Galatians 3 - 4.12.23

Scripture

Galatians 3:3

3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?

Observation

The Apostle Paul is talking about justification through faith alone, by grace alone and not through the works of the law. 

Application

Rely on the Holy Spirit to sustain our faith, not our flesh. 

The Apostle Paul can testify to the fact that we can carry out the works of the law through our flesh. He has reasons to boast about this. You can read it in Philippians 3. However, he considers all of that a loss and chooses to boast in his weaknesses instead.

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” -Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We point people to Christ not by showing how “great” of a person we are, but rather through what Jesus has done for us through His death and resurrection. As Pastor Levi says, “the power that raised Christ from the dead is living inside each one of us.” 

Prayer

Dear Lord, apart from You, I can do nothing. I pray that any good works as a result of Your Spirit, would always point others to You Jesus. Help me not rely on my flesh, but on the power of Your Spirit. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi