“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The 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.” So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 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 tree.” 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.” (Galatians 3:1–14)

Paul is giving the Galatians some necessary chastisement. They were making one of the most common mistakes followers of Jesus can make. They were starting to believe that they could take some of the credit for their forgiveness and salvation, when the truth of the matter is that our salvation from sin and death was, is and always will be GOD’S DOING.

Paul very bluntly asks them a key question:  Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

Paul doesn’t try to drive home his point with his own reasoning or power of persuasion. He instead turns to what should be the final word in all matters of faith. Scripture. He quotes the Old Testament six times here to answer the question he put before them.

V.6 Genesis 15:6  It was Abraham’s faith, not his works, that was credited to him as righteousness.

V.8 Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 22:18 Abraham’s faith in God would bring God’s blessings to all nations.

V.10 Deuteronomy 27:26 The law brings condemnation because we cannot and do not keep it perfectly.

V.11 Habakkuk 2:4 God’s declares us righteous, and truly sees us that way, because we believe in Him.

V.12 Leviticus 18:5 God knew that men would try to achieve their own righteousness. He also knew they would fall short of His requirements.

V.13 Deuteronomy 21:23 Our shortcomings and failed efforts put us under a curse. Jesus took that curse on Himself in our place at the cross.

By citing theses passages, Paul establishes that he is not introducing anything new. This was God’s plan all along, announced right after the fall into sin. He would rescue us. He would save us.

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.