What role does faith play in receiving the Spirit, according to Galatians 3:14? Reading Galatians 3:14 “He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” Setting the Stage • Paul has just asserted that Christ became a curse for us (v. 13). • The purpose: unlock Abraham’s blessing—for Jews and Gentiles alike—in Christ. • End goal: “the promise of the Spirit.” • Key means: “by faith.” No other avenue is mentioned. Faith: The Non-Negotiable Link • Faith is presented as the exclusive channel through which the Spirit is received. • The grammar is tight: “so that … by faith we might receive.” Faith is the hinge on which everything turns. • Nothing is added—no rituals, ceremonies, or human merit. How Faith Opens the Door to the Spirit 1. Faith rests on the finished work of Christ (vv. 13-14). 2. Faith unites the believer to Christ, positioning us inside the blessing promised to Abraham (v. 14a). 3. That union qualifies us to receive the Spirit, God’s personal presence and guarantee (v. 14b). Faith, Not Works: Paul’s Emphasis • Galatians 3:2—“Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?”. Paul’s answer is implied: by hearing with faith. • Galatians 3:5—God “supplies the Spirit to you … by hearing with faith.” • Any attempt to mingle law-keeping with faith as a basis for receiving the Spirit undercuts the gospel (3:10-12). Related Passages Echoing the Same Truth • Acts 15:8-9—God gave the Spirit to Gentile believers, “purifying their hearts by faith.” • Ephesians 1:13—“Having believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” • Romans 8:9—Those who belong to Christ “have the Spirit of Christ”; belonging is secured through faith (cf. 5:1). Living in the Spirit by Faith • The faith that receives the Spirit continues to rely on the Spirit day by day (Galatians 5:25). • Ongoing dependence, not self-effort, characterizes Spirit-led living (Galatians 3:3). • The same faith that opened the door keeps us walking in step with the Spirit. Summary Snapshot Faith is the God-ordained conduit—wholly apart from works—through which believers receive the promised Holy Spirit. Galatians 3:14 makes the sequence clear: Christ redeems, the blessing flows, faith receives, and the Spirit indwells. |
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