Faith Alone

An Overview of Galatians

By Joe Guagliardo

Galatians 3:1-14

“Faith Alone”

June 14, 2023

The Reformation gave us five Solas. The word Sola is Latin and means alone. It’s where we get the word, solo or unaccompanied.

The five Solas are that came from the Reformed church of the Reformation are:

Sola Scriptura – (Scripture alone) – God’s Word, the Bible, is the final word of God that we live under

Solus Christus (Christ Alone)- Jesus is a gift given to us by God for our Salvation

Sola Fide – (Faith Alone) – We are saved by Faith Alone, not by Faith and works

Sola Gratia – (Grace Alone)- We are justified with God by our Faith, in His Son Jesus Christ

Solo Deo Gloria – (Glory to God Alone) – Only God receives all the Glory for what He did for us by sending His Son Jesus to save us

All of the Solas are important to us in the Christian Faith. Today, let’s focus in on Sola Fide. We are saved by Faith alone.

As Paul continues his letter to the Galatians, he explains, once again to the Galatians and us, that we are saved by Faith Alone.

“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 the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? (3:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.) Have you experienced (3:4 Or suffered)  so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again, I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law or by your believing what you heard? So also, Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (3:6 Gen. 15:6)

Understand, then, that those who have Faith are children of Abraham. 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.” (3:8 Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18) So those who rely on Faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of Faith.

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly, no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” (3:11 Hab. 2:4) . The law is not based on Faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person 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 pole.” (3:13 Deut. 21:23) 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 now begins to lay out his case for being saved by Faith alone. He starts his dialogue by being somewhat harsh with the Galatians.

“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?”

Paul comes right out and asks the Galatians again and again:

“So again, I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?”

To me, Paul makes his case for Faith alone when he talks about Abraham. I find his case to be made with this one simple statement.

“So also, Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

You see, even in the Old Testament, God was telling us that there would be a time when Grace and Faith would go hand in hand. God even foretells this to Abraham.

God tells Abraham that:

“All nations will be blessed through you.”

Abraham was a man of Faith, and because of this, he was made righteous before God. Not because of what he did or would do but because of God’s amazing grace.

Paul doesn’t leave his argument for, by Grace through Faith there. He gives us another example in the book of Habakkuk.

“Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly, no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

As I read these passages, I was amazed at how God dropped the promise of a new world where we would no longer be expected to keep the law perfectly. Even in the book of Habakkuk it is stated that”

“The righteous will live by faith.”

Finally, Paul says:

“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.”

Paul wasn’t pulling any punches with the Galatians. The above words are challenging and also aimed at you and me. We are Gentiles. Jesus died for all of us. And we receive the Holy Spirit through God’s Grace and our Faith in Jesus Christ. He (The Holy Spirit) guides us, corrects us when necessary and is with us throughout our lives. Living by the law can’t do that because we cannot uphold it perfectly.