How the book of Galatians applies to present-day Christians

The book of Galatians was written by Paul to the church at Galatia. These non-Jewish believers were being enticed by some false teachers to be circumcised and come under the Law. Paul is writing this letter to refute that teaching.

Thoughts that could arise when one is reading the book of Galatians are: How does this apply to me? I do not have anyone trying to convince me to be circumcised, and even if they did, that seems like a weird thing to need to do. No one tells me to maintain the ceremonial cleanliness required by the Law. How does this apply to me? I am not trying to be justified by the Law.

My hope for this blog post is for us to gain greater understanding of how the book of Galatians can apply to us today.

Seeking to be justified by the Law is seeking to be justified by works

Paul's primary concern for the Galatians is that they are seeking to be justified before God by works of the Law. He warns in chapter 5: " ⁴You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace." They are seeking to be justified, or made right with God, by the Law, but earlier in chapter 3, Paul has made it clear that righteousness is not obtainable by the Law, "For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law..." In 2 Corinthians 3:6, Paul explicitly says "For the letter [i.e. Law] kills, but the Spirit gives life."


Although we may not experience pressure to keep the Law of the Old Testament, we are often pressured to keep our own "law" that we create. This is called legalism; seeking to obey a set of rules as a way to get right with God. Legalism is not synonymous with obedience. Obedience says, "God commands, and I will obey, because He is my God." Legalism says, "I must do this thing [regardless of whether or not God commands it!] in order for God to want to be my God."

So when you read verses like 5:2-3, "²Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law," what should be registering in your mind should be something like this, "Look: If you try to add some works to the faith-based foundation of your right standing before God, you are not understanding the Gospel. If you try to have some element of works-based salvation in your justification, you must therefore do everything that is required for salvation by works, which is impossible."

Just as justification is by faith, so also sanctification is by faith

A common misconception is that we are justified by grace through faith, and then we live the rest of our lives in our own strength, trying to do better, but now with the benefit of God forgiving us when we sin. In addition to trying to be justified by their works, the Galatians were seeing sanctification by works. Paul has a radically different perspective on how sanctification functions:

"¹O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? ... ²Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? ³Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (3:1-3)

Paul is saying, "Having been justified by grace through faith [by the Spirit], are you now being sanctified by works [by the flesh]? "

The implied answer is a resounding NO! Just as justification is by grace through faith, so also sanctification is by grace through faith. This concept is stated most clearly in 5:25, " ²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." If we have been brought to life by the Spirit, let us also walk out this new life in the Spirit.

Practically, I would say a great place to start seeking sanctification by faith is to pray. Acknowledge your dependence on God, ask him for help to become sanctified today. Admit you cannot do it on your own. And wait on him to empower you with his Spirit. We still believe he does that ... don't we?


The superiority of justification and sanctification by faith

See how far superior justification and sanctification by faith are as opposed to trying to obtain either in the flesh:


"when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. ⁸Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. ⁹But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? ... ¹For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (4:5-9, 5:1)