Galatians 3 begins with one of the strongest rebukes in Paul’s letters. He calls the Galatians foolish. That’s a strong word, and most of us wouldn’t react well to being called foolish. Yet, Paul has a deep relationship with these believers. He isn’t attacking them out of frustration but out of love. His harsh words are meant to wake them up from a dangerous path.

A Series of Important Questions

Paul follows this rebuke with a series of questions designed to make the Galatians reflect on their faith journey. These questions remain relevant to us today.

1. How Did You Start Following Jesus? (Verses 1-2)

Paul reminds them that they clearly understood the gospel when it was first preached to them. He says, “It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” Even though they weren’t physically present at the crucifixion, Paul preached so clearly that they could grasp its significance.

Then he asks: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? This is a foundational question. How were they saved? Was it by keeping religious rules or by trusting in Jesus? The answer is clear: salvation comes by faith, not by works. Paul had already made this clear in Acts 13:38-39 when he preached in their region:

“Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man (Jesus) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed (justified) from everything from which you could not be freed (justified) by the law of Moses.”

The Galatians were saved by faith, not by law-keeping. But now, they were acting as if they had to earn their standing before God.

2. How Are You Continuing to Follow Jesus? (Verse 3)

Paul follows up with another piercing question: Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? In other words, if your journey with Jesus started by faith, why do you now think that your growth in Christ depends on your own efforts?

Many of us struggle with this. We know that we are saved by grace, but we can slip into thinking that God’s continued love depends on our performance. But Paul reminds us that just as salvation is by faith, so is our growth in Christ.

Philippians 1:6 echoes this truth:

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

God is the one who transforms us. We participate by surrendering to Him, but it is His Spirit that makes us more like Jesus—not our ability to follow rules.

3. Why or How Has God Worked in Your Life? (Verse 5)

Paul reminds the Galatians that God has worked powerfully among them. Miracles had taken place. People’s lives had been changed. Then he asks: Does He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? The answer is obvious: God’s power is at work because of faith, not because of rule-keeping.

Acts 14 gives an example. Paul and Barnabas healed a man in Lystra who had been crippled from birth. Why did God heal him? Was it because he kept the law? No. It was because he had faith. Paul looked at him and saw his faith, and through that faith, the man was healed.

4. How Was Abraham Saved? (Verse 6)

The false teachers troubling the Galatians claimed that to be right with God, people had to follow Jewish customs and laws. But Paul goes back to the father of their faith—Abraham—and asks, How was Abraham saved?

Paul quotes Genesis 15:6: “And he believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.”

Abraham wasn’t declared righteous because of his works but because he trusted God. His faith, not his law-keeping, was what made him right before God. This was a powerful argument against the legalists misleading the Galatians.

5. Who Are the Real Children of Abraham? (Verses 7-9)

Paul then answers an important question: Who are the real sons of Abraham? The false teachers claimed that physical descent from Abraham was crucial. But Paul turns that idea upside down. He says, Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

It’s not about ethnicity or ancestry. It’s about faith. Those who trust in Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile, are the true children of Abraham. The real blessing of Abraham is received by faith, just as Abraham himself received God’s promises by faith.

Application: What Does This Mean for Us?

Paul’s questions aren’t just for the Galatians. They challenge us today as well. Here’s how they apply to our lives:

• Our Salvation: How are we saved? By faith, not by works.
• Our Growth in Christ: How do we become more like Jesus? By faith and the work of the Holy Spirit, not by rule-keeping.
• God’s Power in Our Lives: Why does God work in and through us? Because of faith, not because we follow religious rules.
• Our Identity: Who are God’s true children? Those who trust in Jesus, not those who rely on their own efforts.

Legalism is always a temptation. We want to measure our spiritual lives by what we do. But Paul reminds us that faith—not rule-keeping—is what truly matters. The Christian life begins with faith, continues in faith, and is completed by faith.

So let’s remind ourselves daily: we don’t have to earn God’s love. We already have it through Jesus Christ. We are saved by faith. We grow by faith. And we live in faith.