Abraham’s Faith and Blessing (Galatians 3:6-12)
Scripture: Galatians 3:6-12
Today’s Word
6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.8 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.”9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”(NIV)
Background
The Galatian church was troubled by false teachers who claimed, “You must be circumcised and keep the law to be saved.” They insisted that faith alone was insufficient and that obedience to the law was necessary. Paul countered this false teaching by using Abraham as an example, clearly demonstrating that “from the beginning, God has justified people by faith.”
Abraham was the ancestor of the Jewish people, revered by all Jews. Paul emphasizes that even Abraham was not justified by keeping the law, but by believing in God. This is decisive evidence that salvation has always been based on faith, not on the law.
Key Terms Made Simple
-
Justified: To be declared righteous before God. Like receiving a “not guilty” verdict in court, God declares us free from sin.
-
Faith: Not merely intellectual knowledge, but complete trust and dependence on God’s promises.
-
Law: The 613 commandments and rules God gave to Israel through Moses, including circumcision, dietary regulations, and Sabbath observance.
-
Curse: Being under God’s judgment and punishment. Failing to perfectly keep the law places one under God’s judgment.
-
Gentiles: All nations except the Jewish people. Jews of that time considered Gentiles to be sinners who didn’t know the law.
Key Expressions to Notice
-
“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (v.6)
-
“Those who have faith are children of Abraham” (v.7)
-
“All nations will be blessed through you” (v.8)
-
“Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law” (v.10)
-
“The righteous will live by faith” (v.11)
Main Points of the Text
-
Abraham was justified by faith (v.6)
-
People of faith are true children of Abraham (vv.7-9)
-
Those who rely on the law are under a curse (v.10)
-
The righteous live by faith (vv.11-12)
Applying to My Life
-
What is my assurance of salvation based on?
-
Am I falling into spiritual pride?
-
Break free from perfectionist faith
Think About It
-
How does the fact that Abraham lived before the law was given prove the truth of ‘justification by faith’?
-
Imagine how shocking the statement “true children of Abraham are determined by faith, not bloodline” must have been to the Jews of that time. What does this truth mean for us today?
-
What’s the difference between trying to perfectly keep the law and having faith in Jesus? Which is your faith life closer to?
Tags: #Galatians #Galatians3 #Abraham #Faith #Justification #Law #Curse #Gospel #Gentiles #Salvation #Grace #FatherOfFaith #Genesis15 #Habakkuk2 #Reformation #JustificationByFaith #Legalism #갈라디아서 #갈라디아서3장 #아브라함 #믿음 #의롭다함 #칭의 #율법 #복음 #구원 #은혜
