Galatians Chapter 3 Summary

What is wrong with calling Christianity a religion? Throughout my study on Galatians chapter 3 this past semester, this question has been answered repeatedly. By referring to Christianity as a religion, we imply that Christianity is associated with religious works. In Galatians, however, Paul tells us that the Spirit and the law—religious works—are enemies. The Lord does not care for religious duties. Instead, we are to live by faith in Jesus Christ, trusting in Him as our life. Throughout chapter three, Paul contrasts these two ways of living, showing that Christ should be our life. This life sustains us even in the face of our enemies, and it solves all of our problems.
The main point of the book of Galatians is that Christ should be our life—not religious actions or works. Paul says in 3:3, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit,
It shows the distinction between living by the law and by the Spirit, pointing out that the Lord should be our only source of life. Through living by this life, we will become one with the Lord and with all the other saints. The Lord’s life will ultimately result in our being transformed to His image. Galatians shows that life is the solution to all our problems: if we are on a plateau in our experience of the Lord, we only need to ask for our daily portion of life; if we are discouraged, we only need the Lord’s life; even if we feel that we are useless to the Lord and might as well give up, the Lord’s life can solve the problem. He has solved these problems in my life. And yet I feel at times that I have hit another plateau—but this is by the Lord’s wisdom: We can never be satisfied with where our experience of the Lord is, but must continually press on, “setting [our] mind on the things of God” (Mark 8:33). We must continually ask for our portion of life; Christ is not one who holds back: He supplies the Spirit bountifully. Praise the Lord for His