Galatians 3:5
Galatians 3 is a harsh rebuke by the Apostle Paul to the church at Galatia, and it is very telling about Paul’s attitude toward the gospel. The rebuke of “O foolish Galatians” which leads off the chapter does not come as the result of spiritual laziness or some sort of sin. Instead, Paul rebukes them for mixing the message of pure grace with that of works and law. He says, “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)
A misconception that is attached to the power of God is closely related to this attitude by the Galatian church. Many believe that when someone operates under the anointing in preaching or teaching or they have wonderful miracles come out of their ministry, that they must live a holier life or have some higher form of sanctification. This leads people to try to “pay the price” for power in their life and an increased emphasis on works is soon to follow.
Paul debunks this theory when he asks them about the power that rests on the preachers and miracle workers in their midst, “Doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5) Is it the keeping of the law to a greater degree than his peers that causes this man to preach with authority or operate in the gifts of the Spirit? Paul’s answer is found in the last part of the question, “the hearing of faith”.
God does not “reward” the worker of the law with great anointing or signs, wonders and miracles. The more that the believer hears of Christ and His finished work and they learn to rest in that work, the more that they are used of the Spirit, for there is no dependency in their own heart on their performance. They do not fear being accepted of God and they know that they do not earn what Jesus has already paid for. The knowledge that they are loved and forgiven keeps them qualified in their minds to be used of God, and this hearing of the faith brings the power of the Holy Spirit out in them.
This was common knowledge among the disciples, but not so much among the laity. When Peter and John came into the temple in Jerusalem at the gate called Beautiful, they were met by a lame beggar, asking alms. Peter made the now famous statement, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The man was healed instantly and the people looked on Peter and John, “greatly wondering” (Acts 3:11).
Peter senses that in the wondering of the people, they are convinced that they are looking at two great and mighty men. He says to them, “Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look you so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” (Acts 3:12). Note the phrase, “by our own power or holiness”. Peter knows that the people think that he and John are powerful and further, that they have paid some sort of “holiness” price to be used so mightily of God. This is the same attitude that Paul is confronting in Galatians 3, and it should be confronted again today!
When God uses someone, there has certainly been a price paid, but not one of works, otherwise God would owe that man or woman the power and the anointing (Romans 4:4). The price that has been paid is the hearing of faith. When you hear of what God thinks about you and you embrace it, you become usable by the Father.
Know what He thinks of you, and be prepared to watch God move in a mighty way.
Galatians 3 is a harsh rebuke by the Apostle Paul to the church at Galatia, and it is very telling about Paul’s attitude toward the gospel. The rebuke of “O foolish Galatians” which leads off the chapter does not come as the result of spiritual laziness or some sort of sin. Instead, Paul rebukes them for mixing the message of pure grace with that of works and law. He says, “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)
A misconception that is attached to the power of God is closely related to this attitude by the Galatian church. Many believe that when someone operates under the anointing in preaching or teaching or they have wonderful miracles come out of their ministry, that they must live a holier life or have some higher form of sanctification. This leads people to try to “pay the price” for power in their life and an increased emphasis on works is soon to follow.
Paul debunks this theory when he asks them about the power that rests on the preachers and miracle workers in their midst, “Doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5) Is it the keeping of the law to a greater degree than his peers that causes this man to preach with authority or operate in the gifts of the Spirit? Paul’s answer is found in the last part of the question, “the hearing of faith”.
God does not “reward” the worker of the law with great anointing or signs, wonders and miracles. The more that the believer hears of Christ and His finished work and they learn to rest in that work, the more that they are used of the Spirit, for there is no dependency in their own heart on their performance. They do not fear being accepted of God and they know that they do not earn what Jesus has already paid for. The knowledge that they are loved and forgiven keeps them qualified in their minds to be used of God, and this hearing of the faith brings the power of the Holy Spirit out in them.
This was common knowledge among the disciples, but not so much among the laity. When Peter and John came into the temple in Jerusalem at the gate called Beautiful, they were met by a lame beggar, asking alms. Peter made the now famous statement, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The man was healed instantly and the people looked on Peter and John, “greatly wondering” (Acts 3:11).
Peter senses that in the wondering of the people, they are convinced that they are looking at two great and mighty men. He says to them, “Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look you so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” (Acts 3:12). Note the phrase, “by our own power or holiness”. Peter knows that the people think that he and John are powerful and further, that they have paid some sort of “holiness” price to be used so mightily of God. This is the same attitude that Paul is confronting in Galatians 3, and it should be confronted again today!
When God uses someone, there has certainly been a price paid, but not one of works, otherwise God would owe that man or woman the power and the anointing (Romans 4:4). The price that has been paid is the hearing of faith. When you hear of what God thinks about you and you embrace it, you become usable by the Father.
Know what He thinks of you, and be prepared to watch God move in a mighty way.
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