'Ga 3:6-14

Back to Contents

Example of Abraham (Ga 3:6-14)

Abraham’s life demonstrates that God justifies on the basis of faith, not law-keeping. (To understand the illustrations that follow, read Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-18; 15:1-6; 22:15-18.)

Abraham was justified not because he kept the law, but because he believed God. The law, with its rules about circumcision, had not yet been given. The real children of Abraham are not those who have been circumcised according to the law, but those who have been saved by faith (Ga 3:6-7).

The Old Testament long ago declared that Gentiles would be saved the same way as Abraham - by faith (Ga 3:8-9).

Those who try to win God’s favour by keeping the law are condemned to death by that law when they break it. Since all break it, all are condemned (Ga 3:10).

Another reason why people cannot be justified through the law is that justification is by faith; but the law requires obedience, not faith (Ga 3:11-12).

Christ’s death on the cross was the clear sign to all that he bore the curse of God. He suffered the death penalty on behalf of the law-breakers, so that all who believe in him might escape the law’s curse. Like Abraham, they are justified by faith (Ga 3:13-14).