Read Galatians 3:1–14
Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The
righteous will live by faith.”
Galatians 3:11
In their conversion experience, the believers in Galatia had received
the Spirit by faith and not by the works of the law. This led Paul to
ask another question: “If you did not begin with the law, why bring it
in anyway?” Since we were saved through faith and not law, then it is
reasonable that we should continue that way.
The illustration of human birth is appropriate here. Two human
parents are required for a child to be conceived and born, and two
spiritual parents are required for a child to be born into God’s family: the Spirit of God and the Word of God (John 3:1–8; 1 Peter
1:22–25). When a normal child is born, he has all that he needs for
life; nothing need be added.
When the child of God is born into God’s family, he has all that
he needs spiritually; nothing need be added! All that is necessary is
that the child have food, exercise, and cleansing that he might grow
into maturity. “You have begun in the Spirit,” wrote Paul. “Nothing
need be added! Walk in the Spirit and you will grow in the Lord.”
Something to Ponder
Have you added anything to the idea of “faith alone”? Why is it so
tempting to add to faith?