Galatians 3:6-8
There is an argument that we hear from some that Jesus preached a religion of love and then Paul just messes it up with all of this theology. John Piper addressed this in his article “Did Jesus Preach the Gospel of Evangelism?”. (https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/did-jesus-preach-the-gospel-of-evangelicalism) He uses the story of the prodigal son and of the Pharisee and the publican (translated as “tax-collector” in many versions).
Luke 18:9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others. 10“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” WEB
We see the Pharisee presenting his resume apparently trying to impress God with his righteousness. The tax collector has no such resume to offer and apparently no hope of Heaven, particularly after hearing this speech by the Pharisee. As a result, he can only rely on God’s grace. Note here Jesus’ use of the word “justification”. We have been discussing two different approaches of coming to God and see both in action in this parable.
Like the publican (and the Pharisee), we are not adequate in ourselves to stand before God as it takes an act of grace by God to change us from our earlier position to that of being righteous. This justification occurs in an instant but that doesn’t mean that we can immediately start following the law (and if you start trying to play that game, you can only fail – even if you are better than everyone else!). Making things harder is that Jesus clarifies the law so that we will understand that outward conformity is not enough. You have to be internally obedient as well.
2Corinthians 3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a New Covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. NHEB
The Judaizer teachings are dangerous and Paul is simply stunned that churches have turned away from his message. Even though he has made his point, the false teachers still have influence. By teaching circumcision, they are appealing to the example of Abraham.
Galatians 3:6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, NET
Paul is proof-texting his argument by quoting Genesis 15:6. While pulling verses out of context to support your position can be problematic, here the difference is that Paul’s audience is already familiar with Genesis so this is just a shorthand way for him to open up the line of argument. The Judaizer argument is that since Abraham was circumcised, you have to be circumcised, as well. What this overlooks is that circumcision doesn’t appear until Genesis 17 and here we see Abraham being justified (i.e., made righteous) by faith prior to his circumcision.
The Judaizers claim to be from James. There are people today who want you to believe that Paul and James have an argument and point specifically to the quote from James that faith without works is dead. It isn’t a new debate as when he was first translating the New Testament into German, Martin Luther purposely left out James because he didn’t believe it added anything we didn’t already know from the other texts (and could be easily misunderstood). Still the question that remains is whether or not James was reacting to Paul? There are some who revel in this type of scholarship but never does Paul say “no works”. What he does say is that works won’t save you. James’ point is that works are evidence of faith. Paul makes the same point in Ephesians 2. If we are saved, the Holy Spirit is working within us to produce fruit.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. BLB
We should also remember that there is a difference in the target audience between James and Paul. The Jewish audience of James are accustomed to works so they would hear this statement regarding faith and works, they would conclude that faith is before works. Same would be true for Abraham as he is not exactly a paragon of virtue. Even after he starts his journey it is in fits and starts (not unlike our own journey in sanctification).
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see….6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him….8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. BSB
Galatians 3:7 so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. NET
Moslem and Jewish people can point to a genealogical link to Abraham but that isn’t what is important here. Recall John the Baptist’s retort to the Jewish leaders that God could make stones into the sons of Abraham (see Matthew 3:9 or Luke 3:8). John’s message was that the people have to repent and be transformed as a response to faith. Just because you are descended from Abraham doesn’t make a child of Abraham. There are behavioral consequences. Abraham was justified because he believed in God – it was a spiritual connection with God. We should emulate his faith as that is what Paul is talking about in this verse.
Deuteronomy 6: 5 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. NHEB
Deuteronomy 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. BSB
Romans 2:25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. 28 A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God. BSB
Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. 12 And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, 14 having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! BSB
Paul is criticizing those who are outwardly-in but inwardly-out as God hasn’t changed His mind. In Second Temple Judaism, the Old Testament message of redemption where everything in the Temple is a reminder that you needed God’s help has somehow gotten twisted into a reliance on law instead. There are Christians today who do the same thing as we just naturally lean toward law.
Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the Gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. NET
Scripture, for Paul is the Old Testament. He bases his reasoning on those texts and sees the Gospel message in Abraham. Let’s not forget that the first eleven chapters of Genesis are about everyone!