Galatians 3:1-5

The Foolishness of Turning from the Gospel

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified.

Galatians 3:1 – O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

The Apostle Paul uses stark language here, calling the Galatians foolish twice in these verses. He does not pull punches because the integrity of the gospel is at stake. Imagine a preacher today calling the congregation fools—how many would stay? Yet this harsh tone underscores the severity of drifting from the truth.

Paul paints the gospel so vividly that it was as if the Galatians watched Jesus' crucifixion themselves. Someone has hypnotized them away from obedience to this truth, leading them toward works of the law instead of faith.

Three Ways to Avoid a Faith That's About God but Not With God

We naturally tend to shift from a gospel-centered life to one where we determine our own path, working for God in our own strength. This is a Christianity that's about God but not with God—like the Judaizers who embraced facts about God but pursued salvation through circumcision and dietary laws, seeking human approval.

Today, we see this in church attendance that's about God but lacks communion with Him, or fellowship with others that's about God but not in His presence. As 1 John 1:7 says, true fellowship with one another flows from walking in the light with God.

To avoid this, Galatians 3:1-5 gives three steps, all by faith:

1. Maximize the gospel message in your life by faith.
2. Maximize your hold of faith.
3. Maximize the power of the Holy Spirit in your life by faith.

1. Maximize the Gospel Message by Faith

Galatians 3:2 – This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Paul asks a question with only one answer: We receive the Spirit by hearing faith, not works (Romans 8:9). New believers start equipped with the Holy Spirit—no graduation required.

The first-century church valued the Spirit highly, as Jesus promised in John 16:7-8:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

And Acts 1:8:

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Romans 8:15-16 adds assurance:

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Maximize the gospel in two ways: view it closely, as if watching the cross—seeing Christ's agony endured for you, bearing your guilt (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 8:1). And let it permeate every area of life, not just Sunday excitement that fades by Monday.

2. Maximize Your Hold of Faith

Galatians 3:3 – Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

Paul escalates: not just foolish, but so foolish—like the superlative in John 3:16's "so loved." You began by the Spirit; why perfect yourselves by flesh?

We get infatuated with worldly concepts, becoming double-minded (James 1), like crowds in John 6 chasing physical bread over Jesus.

3. Maximize the Power of the Holy Spirit by Faith

Galatians 3:4-5 – Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Their suffering was not vain if by faith—it molds you into Christ's image (James 1). Pointless suffering comes from fleshly efforts, lacking Holy Spirit cooperation. Scripture promises suffering for Christ has purpose toward holiness (Philippians 1:29).

Signs you're relying on flesh, not Spirit:

1. Do you obsess over moral self-improvement or trust the Spirit to strengthen you?
2. Do you see sin as defeat (implying powerlessness) or disobedience (your responsibility)? Victory is faith—the Spirit's work (1 John 5:4).
3. Do you ask God to reveal areas to work on in His strength, or think your service suffices? Never be satisfied with past repentance (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Practical Steps to Live This Out

1. Maintain gospel maximization. View the cross fully—it produces obedience (1 Corinthians 2:2). Regularly intake Scripture's portraits of the gospel for daily application.
2. Obey by relying on the Holy Spirit, not self-improvement. Moral growth unto the Lord pleases Him through faith, like Abel's accepted sacrifice (Hebrews 11:4), unlike Cain's.
3. Gospel motivation over legalism. Love your wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25).
4. Trust the Holy Spirit daily. Anticipate His evidence—like crying "Abba, Father."
5. Suffer for Christ, not self. Stand in the gospel, not man-pleasing or selfish agendas.

You are justified sons of God. Sanctification happens in the Spirit's power, not your strength.