We need to break from the thinking that Paul condemns in Chapter 1. And it takes him a while to get there, but finally, in chapter 3 of Galatians, Paul asks some questions to help clarify our thinking.
v. 2-5: Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? (ESV)
The trouble is that performance matters in every other aspect of life. We learn from birth that if we coo and smile, we'll get tickles and laughter. A bit later, if we do well, we'll get toys and ice cream from mom and dad. If we don't, we'll get grounded, spanked, or put in time out. We learn in school that unless we're Einstein, we'll have to study, do our work and turn it in to get good grades. In sports or the arts, excellence doesn't come by accident, but by paying the price with endless practice. When we get to work, we quickly discover that if we're going to get raises and promotions, we need to work hard and smart. So our effort, our performance, is a big deal in every aspect of our lives!!
Except with God.
v. 7-11: Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons. . .So then, those who are of faith are blessed. . .For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse. . .Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
And in Hebrews it says that without faith, it is impossible to please God. God has removed performance from the equation. (Works means self-effort, trying to please God and earn His favor and love by doing our best and being obedient.)
Consider this: Do you only love your kids when they're doing well? (Really...!) Your love for your kids is not dependent on them. It's because they are your kids that you love them. And you will love them no matter what. (Which will often cause us great pain...) But if we, who often suck as parents, if we can be honest about it, and can yet love like that, how much more can God? Once we're His, nothing we do will make Him love us more, or make Him love us less. Crazy, isn't it? But that's exactly Paul's point: Jesus has already done what needed to be done. That part is over, finished. Forever. We're His kids now and no matter what, He loves us. We became His kids by faith, by His grace, and by nothing we did. Now that we are His kids, do we remain His kids by working our tails off? Of course not, but that's the message we seem to hear from church. You got saved by faith, yes, but you better work your butt off now or you're doomed.No soup for you!
But any sort of self-effort is so reprehensible to God that Paul condemns such thinking and those who teach it. That you think that you can solve your problems, or work hard enough to earn His favor, is such an affront for what He's already done and dismisses the work of Christ. If we could perform well enough, then we wouldn't need a savior at all, right? But we fail, and we do need a savior. Imagine that you're lost at sea, floating around in a raft, when a ship pulls along side to rescue you. And you start trying to paddle to get to the ship and tearing your clothes in order to make a ladder... It's ridiculous! The ship will do the rescuing, thank you very much. So it is with God. Our paltry efforts are merely ridiculous and betray our failure to understand how lost we really are without Him.
So Paul here makes the clear point that it is the same faith that first saved us that continues to save us. That we don't first come to God by faith, and then better start working our tails off in order to please Him and now earn that salvation that He already gave us. We just can't do it.
So what does this all mean, then, if we've already received what we're so desperately trying to achieve? We'll need one more part....which is the best news of all. Next time.
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