Galatians Chapter 3

The issue Paul is addressing in the book of Galatians is the failure to see the distinction between Peter's ministry, the gospel of the Kingdom, and Paul's ministry, the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, or in other words, 'Paul's gospel.'

This Kingdom gospel is not a false gospel. It is a very legitimate gospel and it existed and the people involved in the kingdom gospel were very much alive and well in Paul's day, during the time period of the book of Acts. The Kingdom gospel was preached by John the Baptist, by the Lord Jesus Christ, himself, and by the 12 apostles both BEFORE AND AFTER the death of Christ. The Kingdom gospel was the ONLY gospel being preached during the early years, during the early part of the book of Acts. Their GREAT COMMISSION was to go into all the world and teach ALL NATIONS and Peter's preaching was designed to prepare the nation of Israel to be a 'kingdom of priests and an holy nation' and do just that.

But when the Lord appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus and gave Paul 'that gospel that I preach,' then the Kingdom gospel became a DIFFERENT GOSPEL. It had to be set IN CONTRAST to Paul's gospel, the GOSPEL OF CHRIST, and that's what Paul did in Galatians chapter one. But now in chapter three:

Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

In other words, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. You receive the Spirit by the hearing of faith. How do you know you have the Spirit? Because you know that you believe the gospel, that Christ died for your sins and that he was raised again for your justification. In other words, you trusted Christ for your salvation. You are not trusting in your own good works.

Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

Paul wrote to Timothy and said that all who will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. That persecution comes primarily from religious people. These Galatians are suffering the same persecution and it's coming from very religious people. In this case from those from Jerusalem who are 'subverting their souls' as James wrote, in Acts 15, and they had no such commandment, no authority to do so.

Galatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Paul says in Romans that 'through mighty signs and wonders' in all the places he has been to that he has fully preached the gospel of Christ. Paul had the signs of an apostle. The Jews require a sign and Paul had them. The Greeks seek wisdom and Paul had that too. He said we 'speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,' in other words, the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation given to Paul.

He says that Jesus Christ had been 'evidently set forth' in other words declared to them by Paul's preaching, crucified among you. Paul's preaching was powerful to them and among them, and they had believed it.

Read Paul's sermon in Acts 13 in it's entie context.  But keep in mind that while Luke writes, in the book of Acts, he records what Paul said, but he is not writing primarily to the church, the body of Christ. In other words, the doctrine to the body of Christ was not written by Luke in the book of Acts, it was written by Paul in Romans through Philemon. Nevertheless, Luke faithfully records Paul's sermon. As we read it we can see who Paul is preaching to and exactly what he says.

Acts 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

Notice that it's the Sabbath day, and that they are in the synagogue.

Acts 13:15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

Acts 13:16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

Now let's just compare for a minute a distinction between what Paul says to those that fear God and something Peter had said earlier. When Paul says 'ye that fear God,' it's a reference to God-fearing Gentiles who are in the synagogue listening to Paul. But to compare, look at what Peter said and see if you can see a difference between what he said and what Paul said:

Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

What's missing from what Paul said? What did Peter say that Paul didn't say? WORKING RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Paul didn't say one word about working righteousness. Why? Because:

Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

In a blinding light, brighter than the noonday sun on the road to Damascus:

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

So what we have here is the first record, the first recorded sermon that Paul preached, and Paul says nothing at all about works of righteousness for salvation.

Acts 13:17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

This is a reference to Moses leading the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt.

Acts 13:18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

Remember that Israel wandered in the desert for forty years. Actually they wandered until the whole generation of people who came out of Egypt had died. Those people were not allowed to enter the promised land, the land of Caanan. Why? Because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Acts 13:19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

Acts 13:20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

Acts 13:21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Acts 13:23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

So Paul gives them the historical account of the birth of Christ of the seed of David, according to prophecy. This is in one accord with what Paul says in the book of Romans:

Romans 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

So Paul continues with the prophetic record that these people he is preaching to, 'men of Israel and ye that fear God,' in other words Jews and God-fearing Gentiles who are listening to him preach in the Synagogue on the Sabbath day.

Acts 13:24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance to Israel and so did Peter in Acts chapter two:

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

So the preaching of Peter on the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two is basically the same as the preaching of John the Baptist. Peter has new information in Acts chapter two, Christ has been raised from the dead, Peter says, to sit on David's throne.

Acts 13:25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

Acts 13:26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

So the word of THIS salvation is sent to somebody. Who does Paul say it is SENT TO at that time? Children of the stock of Abraham and whosoever among you (listening to Paul in the synagogue of the Jews) feareth God.

Acts 13:27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

Acts 13:28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

Acts 13:29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

Acts 13:30 But God raised him from the dead:

So far, what differences have we seen between Paul's preaching and Peter's preaching? Same Jesus, same cross, same resurrection from the dead. But let's keep reading:

Acts 13:31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

When Paul says they are his witnesses unto the people, it's a reference to the 12 apostles who witnessed, they spoke in tongues on the Day of Pentecost and all those devout Jews out of every nation under heaven who were there heard the witness:

Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Acts 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

Acts 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

Acts 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

In other words, they witnessed the name of Jesus, the son of David, the heir to the throne of David, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Acts 13:32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

Notice the promise made unto the fathers, as in Abraham, Isaac and Jacob being the fathers:

Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

In other words, Jesus Christ was begotten of God in resurrection, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, the firstborn from the dead...born again.

Acts 13:34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Acts 13:35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

So far this is in one accord with Peter's preaching on the Day of Pentecost. What would this good news, these glad tidings,  be called? It is the same information Paul refers to in Romans chapter one, verses one through four and he says it is the GOSPEL OF GOD. The difference in Paul's preaching that we have noticed so far is NO WORKS of righteousness.

Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

Acts 13:37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Now here is a very important distinction between the preaching of Peter and the preaching of Paul. Remember that Paul preaches Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. There was something that God was SILENT about, something he kept secret. Now the Holy Ghost can reveal what he wishes, when he wishes and to whom he wishes. This information was NOT revealed to Peter in the book of Acts:

Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Now Paul is preaching to both Jews and Gentiles and he is preaching what? The remission of sins? No. The forgiveness of sins. What did Peter preach?

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

On the day of Pentecost Peter preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. FOR...in other words, looking forward UNTO grace at the end, UNTO the Day of Atonement at the second coming of Christ.

Peter did preach to one group of Gentiles in the book of Acts. What did Peter preach to Gentiles? At the home of the Gentile, Roman Centuran in Acts chapter ten, Peter says:

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Notice Peter says that believers, according to the prophets SHALL RECEIVE the remission of sins, according to what the prophets had spoken about. The blotting out of Israel's sins is IN THAT DAY, the Day of the cleansing of Israel, the Day of Atonement at the second coming of Christ. Now watch carefully what Paul says:

Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

So Paul preaches total justification by faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone, apart from the law of Moses. As in Romans:

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

So Paul says, 'you foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you'? Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? All that believe ARE JUSTIFED from ALL THINGS. Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit are you now made perfect by the flesh? In other words by your own fleshly, physical efforts. Have you suffered so many things in vain? Paul suffered as he preached. He was beaten and stoned by the Jews. Paul had told these people they would have 'much tribulation,' in other words, much trouble. Have you suffered in vain? Was it all in vain?

Then he asks them, how does a man work miracles among you? Paul, or maybe even one of the Kingdom preachers, possibly, working miracles but still subverting their minds from the simplicity of Christ unto ANOTHER gospel. How does a man work miracles? By the works of the law or the hearing of faith? Remember Paul's encounter with the impotent man?

Acts 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

Acts 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

In other words, this man had faith in what? In the God of Abraham.

Acts 14:10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Now these Galatians had heard and seen things like this and that is what all these questions are about in Chapter three. That was Paul's whole point in asking them, to get the Galatians to think. It seems like that today, people simply don't think. And they certainly don't think about things such as this:

2 Timothy 2:7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

2 Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

So when Paul's gospel came along, when the Lord revealed it to him, then the Kingdom gospel Peter was preaching became ANOTHER GOSPEL. Not a false gospel, a real gospel, but ANOTHER GOSPEL...not the gospel Paul preached UNTO YOU.

Now Paul turns to the promises. During the book of Acts there was a time of promise. It had to do with people who were in the covenants of promise. At this time it was not about the Ephesians who were strangers from the covenants of promise. So Paul says:

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Paul makes a reference to Genesis 15:

Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

So he talks about the faith of Abraham. Remember that in Genesis 17, Abram's name was changed to Abraham:

Genesis 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

This is all before God gives Abraham the covenant of circumcison. So we have an uncircumcised man named Abram. He believed in the Lord and he counted it to him for righteousness. In other words all salvation, Genesis through Revelation, is BY FAITH. Not all salvation is by GRACE THROUGH FAITH. Only Paul preaches salvation by grace through faith. Peter preaches faith on trial. James preaches faith on trial. John preaches faith on trial. The books of Hebrews through Revelation are written to a group of people whose faith is on trial. But Paul preaches grace alone.

Now Abraham is made a father of many nations, so Paul says:

Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Those God-fearing Gentiles, called Greeks in the bible, heard Paul preach a message of salvation by faith alone. And they are told that they which are of faith, faith in the God of Abraham, faith in Paul's message, are the children of Abraham. He is talking in a spiritual sense, not physical. As he says in Romans:

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

So there was a promise and God made it sure. Paul preached to those people involved in the promise, to the Jew first and also to the Greek until he had fully preached the Gospel of Christ.

Romans 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Paul wrote the book of Romans at the time of Acts chapter twenty, at the end of his ministry, just before he is arrested and becomes the 'prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles' as in Ephesians 3:1. And he says:

Romans 15:29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

So the gospel of Christ is Paul's gospel. The gospel he preached to the Galatians. The gospel of the kingdom, called the gospel of the circumcision, was preached by Peter and the twelve and it's called ANOTHER GOSPEL.Now what was going on in Galatia is exactly what goes on in religion today. There be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. That's the case Paul makes all the way through the book of Galatians.

Paul uses Abraham, a very familiar name to the Jews, and the Jewish proselytes, those God-fearing Gentiles he had preached to. Notice he says that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. This would be a reference to both the Jews and the Greeks. The God-fearing Gentiles, who are called Greeks in the bible, called Abraham father.

The 'promises made to the fathers' of the nation of Israel began with Abraham. About one thousand years of human history goes by from the time of the flood in Noah's day until the call of Abraham. But God calls Abraham and in Genesis chapter twelve begins to make certain promises to him. We need to note that the promises are unconditional. In other words they don't depend on Abraham doing anything but only on the faithfulness of God. That's why Paul makes the statement he does in Romans:

Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Some, in fact most, of the Israelites did not believe. They rejected their Messiah. And it was through their fall that God brought about the revelation of the mystery and that resulted in the salvation of the Gentiles:

Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

The fall of Israel occurred in Acts chapter seven with the stoning of Stephen. Since that time, the offer of the restored Kingdom has been withdrawn. It has been put on hold, Paul says, for a reason and for a season. Paul says in Romans that the blindness of Israel will continue until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. So they which be of faith, Paul says, are the 'children of Abraham.'

Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Just as a note, compare Galatians 3:8  with Ephesians 3:8. In Galatians the scripture foresaw justification of some people but as to the Ephesians, their salvation was unsearchable in the old testament scrptures.

Abram believed God, in Genesis chapter fifteen, verse six, and he (the Lord) counted it (that belief) for righteousness. So once again, all salvation, Genesis through Revelation is by faith. It is always by taking God at his word.  Then in Genesis chapter seventeen, and verse five, God changes his name from Abram to Abraham:

Genesis 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Notice it says 'I have made thee,' a father of many nations. Now there were people out there among those many nations Paul went to and in all those synagogues where he preached who were people of faith. They had faith in the God of Abraham. So Paul says:

Galatians 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Well, how were they blessed? By the call of Paul. Remember what the Lord had told Annanias the devout man who laid hands on Paul so that he could receive his sight?

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

And that's just what Paul did. He took the name of the Lord, the glad tidings, and he had preached the message of total justification by faith alone to all those people in Galatia. The Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles were blessed with hearing Paul's salvation message. Here is an example of it:

Acts 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

But now, Paul had word that they were being subverted to be back under the law. Paul had told them that they could not be justified by the law, but these people had been pressured by the Kingdom preachers, people who, although they believed in Christ, they were still under the law and they were zealous of the law. These Galatians were complete in Christ, according to Paul's gospel, and to turn back to the law would be to fall from grace:

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Paul had taught that Christ had been made a curse for us. He said that God had made him to be sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God IN HIM. In other words, through this man, through Christ, is the forgiveness of sins.

Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

'The just shall live by faith' is actually out of Habakkuk 2:4 which says the just shall live by HIS faith. That's what Paul says back in chapter two, 'the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the son of God.'

Galatians 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

In other words if a man is going to 'do the law' he is a debtor to do the whole law. He can't just select the parts he likes, or the parts that sound good religiously. Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy contain the law, the whole law. And it consists of much, much more than modern day legalists that pretend they are keeping the law suppose. No man has ever kept the law. The law was not given to keep, it was given to demonstrate the righteousness of God. It witnessed the righteousness that God requires. It was given, not to keep, but to show you that you need a Saviour. If there had been a law given which could bring life, then righteousness should have been by the law. What did Christ say about the 'weightier matters' of the law?

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Now there is a blessing for those who fear the God of Abraham:

Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Notice the 'promise of the Spirit.' That's why Paul says that he is an able minister of the SPIRIT of the new testament:

2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

God had promised the Spirit when the new testament goes into effect in the future. But here, Paul says that he ministers the SPIRIT of the new testament. The Spirit of the new testament is righteousness, the righteousness of God. Now, where can we find a gospel wherein the 'righteousness of God' is revealed? It is revealed in the gospel of Christ:

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Remember that only Paul preaches the gospel of Christ. Peter, James and John preach a 'faith on trial' gospel, enduring to the end and the second coming of Christ. That is when Israel gets the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31 and Hebrews chapter 8. There are people today who think that they are in 'the new testament church' and in the new testament. The writer of the book of Hebrews didn't think any such thing. The New Covenant is for Israel, and it was yet future when the book of Hebrews was written:

Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

So although the old covenant was old the Kingdom saints were very much still involved with it. The 'old covenant' is a reference to the Law of Moses. They knew there was a change in the Priesthood, a change in the law, but as you can see in the verse the old was 'ready to vanish away' but at the time had not vanished away. The new covenant is at the second coming of Christ and the fountain of Zechariah 13:1 being opened and the cleansing of Israel, the blotting out, as Peter said in Acts chapter three. Obviously, at the second coming of Christ.

But Paul has referred to the blessing of Abraham:

Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Spirit was promised to those to whom the promises pertain. Now here Paul refers to the 'blessing of Abraham,' which is a reference to Genesis:

Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

That would be people who were IN the covenants of promise, like the Jews and the Greeks in the synagogues. The Ephesians, and people like you and I, were not in line to receive the 'promise of the Father.'

Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

So the gospel of Christ is one thing, the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began. But the mystery of the gospel Paul writes about in the book of Ephesians is another thing:

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Ephesians 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: (in other words, at the time of the writing of the book of Ephesians, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles) that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

So to those who were familiar with the promises, those in the covenants of promise, Paul said he was 'an able minister of the new testament, not of the letter but of the Spirit.' The Spirit of the new testament is righteousness, the righteousness of God which is revealed, and only revealed, in the gospel of Christ, in Paul's gospel.

Now the blessing could not belong to those who sought to be justified by the law, because the law carries with it a curse for those who are under it. The law has the power to condemn but it has no power to justify. The law can only curse and condemn, it cannot save and justify a sinner. Only the price paid by Christ can do that, so, Paul says Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, by taking our curse on himself on the cross.

So Paul had told the Galatians that all that believe can be cleared of the curse so that they can receive the blessing. And that goes for the God-fearing Gentiles who heard Paul preach as well as the Jews. Also, the blessing involves not only being justified but also the gift of the Holy Spirit. So he said, 'that we might receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.'

So it involved God's covenant with Abraham. So now Paul shows that once the covenant is made, no further conditions can be added to it. Notice also that the covenant was not like a contract between two people, but it was a covenant of PROMISE. And only God made the promise. Notice too that the blessing of Abraham can only be fully realized, not in Abraham's multiple descendents, multiple SEED, but in a singular SEED, in ONE Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

So Paul says that even in a contract between men, once it is made, nobody can change it. But here, it was God who made the promise, He made the covenant.

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

This word SEED is spelled the same whether you are talking about a single seed or multiple seed. So the big picture of the two-fold purpose of God is revealed to Paul in an abundance of visions and revelations. Not all at once, but by progressive revelation. The central focal point, the very center of the whole plan and purpose of God is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

But what Paul is getting across to the Galatians is the fact that this covenant of promise can't be made ineffective by the law.

Galatians 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

The inheritance is eternal life and eternal life is in Christ. Only in Christ can you have eternal life. So all of the inheritance of God is in Christ, the singular SEED of Abraham.

So those who were in the covenants of promise heard Paul talk a lot about Abraham and the covenants and the promises. But his main point to the Galatians is to not be entangled AGAIN with the yoke of bondage. He says that they have been called unto liberty, only use not liberty as an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Galatians 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Now the law was given for a reason. Paul says that the law was a schoolmater to bring us to Christ. Paul had received a ministry on the road to Damascus. Remember the devout man named Annanias and what the Lord had said to him.

Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

Acts 9:14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

So briefly, here is the 'type' of Paul's ministry during the book of Acts. Notice the order of mention: Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Now on the island of Cyprus, Paul preached in the synagogue of the Jews. Then he goes through the island to Paphos and FINDS A JEW. Notice that Paul wasn't going through the island to find 'deputies of countries,' it says he found a Jew.

Acts 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

Acts 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

So here we have the man, Sergious Paulus, which is Latin. In other words he is a Roman and he is the deputy. He stands in the place of the king, he stands in the place of Caesar, the emperor at Rome. He is a Gentile. The Jew on the other hand is a 'seed of Abraham.' He is a BAD SEED but a seed nevertheless, and he is WITH the deputy of the country. So what do we have here? A Gentile has blessed the seed of Abraham. He is in line, and qualifies for a blessing. So what happens? The Jew is BLINDED and the Gentile gets the blessing. He is blessed with hearing Paul's gospel.

All the way through Paul's ministry during the book of Acts this is the type. The blinding of the Jew because of unbelief and the Gentile receiving the blessing because he did believe. This is MYSTERY TRUTH. It is the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the 'revelation of the mystery' which was kept secret since the world began, BUT NOW is made manifest. How was it made manifest? By the appearing of Jesus Christ to Paul on the road to Damascus.

So what is the mystery? Three major things. Number one, Christ died for OUR (for Israel's) sins, according to the scriptures. That is now made manifest and by the scriptures of the prophets MADE KNOWN. In other words, the scriptures spoke of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow, BUT THIS IS WHY. Christ died for our sins.

Number two: Salvation is coming, not through the RISE of Israel, but through their FALL. The blessing of Abraham comes on the God-fearing Gentiles THROUGH Jesus Christ. The Gentiles receive the Spirit, the Spirit of the new testament, which is righteousness. How? Through FAITH and not the works of the law.

Number three: The mystery of a joint body of believers, all equal IN CHRIST. The God-fearing Gentiles were in line for a blessing and that blessing came through Paul's preaching of the gospel of Christ:

Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

So we have Jews and Greeks, EQUAL in the body of Christ. This could not be the same group of people written about in the Hebrew epistles of Hebrews through Revelatlion. They are called a "holy nation" and they are referred to as a "royal priesthood," by Peter. In Hebrews there is a condition on their salvation. It is the IF of Hebrews 3:6 and 14. IF they endure unto the end. The end in their case would be the end of their lives or the end of the tribulation, whichever came first.

But out final verse of the chapter:

Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Notice again the reference to Abraham and notice the promise. There were promises involved where these Galatians were concerned, but as a contrast, that would not be true of the Ephesians to whom Paul later wrote the Ephesian letter. It would not be true of people living today.