Ministry of Grace Church

 

Galatians 3:4

⁴Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

Truth to Learn

Suffering for having saving faith in Jesus Christ is honorable.

Behind the Words

Before getting into an explanation of this verse we need to look at one word. The word translated “suffered” is a form of the Greek word “paskō” from which we get our English word, passion. It means “to be affected by something from without, to be acted upon, to undergo an experience.” This word can be used to express a good experience or a painful one, although in the New Testament it is most often used as a reference to a painful experience. For example, the writer of Hebrews used this word when talking about the suffering of our Lord.

Hebrews 2:9 ⁹But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Now, the question we have to ask ourselves is whether Paul is referring to good experiences or painful experiences with his use of this word in the current verse. Although there is some disagreement among Biblical scholars regarding Paul’s intent with this word, I believe that he is referring to painful suffering.

Meaning Explained

The Galatians, like many Christians in the first century of the church, suffered persecution because of their adherence to faith in Christ and much of this persecution came at the hands of unbelieving Jews. In Acts chapter 14 we read about the ministry of Paul and Barnabas in the regions of Galatia (Iconium, Lystra, & Derbe) and how the Jews stirred up such persecution against the Gospel that they even stoned Paul.

Acts 14:19 ¹⁹Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

From the earliest days of the church it has been considered honorable to suffer for the cause of Christ as experienced by Peter and several other apostles who were imprisoned and beaten for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ:

Acts 5:41 ⁴¹So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.

Paul’s point to these Galatian Christians is that if they suffered so much at the hands of Jews because of their simple faith in the sacrificial death of Christ, then it was in vain if they now embrace the legalism of the Jews. If they had embraced these legalistic practices in the beginning then the Jews wouldn’t have persecuted them, but they also wouldn’t have been saved!

So What?

Are you suffering for your faith in Jesus Christ? If so, then rejoice that you have been counted worthy to suffer for Him. After all, He suffered even more for you!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2007 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Galatians 3:2

²This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Truth to Learn

The Holy Spirit, who is our guarantee that we are eternally saved, is given to us because we believe not because we perform some deed or action.

Behind the Words

The word translated “works” is “ergon,” which is “an action or deed performed.” The word translated “hearing” is “akuon,” which here means “the sense of hearing” not “the act of hearing.”

Meaning Explained

Paul now gets to the heart of the matter with another of his rhetorical questions. He says that there is but one thing that he wants to learn from the Galatians. That is, there is only one question that he wants them to think about. And, though it’s rhetorical it is nonetheless a question which should cause any Christian to carefully think about the true source of their salvation in Christ Jesus. The question is: “Did you receive the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) from the works of the Law, or from of the hearing of faith?” In other words, “Was it by your works that you received the Spirit of God, or was it simply the result of being able to hear and believe the gospel message?”

Remember what Paul told the Ephesian Christians?

Ephesians 1:13, 14 ¹³In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Paul’s point to the Galatian Christians is that if they were saved by faith and sealed with the Holy Spirit at the point of salvation, and if the Holy Spirit is our guarantee (our earnest) that we will receive our inheritance as the children of God, then we have all that we need for salvation. And since that salvation is guaranteed to us no matter what we do (we have the guarantee of the Holy Spirit living in us), then there are no good works of the Law that can add anything to our position in Christ. Incidentally, this also means that there are no bad works that we can do that will cause us to lose this salvation either.

So, Paul’s point in the current verse is, “You did not earn your salvation by works of the Law but by simple faith. Therefore, you are saved by faith without any additional works of the Law.”

Ephesians 2:8 ⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

And all the praise goes to God!

So What?

Are you listening to God, or are you too busy working to hear Him?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2007 Will Krause. All rights reserved.