You stupid people!

Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians!


Paul is not trying to make friends here. In fact, he sounds a little ticked off. Angry. Our Sunday School teacher mentioned last week that anger is fueled by love. I think Paul's anger was fueled by love for God, Christ, and the gospel itself. He goes on to say...


Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.


Where they actually denying the crucifixion and resurrection? Or was it their legalism that has Paul saying this? I am not sure. Either way, it is still an offense to the cross. They had been granted the power of the Spirit! (Vs 2), but apparently this was not enough to keep them from going down this path.


I find that VERY interesting. So having the power of the Spirit is not enough to keep one on the straight and narrow? No wonder there are so many times that we are admonished to guard what we have been given. Oh that the power of the Spirit would protect us completely and always guard our direction! But the Galatians had begun with the Spirit, and then wandered off to attain their goal through human effort. (Vs 4)


Why? Why go back to the law? I can only think of one reason, comfort. Satan exploited this completely. How can you depend only on the blood of Christ? Surely God wants you to do more. Just believing cannot be enough. He still preaches that message today. And many still buy it.


Sometimes I think we find ourselves indespensible to God. It is as if withour our help, the job just cannot get done. Is that the God we serve? One who needs our help to get the job done? Remember John the Baptist, when the Pharisees came out, curious, self-righteous?

See those rocks? If God wanted more children for Abraham, he could get them from those rocks. (Paraphrase of John the Baptist from Matthew 3:9)


That is the God I serve, the one who does not need me but loves me. The one who is above all, and can do all.


Job 26:14 "And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"


All of creation, and it is but the fringe of his works. That is a GOD worthy of my praise.


There is a lot of phony faith in the church today. And it is actually chasing people away. I hope that I am not a part of it.


AMEN!