GRACE: Abraham, Justified by Faith
The Study of Galatians
Week 4
Galatians 3:6-9
As a former teacher, I can tell you that one of the greatest strategies for introducing new complex material is to draw upon a student’s schema. Schema is simply this: connect new information with what a person already has experienced and knows.
Paul does this for the churches in Galatia. Let’s look at verse 6 together.
“Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”
Why in the world would Paul bring up Abraham if he is preaching faith in Christ? Simply this, it was schema for both Jews and Gentiles. For the Jews, he was the father of their faith. For the Gentiles, Abraham represented a nation of faith.
Paul is reminding them of Genesis 15:6.
Yes, Paul, in his wisdom, connected their old knowledge with new knowledge.
His main point? Abraham was justified (made right through faith) by believing God, and the Galatians can obtain that same standing by faith in Christ.
Today, we too, benefit from that precept.
Paul continues, “Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are the sons of Abraham.” (V7)
What is interesting here is the word, “sure”. In the Greek it means to know, ginosko, experientially, firsthand. Paul is saying, you can be sure(through personal experience) that those who profess faith are indeed sons of Abraham, thus heir to the promise.
What promise? Once again, schema.
The promise came from God to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3. These three verses earmark the first unconditional covenant given by God. (Read about the Abrahamic Covenant here.)
Abraham was the beginning of justification through faith and pointed to its fulfillment through Jesus Christ. Today, we can be know, ginosko, experientially the grace of God through Christ.
We are a product of God’s faithfulness given to Abraham. That is astounding, isn’t it?
Paul certainly was letting them know, especially the Judaizers who pushed for circumcision, that the Law had been fulfilled through Jesus. No part of the Old Testament Law was needed for justification.
Interestingly enough, Abraham received this promise before he was circumcised.
Abraham was saved through faith, not circumcision.
Paul sums it up like this, “so those who are of faith (that’s us), are blessed with Abraham, the believer.” (v9)
The “believer”, we can’t just leave that without clarification. The “believer” means “one who trusts God’s promises.” I would love to consider myself a “believer” all the time, but I know that in many instances, I wrestle through in prayer to get to that place.
What an amazing tradeoff, isn’t it? We get to be the recipients of that promise made to Abraham.
Last week, Paul presented to the Galatians his first line of reasoning in Galatians 3:1-5.
We are saved through faith in Christ and it is through that faith alone that we should live.
Now, in Galatians 3:6-9, he makes his second point.
Abraham was justified by faith, a believer, and we should apply that same faith to our lives today.
jeannaswann
#nowuntohimwhoisable
Question for discussion (your email is never posted or shared)
How can we best live out our lives as “believers” who rely on Christ alone for our justification? What does faith look like day to day?