Galatians 3:1-14

Galatians 3:1-14
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. ² I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? ³ Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? ⁴ Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵ So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? ⁶ So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Works is a lie that has been around since the beginning.  Even I act foolishly somedays and don't come to God because I feel I have to "clean-up".  There is nothing I can do to earn God's favor.  In my own power and skill I will never clean up good enough to enter His presence.   It is only through the power of what Christ has already done that I am saved and it is Christ's blood that makes me clean.
 
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.

Here is a case of scripture enhancing and defining scripture.  When reading the Old Testament account, I would pass right over this phrase without a second glance.  Just as God knew me before the earth was formed, he started laying a plan for my salvation.  How great is our God!

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.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 

No one can fulfill the law.  Only Jesus did.  If you were to break just one of the laws you were guilty of all the law.  Jesus became a curse in our place. 

¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

No commentary required.  

God Bless.