Gospel Outreach International

How can believers avoid being deceived by false teachings that replace salvation by faith with salvation by works? This Bible study on Galatians 3:1-14 addresses this critical question by examining Paul’s rebuke of the Galatian church for abandoning the gospel of grace. Through careful analysis of Paul’s rhetorical questions and warnings, this study reveals the vital distinction between faith-based salvation and works-based religion, offering believers practical wisdom for discerning truth from error in today’s spiritually confusing landscape.

just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Galatians 3:6

• The passage focuses on seven key themes: foolishness, faith, flesh, foresight, failure, faithfulness, and the finished man (Jesus Christ)
• Paul uses six rhetorical questions throughout the passage to challenge the Galatians’ drift from faith to works
• The Galatian believers received the Holy Spirit by faith, not by observing the law or performing works
• The central problem addressed is churches preaching salvation by faith but then teaching sanctification by works
• Discernment is identified as one of the most critical spiritual gifts needed in modern Christianity to distinguish true gospel from false teachings
• Many false teachings arise because believers are not properly taught and do not study God’s Word sufficiently
• The danger of legalism is illustrated through historical examples including the Pharisees’ 613 laws and divisions within church movements
• True children of Abraham are those who live by faith, not those who follow religious traditions or laws
• The devil’s strategy is to mix a small amount of poison (false teaching) into a large lake of truth, which corrupts the whole
• Three essential questions for evaluating new teaching: Is it present in Scripture? Is it based on faith or works? Is it lived consistently?
• Religion focuses on pleasing God through good works for salvation, while life in the Spirit means trusting Christ first and then living to please God
• The correct order is: confess, submit, and commit to Christ first, then serve and obey as an expression of salvation, not to earn it
• True Christian power comes from the Holy Spirit, not from human self-determination or motivation
• The relationship described is “Christ in me and I in Christ” - this is the source of control, direction, and spiritual life
• Many modern churches focus on motivational messages and internal activities rather than spiritual truth and outside perspectives
• Churches that become too insular and never invite outside speakers risk being led astray without proper balance

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11

This Bible study brings us back to what really matters - Jesus and our relationship with Him. The speaker reminds us that Jesus called Himself the light of the world, but then amazingly said that we, His disciples, are also the light of the world. That’s the heart of it all - we’re meant to reflect Christ to others. The whole message is about not getting sidetracked from the simple but profound truth that it’s “Christ in me and I in Christ” that makes the difference. We can’t earn our way to God through religious activities or good behavior - it’s all about faith in Jesus who died for us. The power to live the Christian life doesn’t come from our own efforts but from the Holy Spirit living in us. So let’s not be like those foolish Galatians who got distracted by rules and works. Instead, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, trust in His finished work on the cross, and let Him shine through us as we walk this journey of faith together.

Bible References

• Galatians 3:1-14
• Galatians 3:1-14
• Hebrews 11
• James