Galatians – Week 4 – Day 4

READ 

Galatians 3:3-4 

3 How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? 

Paul was greatly disappointed with the Galatians who had trusted in Jesus by faith but were now adding laws to what Jesus had done for them. The word “perfect” refers to that which is “mature” or “complete.” Only God is “perfect” in the sense of being without sin. The Galatians were going by a list of rules as if they were living in Old Testament times under the Mosaic law. 

REFLECT 

Are these thoughts convicting you? After you trusted in Jesus as Savior and received the Holy Spirit, are you trying to live by a list of rules rather than by the grace of God?  

RESPOND 

Read Romans 5:16-21 to see the contrast between law and grace. Determine to live with appreciation for the grace of God rather than trying to live under the law and a list of good works.