Galatians 3 and 4: Shutting up the Acts 28ers.

The book of Galatians is a dispensational battle ground in the Mid-Acts vs Acts 28er debate. If you are going to refute the Acts 28 position it is necessary to get Galatians 3-4 right. The Acts 28ers say that Galatians 3-4 reveal that Paul was looking forward to inheriting earthly blessings that had to do with nations like Abraham. That is wrong and you will see why.

(I commented on all the things Acts 28ers do not like)

Galatians 3:
[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
[2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
[4] Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
[5] He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Those verses set the stage for the passage and it reveals what the passage will be about. Contrary to Acts 28 teaching, this passage is not about Gentiles receiving earthly blessings with Abraham. The theme of the passage is clearly "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
........He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"

That is the theme of the passage, Paul is talking about us in the Body of Christ receiving the Spirit by faith. Justification by faith. 


[6] Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
[7] Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Acts 28ers do not like being being "children of Abraham" so they say that Paul must be talking about some type of Jewish prophecy and hope rather than to the Body of Christ. There is a problem with that, we in the Body of Christ are Abraham's seed. There is no problem here that a little bit of King James Bible can't fix. If the Acts 28ers would read the whole passage they would understand "children of Abraham". See the end of the passage.

[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
[29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

At verse 26 we see that we are children of God "by faith in Christ Jesus", kind of like how Abraham had faith in God and it was "accounted to him for righteousness". 

At verses 27 and 28 we see that Paul could not be talking about Old Testament earthly blessings with Israel because the only way anyone inherits the earthly blessings is by being a Jew or a Gentile proselyte to Judaism, but here, these believers have been "baptized into Christ" and there is no "Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (also see 1 Corinthians 12:13). 

Then here is what we are looking for that answers the "children of Abraham" problem, "if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise". Christ was of Abraham's seed, and we are in Christ so we are Abraham's seed.  

[8] And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

The meaning of "In thee shall all nations be blessed" is clearly stated "the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith". The entire chapter is about justification by faith. (see verses 15 and 16 and comments)

[9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

There is where the Acts 28ers get hung up, they say "the Body of Christ does not get blessed with Abraham and his earthly blessings so this cannot be written to the Body of Christ". (they say the same thing about verse 29 "heirs according to the promise")

My response to this is WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT "EARTHLY BLESSINGS". The Acts 28ers see "blessed with" and jump to a conclusion that they pre-determined would be the outcome of this passage. What does this blessed/bless/blessing with faithful Abraham mean? Keep reading and we will see.

[10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
[11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
[12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
[14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

Here is the answer to verses 9 and 29 (in regards to "they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham"). The answer is that the blessing is not an earthly one, it is a blessing through Christ that we receive the "promise of the Spirit through faith".


[15] Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
[16] Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

All nations can be blessed in Abraham because Christ was Abraham's seed and all nations can be in Christ where there is neither Jew nor Greek. (see verse 8 and comments)

[17] And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
[18] For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
[19] Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
[20] Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
[21] Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
[23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
[24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
[25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
[29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

There are no further comments needed. This is self explanatory and I think my previous comments covered these.

Moving on to chapter 4.




Galatians 4:
[1] Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
[2] But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
[3] Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
[5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
[6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
[7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
[8] Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
[9] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
[10] Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
[11] I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
[12] Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
[13] Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
[14] And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
[15] Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
[16] Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
[17] They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
[18] But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
[19] My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
[20] I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
[21] Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?






 Illustration begins (actually "allegory").

[22] For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
[23] But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
[24] Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
[25] For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
[26] But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
[27] For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
[28] Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
[29] But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
[30] Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
[31] So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

All that should have been self explanatory. Paul said all that as illustration to see that we are not under the law but under grace, "brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free", that goes back to verse 21 to say that we are not under the law. 

Doesn't that make since? Do you see anything in Galatians 3 and 4 that would make you think Paul only knows Old Testament prophecy and that he knew nothing about the mystery before Acts 28? Nope.

Keep studying the King James Bible, RIGHTLY divided.