Before I give you a short outline of Galatians chapter 3 with brief comments on each section, I would encourage you to go to our website (www.answersfromthebook.net) and type in our Search Box: Galatians 3. You will see that we have answered 5 questions in some detail on verses 8-9, 10-14, 16, 19-20, and 26-27. This chapter can be broken down into the following 4 sections:

Verses 1-9: The Great Truth of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul reminds believers of the true gospel. Why? Because Judaizing teachers were making inroads and teaching them that they needed to be circumcised to be saved (see 1:6-9 with 5:1-12). So, Paul reminds them in these verses that they had “received the Spirit by the hearing of faith and not by the law” (verses 1-5) and that God had “justified them by faith and not by the law” (verses 6-9).

Verses 10-18: Law Versus Promise. In this section Paul brings out clearly that “those who are of the works of the Law are under the CURSE, for it is written ‘CURSED is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them” (verse 10). He repeats also the truth that one is “NOT justified by the law” for “the law is not of faith” (verses 11-12). He then brings out the blessed truth that “Christ has redeemed us from the CURSE of the law, having become a CURSE for us” (verse 13) and that in Christ “we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (verse 14). This PROMISE was given to Abraham and His Seed, which is Christ (verses 15-18).

Verses 19-25: The Purpose of the Law. Verse 19 says, “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed (Christ) should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hands of a mediator.” In short, the Law (i.e. the Ten Commandments) was given to reveal to Israel (and us!) that they were sinners and were guilty of breaking God’s holy commandments. Romans 3:19-20 brings this out clearly, “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.” Paul goes on in verses 20-25 to show that the law would serve as a TUTOR (Teacher) to teach man God’s HOLINESS and our SINFULNESS, which would then prepare mankind for the coming of Christ by whom we would be justified by faith. After one believes on Christ and His death on the cross and glorious resurrection, there is no more need for the tutor. “For Christ is THE END OF THE LAW for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).

Verses 26-29: Sons of God by Faith in Christ Jesus. Verse 26 states emphatically, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The believers do not have to wait until they are taken to heaven to become sons of God; the moment one believes on Christ as their personal Savior THEY ARE SONS OF GOD! And when this happens, the believer gladly identifies with Christ in baptism (verse 27). Paul speaks of this as “putting on Christ.” William MacDonald writes, “Just as a soldier proclaims himself as a member of the army by ‘putting on his uniform,’ so a believer identifies himself as one who belongs to Christ by being baptized in water. By this act he publicly expresses submission to Christ’s leadership and authority.” Paul closes by teaching them that all former distinctions between people have been erased, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (verse 28). This doesn’t mean these differences no longer exist while we are here on earth; it means that this is our “heavenly position” because of our acceptance before God in Christ Jesus. The final verse adds the beautiful truth that if we belong to Christ, we “are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the PROMISE.” We are in the “family of faith” and will inherit all the blessings of the gospel.  (DO)  (631.5)