Galatians 3:5-9 He therefore that ministered to you the Spirit, and worked miracles among you, does he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know you therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
‘He therefore that ministered to you the Spirit, and worked miracles among you.’ The apostle here refers to himself as ministering the Spirit to them and as working miracles among them by faith and through the gospel and not by the works of the law.
‘And it was accounted to him for righteousness. Quoted from Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3-5 where it speaks of Abraham’s faith that was accounted to him for righteousness.
‘Know you therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.’ Those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham. He was justified by faith before he was circumcised and 430 years before the law (Gal. 3:7-18). This being true, then the law is not necessary to salvation. Remarkably, the Jews’ maintained Abraham was saved by faith, for righteousness was imputed to him before both circumcision and the law (Gen. 15:6). They recognized that it had to be by faith. Paul’s argument here is very strong, backed by this fact concerning Abraham.
‘In thee shall all nations be blessed.’ This is the 1st Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Galatians (3:8; Gen. 12:3). This is here called the gospel or glad tidings for all nations. All who are to partake of this promise must likewise be justified by faith apart from circumcision and keeping the law (3:7-18; Rom. 4:1-25).
Living the Word 