those who have faith who are the real sons of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that Elohim would justify the Gentiles, if they had faith, and therefore announced the Gospel beforehand to Abraham in these words, “In you shall all the Gentiles be blessed!” (Genesis 12:3). So, it is those who have faith who will share in the blessings promised the believing Abraham. (vv. 6 – 9)

The Law Condemns, Faith Justifies

On the other hand, everyone who relies on the works of The Law is under a curse, for Scripture says, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not hold fast to all the things written in the Book of The Law, and do them’ (Deuteronomy 27:26). Still, it is clear that no one is justified before Elohim by The Law, because ‘the just shall live by Faith’ (Habakkuk 2:4). The Law, however, does not rest on faith … but on works – ‘He who does them shall live by them’ (Leviticus 18;5).

Christ has ransomed us from the curse of The Law. He became a curse for us, as Scripture says, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’ (Deuteronomy 21:23). This was done in order that Abraham’s blessing might come to the Gentiles through Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, and that through faith we might receive the promised gift of the Ruach HaKo’desh. Brethren, let me give an illustration from daily life: when a man has made his will and it has been confirmed, no one sets it aside or adds to it. Now, the promises were made to Abraham and his offspring. Elohim did not say, ‘And to your offsprings’ as speaking of many, but, referring to One, He says, “And to your Offspring” – meaning Christ. (vv. 10 – 16)

The Real Function of The Law

Therefore, I argue: since The Law was given 430 years later, it does not annul the Covenant made previously, so as to cancel the promise in it. And if the inheritance comes by The Law, then it no longer comes by promise. But Elohim gave it to Abraham by promise.

Why then, have The Law? It was added because of transgressions. It was to operate till the Offspring should come, to whom the promise was made. It was established by ******angels through a human lawgiver. This intermediary (intercessor, go-between, agent) was not alone about it, but Elohim – back of it – is One.

Does The Law, then, frustrate the promises of Elohim? No, certainly not. Surely, if a law had been given which could have given spiritual life, then justification would indeed come by The Law. But, in Scripture, The Law makes all men guilty of sin, so that what was promised, based on Faith, in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, might be given to those who believe in Him.

But before the rule of faith came, we were all being kept under the rule of The Law; kept under restraint until the way of faith should be revealed. So, The Law was our schoolmaster until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by Faith. (vv. 17 – 24)

The Believer a Son, Not a Servant

But now that Faith has come, we are no longer under the schoolmaster, because you are all now sons of Elohim, through faith in Christ. All of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male nor female … for you are all one in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. But if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, and you are his heirs according to The Promise.” (vv. 25 – 29)

*Ruach HaKo’desh: In Hebrew, the Holy Spirit (רוח הקודש, Roo-ahk hah-Koh-desh) refers to the divine force, quality, and influence (aka, power) of God.

The Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16 & 11:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; Titus 3:5; and Jude 1:20), is referred to more than 90 times in the **Brit Chadashah.

**B’rit Chadashah = The New Testament. B’rit Chadashah in Hebrew, means, “The New Covenant” (the word B’rit means “covenant” and Chadashah means “new”). The literal meaning of B’rit Chadashah is “a New Covenant By Blood” … aka Yeshua’s Blood.

***Yeshua Ha’Mashiach: is Hebrew for “Jesus the Messiah”; the name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua.

Christ (from the Hebrew word, Ha’Mashiach ישוע המשיח & the Greek word, Christos/khris-tos) = The Anointed, Yeshua the Messiah, in both languages.

****Abrahamic Covenant: The Covenant (binding promise/an eternal contract) between Abraham and Elohim consisted of 3 separate parts (1) the promised Land (Israel Homeland) (2) the promised of descendants (3) the promise of blessing and redemption.

*****Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים, romanized: ʾĚlōhīm: [(eloˈ(h)im]) is a Hebrew word meaning "Gods – Father, Son, & Holy Spirit". Although the word is plural in form, in the Hebrew Bible it usually refers to a single deity “Behold, the Lord – the Lord is One”, particularly the at God of Israel.

******Angel: (n) – a spiritual being in position of attendant, agent, or messenger of Elohim (often represented in human form with wings and a long robe).

**Galatians 2: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/06/galatians-chapter-2thursday-bible-study.html