Galatians 3:2
2 This [touto] only [monon] would [thelo] I learn [manthano] of [apo] you, [humon] Received ye [lambano] the
Spirit [pneuma] by [ek] the works [ergon] of the
law, [nomos] or [e] by [ek] the hearing [akoe] of faith [pistis]? KJV-Interlinear
2 This is the only thing I want
to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by
hearing with faith? NASB
Merit is the key in this verse.
Does one receive and enjoy the benefits of the
spiritual life based on his own works, or does he receive and enjoy the
benefits of the spiritual life based on the work of Christ, and therefore by
means of faith?
Paul asks and teaches in these verses, that the
gospel when heard and believed, was enough and the only source of the spiritual
life. Works are not.
No one during their life or throughout the ages,
has ever been saved or received any spiritual benefit based on their own
efforts. If works was the path, then
when does ones works become efficacious?
At what age? But of course works
are not a part of the spiritual process.
The Law was the outline of works that taught the
total depravity of man. Man is worthless
and empty of righteousness or anything good or decent. Man cannot invent or transform himself to a
point sufficient enough to make him perfect.
Anyway, Paul asks a simple question. How did you
receive the Holy Spirit?
If by faith, then the work of Christ on the cross
abrogates and erases all claims of human works.
If by works, then Christ is not needed and anyone
can work their way to heaven.
Cain tried to gain Gods honor through his harvest
of grains and such. Cain rejected the
animal sacrifice, which taught faith and Christ. God rejected Cain and God rejected mans
works.
The Tower of Babel was an effort to ascend to heaven
based on mans efforts. That failed.
The Mosaic Law, taught of mans inability to even
keep the very law that man claims. Thus
the need for a savior.
Pauls argument should have ended here, but he will continue
and show that any and all of mans claims to a spiritual life have nothing to do
with mans own efforts or deeds or sufferings.
Faith and faith alone is the path to and through
the spiritual life. Faith comes by study
and study comes by the word.
