In his letter to the Galatians Paul claims that they have been “bewitched” by those they held in high regard. They had lost sight of the central truth—the crucifixion of Christ. Paul reminds them: “Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.” The death of Christ was not a hidden matter; it was vividly proclaimed to them. Their faith had begun with the clear vision of Christ crucified, yet they were now being pulled back into the grip of law and works.
“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?” – Galatians 3:5 (NIV)
Even today, many believe they receive the Spirit by following certain steps—obeying church traditions, undergoing baptism, or adhering to religious conventions. We attempt to earn what God freely gives. But the Spirit is not poured out because of our obedience, nor because of the strength of our faith but because of God’s grace alone. To credit our works as the source of our anointing is to fall into the same trap as the Galatians.
The Spirit Given by Grace
The consistent testimony of Scripture is that God gives His Spirit out of His grace. It is neither earned nor merited by works. It is not even dependent on the strength of our faith, for faith itself is a response to His grace. The Spirit is given because God delights to give Him, and He does so freely.
So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” – Galatians 3:6 (NIV)
To strengthen his point, Paul rightly turns to the example of Abraham, which is often misunderstood by the masses. Many assume that Abraham is called the father of faith due to his works—his obedience to leave his homeland, his circumcision, or even his willingness to offer up Isaac. Abraham was not righteous because he was perfect—not by any means. His life was filled with moments of weakness, fear, and failure.Yet became the father of faith because God, in His grace, counted him righteous.
In the same way, we who believe are declared children of God. Our standing before Him is not based on the strength of our obedience or the depth of our sacrifices. It is based entirely on grace. Thus, instead of striving through systems, conventions, or religious effort, we are called to turn directly to God. When we ask Him, He pours out His Spirit—not because of our works, but because of who He is, a Gracious and Loving God.
Hypocrisy Among Believers
Paul writes about his encounters with the apostles, the esteemed leaders of the early church, and is unafraid to expose their hypocrisy in order to reveal the dangers of relying on works and the law. He recounts the incident when Peter came to Antioch.
At first, Peter freely sat and ate with the Gentile believers, showing fellowship without hesitation. But when certain Jewish believers arrived from Jerusalem, his attitude changed. Out of fear of their disapproval, he withdrew and separated himself, no longer eating with the “uncircumcised” Gentiles, in an attempt to conform to Jewish customs.
The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. – Galatians 2:13 (NIV)
Just as Peter shifted his behaviour depending on who was watching, we too are tempted to live as different versions of ourselves in different settings. In church, we may present one face—appearing spiritual and upright—yet in the workplace or social circles, we may hide our convictions in order to blend in. This tendency creates a false persona, a mask worn to gain acceptance. At its heart, it is hypocrisy, for it denies the consistency of a life rooted in Christ. It is the desire for everyone’s approval that leads us to compromise.
Some even misquote Paul’s words, “I became like a Jew to win the Jews, and like a Gentile to win the Gentiles” (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:20–22), as though Paul was endorsing double standards. But Paul was not speaking of pretending or faking; he was speaking of humble identification for the sake of the gospel—never of concealing or compromising truth. The challenge before us is to live with integrity, the same person in every place, shaped not by the desire to be liked but by the truth of Christ.
Making Christ’s Sacrifice Inconsequential
In many ways, we have diminished the importance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross in our lives. Though people call themselves Christians, their lives often show little alignment with what Christ taught us. His words are neglected, and His example is set aside. Worse still, His sacrifice—the very center of our faith—is sometimes treated as though it were irrelevant, as additional laws are prescribed to newcomers to “complete” their faith.
In the days of the early church, the Jewish believers insisted upon circumcision above and beyond one’s faith on Christ. Faith alone was considered insufficient; salvation, they argued, required adherence to the covenants and even to additional traditions. The same problem persists today, where new believers are often told that they must undergo another ritual—baptism—in order to complete their faith, as though without it they cannot truly be saved. But if that were true, then what was the point of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” – Galatians 2:21 (NIV)
His death established the everlasting covenant between God and mankind, granting us access to Him without the need for endless purification and sanctification ceremonies. Yet, from the earliest days of the church until now, layers of tradition have been added, and ceremonies multiplied, as if they were the true means by which people come to God. It is not rituals or traditions that bring salvation, but Christ crucified, once and for all.
Depending on Laws Over Grace
In the Old Testament, the Levites—who were set apart for temple service—never forced the remaining eleven tribes to undertake the cleansing rituals that were uniquely theirs. Each tribe was called to live in covenant with God, but the priestly duties and ceremonial requirements of the Levites were not imposed on all. However the Jewish believers in the early church insisted that the rest of the world must submit to the Abrahamic covenant of circumcision in order to be saved. The call of the gospel is not to make Gentiles into Jews, but to bring all—Jew and Gentile alike—into one body through Christ.
For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse…- Galatians 3:10 (NIV)
Paul explains that those who depend on the works of the law are under a curse. Because when a person relies on the law, they fail to understand faith and grace. The law requires flawless observance, yet no one can truly keep it. Depending on the law as the pathway to God is therefore impossible. To hide behind the law, pretending to keep its commands while the heart remains far from God, is a self-deception that leads only to condemnation.
Yet many still prefer the law, clinging to rules and rituals as if they were the true safeguard. Even after Christ’s death on the cross, they still choose to remain under a guardian rather than under the True Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. The law does not give life but only points to the One who can. If we cling to the law, we remain under its curse, as the law will always make us condemned, but only Christ can make us right before God.
Scriptures, therefore, are like our diagnosis, exposing the sickness of our sin, but Jesus is the one who heals us. This is why Christ came, to redeem us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. In His death, He bore the penalty of the law so that the blessing given to Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through faith in Him. In this way, we receive the promise of the Spirit—not by works, not by law, but by grace through faith.
Discussion Questions
- In what ways do modern church traditions risk leading believers to depend on works rather than grace?
- In what ways might we, like Peter, allow fear of others to shape our actions?
- How might our dependence on religious practices make Christ’s death seem less central in the minds of believers?
- Why are all who rely on the works of the law under a curse, and how does Christ’s sacrifice free us from this curse?
The Jordan Valley 
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