Read Galatians 3:1–9
‘Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.’ (vv7–9)
When the apostle Paul preached the gospel within the Galatian church, there were some who were concerned that Paul was preaching a ‘new gospel’.
This caused some to criticise Paul and to slide back into their old, legalistic, religious ways.
Yet within our reading today, Paul is keen to demonstrate that whilst the covenantal focus is now different, focused on and fulfilled in Christ, ‘How faith works’ is the same as it always has been.
To demonstrate this, Paul uses Abraham as an example of one who heard God’s personal call, who heard the details of God’s covenant promise, and responded in obedient faith (see Gen. 15:1–6).
As a result of Abraham’s obedient response, Paul tells the Galatians that the Lord ‘credited to him… righteousness’ (v6).
Likewise, this is how faith works today. God personally calls us, He lays out the details of His covenant, fulfilled in Christ at the cross.
We are then called to respond in obedient faith as we put our trust in Christ’s finished work and ongoing transforming power (see Rom. 12:2).
This is not a new gospel but is always the way that the Lord has called His people to Himself.
Our response is to lean on, to put our faith in, His covenant promise – knowing as we do so that we too, like Abraham, are justified by faith (v8).
A PRAYER TO MAKE:
‘Lord God, thank You that Your Word comes to us, calls us, and challenges us to faithful obedience. Amen.’
AN ACTION TO TAKE:
How are we demonstrating our faith in action?
SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER:
Gen. 15:1–6; Matt. 7:24–29; Rom. 3:21–31; Heb. 11:1– 40
