Chapter Summary

Gift of Spirit by faith apart from law-works. Man under lawworks is under the law curse. Christ bears the law curse that we might have the faith blessing. The true intent of the law.

Discussion Questions for Galatians, Chapter 3

1. If we receive the Spirit through belief, why is it so easy to return to a legalist mindset? What makes legalism attractive?
2. When was a time in your life where you felt close to the Lord but then walked away from him for a time? What brought you back?
3. If we have salvation through Christ's fulfillment of the Law, what purpose does the Law serve now?
4. Abraham was a man who believed, and it was credited to him as righteousness. If Jesus is the only way to salvation, how did Abraham (and others in the Old Testament) attain salvation? Does this hold true for people today who have not heard the Gospel? Why or why not?
5. Read Genesis 12:1-3. Has God fulfilled this promise? What other promises to Abraham has the Lord fulfilled? What promises has He fulfilled to you?
6. There are over 600 laws in the Old Testament that people were required to follow, but just think about the 10 Commandments. How many of those have you broken? Why should we still try to follow the 10 Commandments if we're already cursed?
7. God's promise to Abraham came well before Moses gave the law to the Israelites. Why did God give this promise unconditionally to Abraham? Why does God love us unconditionally?
8. Read verse 27. Is baptism essential to salvation? Why or why not? Be sure to use Scripture to make your claim.
9. Compare verse 28 with Ephesians 5:15-6:9. If there is no "Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female" (CSB) in Christ, how can we reconcile these two passages?
10. Read John 15:1-8. Jesus is the Seed of Abraham (verse 16, CSB), but then "if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's seed" (verse 29, CSB).How does a person belong to Christ? Do you belong to Christ?

Key Words/Phrase

Works and faith, v. 5.

Characters

God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul, Abraham.

Strong Verse(s)

3, 10, 11, 13, 21, 22, 24, 26.