Setting – Paul give historical support that faith is a righteous action.
Content – Paul starts out with a question (v. 5), “…does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” Obviously, the miracles were not done by works of the law. He supports this by stating that (v. 6), “…Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS”. We are all sons of Abraham, (v. 7), “be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.” God’s promise extended to Gentiles as well as Jews (v. 8), “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, {saying,} "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.".
All people, Jews and Gentile, are blessed by Abraham’s faith. This is the same faith that Paul says that the Galatians need to follow and not the law. Their faith will be counted as righteousness, just like it did with Abraham.
Paul concludes his support righteousness derived faith (v. 9), “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”
Application – It started with Abraham, faith was reckoned as righteousness. This doesn’t exclude us from doing righteousness acts, but we derive our righteousness from our faith and not our actions (or following the law in this case).
We need not be afraid that our life is dependent upon our faith. We can, at times, try to base our faith on tangible items and not rest in the simplicity of faith. Just like Paul stated, “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”
Content – Paul starts out with a question (v. 5), “…does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” Obviously, the miracles were not done by works of the law. He supports this by stating that (v. 6), “…Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS”. We are all sons of Abraham, (v. 7), “be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.” God’s promise extended to Gentiles as well as Jews (v. 8), “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, {saying,} "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.".
All people, Jews and Gentile, are blessed by Abraham’s faith. This is the same faith that Paul says that the Galatians need to follow and not the law. Their faith will be counted as righteousness, just like it did with Abraham.
Paul concludes his support righteousness derived faith (v. 9), “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”
Application – It started with Abraham, faith was reckoned as righteousness. This doesn’t exclude us from doing righteousness acts, but we derive our righteousness from our faith and not our actions (or following the law in this case).
We need not be afraid that our life is dependent upon our faith. We can, at times, try to base our faith on tangible items and not rest in the simplicity of faith. Just like Paul stated, “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”
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