LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
The Blessing of Abraham
In Galatians we have an interesting association between God's righteousness, the promise and the Holy Spirit. The Christians in Galatia had a severe problem, and Paul promptly goes, exercising much authority, to help them out of trouble. They had become entangled in the law, making a mixture of grace and law.
And then, Paul asks them a couple of questions that bring them back to sanity: "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing with faith?" (3:2); "He then who supplies the Spirit to you and works wonders among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing with faith?" (3:5). There is a close relationship between hearing with faith and the reception and supply of the Spirit, between hearing with faith and the wonders that God works in the midst of his people.
By hearing with faith, Abraham was justified and received the promise; not by works. And what is the promise here in Galatians? "That in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (3:14).
The Galatians were turning away from faith, and consequently, from the Spirit. Works are always associated with the flesh, and the consequence is sin and condemnation. On the other hand, faith is always associated with the Spirit, and the consequence is the peaceful fruit of righteousness. That is why in Galatians chapter 5 we have the fruit of the Spirit.
Let us note the development of this teaching: In chapter 3 there is the reception of the Spirit (v. 2); then the supply of the Spirit (v. 5), all this in conformity with the fulfillment of the promise ("the blessing of Abraham", v. 14), and in 5:22-23 the fruit of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance". In this there is an order, a sequence.
The fruit of the Spirit is the natural consequence of receiving the permanent supply of the Spirit, of a walk in faith, holding fast to the promise of God. The fruit of the Spirit is much more than the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit. The gifts and manifestations are useful and profitable for the edification of the church; the fruit of the Spirit, with its rich and varied expressions, is even more so, because it shows the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Is there sterility in our Christian life? Perhaps we have fallen from grace to works. This being so, the Spirit is quenched and grieved. Everything becomes heavy, because it remains at the expense of the meager human strength. Thus the faith of Abraham brings us the blessing of Abraham, which is the righteousness of God (Gal. 3:8-9), and the promise of the Spirit (3:14). Let us abide in them, by faith.