Not by Human Effort

Galatians 3:1-29

Friday, 20 February 2026

“How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?”- Galatians 3:3 NLT

As Christians throughout our lives there will be a war within us to either live by God’s Spirit or the works of the flesh (the do’s and don’ts of the law). Paul in Galatians exhorts the believers that blessings come from God on the basis of faith and not by the law. The law constantly declares us guilty but faith in Christ Jesus leads us to freedom that results in a fruitful life. 

In today’s reading Paul reprimands the believers in Galatia for having strayed from a life of faith to their own good works. How often are we also caught in this trap! It’s so much easier to lay down our own rules and run our Christian life on them than heed to God’s Spirit nudging in our lives – How can we get out of this cycle?

Apostle Paul reminds us of 3 gifts given by God to make us perfect, received only when we put our faith in Christ. If we remain in these, we can live a victorious Spirit-led life.

1. Declared Righteous - Paul first takes us back to the life of Abraham and points to the one act of his that made him acceptable to God (V.6) He put his faith in what God told him, resulting in God declaring him righteous. Righteousness is the first gift of faith. No amount of good works can earn us this title. Isaiah 64:6 says: “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” If this is how God looks at good works, we don’t stand a chance to be righteous through good works. How is your standing? Have you slipped from a sure foundation of being clothed in Christ’s righteousness (2Cor 5:21) by your faith in Him, to working out your righteousness by your own making? It’s time to stop striving and start believing His Word. 

2. Righteous Living -Paul secondly highlights that the just shall live by faith (v.12). Not only has our faith in Christ made us righteous, giving us a new position in the eyes of God, those who have begun this journey with Christ will continue living a life of faith. What does this mean? As human beings we are unable to keep the law of God perfectly.In our failure to do so, we die in our sins. So what is the way out? We the righteous need to continually put our faith in the One who did not fail to keep the law. In Matthew 5:17 Jesus states that ‘He came to fulfill the law.” How did he do this? He became a curse to redeem us from the curse of the law (Gal.3:13), His perfect righteousness in place of our failures and his blood shed in place of ours—on this truth we continue to build our Christian life. Are you experiencing your life through Christ or living by observance of the law? 

3. Blessing of the Holy Spirit -Lastly Paul goes on to tell us the most wonderful blessing that we Gentiles have received (that was reserved only for God’s people)- the promise of the Holy Spirit, we receive through faith. When we became sons of Abraham through faith (v. 4) every spiritual blessing that was exclusive became inclusive. Paul says in Ephesians 1:3 – “we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.”Everyone who has received this blessing will operate in the new law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus in which:

i. We become His dwelling place (Eph2:22)

ii. Our Self is crucified (Gal. 2:20) 

iii. We live to God (Gal.2:19)

Have you received these gifts? If not, put your faith in the Saviour—He is ever willing to give them to you.  

Think on: ”… I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” ~ Galatians 2:20

Listen: 'No longer I'