SATURDAY February 6, 2021
Bewitched Believers
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
Galatians 3:1
Paul rebuked the Galatians for being so foolish. The word foolish in the Greek language means “come to a place of thinking, but not with true wisdom.” They were deceived from the truth. Judaizers, opponents of Paul, had influenced the Church by applying the Mosaic Law to gain salvation. They had insisted Gentiles be circumcised to receive salvation––not true! The Galatians were removed from the solid doctrine Paul had previously taught them. Salvation was by faith––not by the Law.
Paul used the word bewitch to pose a good question. The word bewitch means “to seek to bring a person to damage.” Paul used very strong language, as if to say, “Who has cast a magic spell over you?” The Galatians had been bewitched, spellbound, by this untrue doctrine. There was a spell cast over their eyes! Through an evil word, a person is bewitched––deceived. They believe the lie instead of the truth. Paul wrote to the Galatians to define the true Gospel he preached by establishing the doctrine of justification by faith.
What was Paul’s Gospel? Paul clarified the Gospel of grace to the Ephesian believers: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). One thing people have to realize is that salvation is the free gift of God through faith in Christ; it is given through God’s grace. All a person needs to do is repent of their sins and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
You see, a person is not saved because they go to church, read their Bibles, help an elder person, or do any other good deeds. These things do not gain favor with God. Salvation does not work that way. It is a gift! We simply enjoy the grace of God!
Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves.
~J.I. Packer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
