1. The Essence of Faith and the Importance of Galatians Chapter 3
Understanding Galatians chapter 3 properly is tantamount to obtaining the key to comprehend the entire book of Galatians. This is because the Apostle Paul mentions the word “faith” a total of fourteen times in this chapter. The relationship between the Law and faith, as well as the universal nature of salvation that includes not only the Israelites but also Gentiles, is encapsulated in Galatians 3. Since the era of the Reformation, Galatians has been nicknamed “the gospel of freedom” for its powerful proclamation of freedom, grace, and faith—and at the heart of this powerful proclamation lies the pivotal teaching found in chapter 3.
Over decades of preaching the gospel in Korea and around the world, Pastor David Jang has repeatedly highlighted the central message of Galatians 3 to those who, having fallen into legalism, have lost sight of the essence of salvation. He has especially emphasized the fact that “we are saved by faith,” or sola fide—the doctrine that we gain righteousness through faith alone—and has continually stressed that this is the most crucial doctrine. This teaching aligns with the outcome of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), in which the church reached a common agreement that “even Gentiles are saved by faith, not by the Law.”
Indeed, the fundamental gospel reaffirmed at the Jerusalem Council was that “we are saved by faith.” It reaffirmed the truth that the Law could not set anyone free from sin and death. The Judaizers (or false teachers) insisted that salvation was incomplete without circumcision and strict adherence to the Law. However, the apostles Peter, Paul, and James proclaimed through the council that circumcision or various ceremonial regulations could not be conditions for salvation. From the days of the early church, “salvation by grace alone, through faith alone” has been the most important core of Christian soteriology, and Galatians 3 clearly presents this core truth.
Throughout Galatians, Paul strives to demonstrate that the gospel he preaches is in full harmony with the gospel proclaimed by the apostles in Jerusalem. That gospel is: “Salvation does not come through the Law, but only through faith in Jesus Christ.” This teaching drew strong backlash from many Judaizing false teachers, but in Galatians 3, Paul deals with the controversy head-on.
Paul witnessed the reality of these false teachers infiltrating the church and leading believers astray by claiming, “Even if you believe in Jesus, you still have to keep the Law and be circumcised to achieve complete salvation.” Some of the Galatian believers, who had once been liberated by grace and faith, found themselves trapped again in a “legalistic religiosity.” Thus, in Galatians 3:1, Paul delivers a forceful rebuke: “You foolish Galatians!” Although they had already seen the only path to salvation through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, they were reverting to a different gospel. Paul’s stern reprimand—“Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. Who has bewitched you?”—serves as a vital warning for today’s church as well.
Likewise, Pastor David Jang has repeatedly emphasized in numerous sermons, lectures, and written ministries that “the focus of Galatians chapter 3 is the cross, the resurrection, and the certainty of salvation by faith.” He reaffirms the biblical truth that while the Law reveals sin and teaches us that we cannot save ourselves, the Law itself does not solve the problem of sin. The good news—or “gospel”—is that Jesus took all curses and the penalty of sin upon Himself on the cross, thereby providing the fundamental remedy for the sins the Law exposes. And the core of Christian salvation is accepting that gospel “by faith.”
Although the word “faith” is commonly heard in Christian life, Galatians 3 delves deeply into the definition and significance of faith. It explores what faith truly is, how it works, and why it is possible to be saved by faith, citing examples from the Old Testament (especially Abraham). This aligns with the following teachings:
- Salvation comes by grace.
- This grace is decisively revealed in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- We only need to receive this grace by faith.
In Galatians 3, Paul explains this theme in the most logical and powerful manner. Therefore, if the church does not want to lose the central truth of soteriology (the doctrine of salvation), it must hold fast to what Galatians 3 teaches. Pastor David Jang points out that “even today, many believers know in their heads that they are saved by faith, but it does not translate into their daily lives.” Expressing regret that “too often, believers repeatedly condemn themselves and others, tied down by laws, regulations, church traditions, or social and cultural standards,” he has continually called on the church to reclaim the “gospel of freedom” that Paul proclaimed.
Ultimately, Galatians 3 contrasts two major pillars—“faith” and “the Law”—and presents the universal and ultimate truth that it is solely through faith that we are justified. Paul’s strong tone—“You foolish Galatians!”—is not merely a rebuke but also an earnest plea not to become entangled again in the yoke of the Law. Today, we too must heed Paul’s warning and become people who enjoy genuine freedom under grace.
2. Abraham’s Faith, Conflict with Legalism, and Paul’s Argument
In the opening verses of Galatians 3, Paul asks, “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by believing what you heard?” (Gal 3:2). He does this to remind the Galatian believers that they had already experienced the Holy Spirit. If they truly had received the Holy Spirit, they should know well that salvation came not through the Law or rituals, but rather through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, whether they had experienced spiritual gifts, being born again, speaking in tongues, prophesying, or any other work of the Spirit, it was not achieved by observing the Law but by believing in the gospel of Christ. Paul urges them to recall this fact.
Paul then proceeds to reference the patriarch Abraham (Gal 3:6), the greatest forefather in the Old Testament. This is because Abraham is the key figure often emphasized by the Judaizing false teachers. They insisted, “Our forefather Abraham was approved by God through the Law and circumcision.” However, the reality is that Abraham was credited as righteous when he first believed God, and that event predates circumcision (Gen 15:6). Pastor David Jang also frequently cites the Abrahamic narrative from Genesis 12 to 17 in his sermons and biblical expositions, reminding us that “there was already a moment when Abraham was declared righteous by God before he was circumcised.”
Circumcision appears in Genesis 17. In other words, Genesis 15:6—“Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness”—took place before the introduction of circumcision. Moreover, the detailed stipulations of the Mosaic Law, in the broader sense, came 430 years after Abraham’s time (see Gal 3:17). Hence, Abraham’s righteousness was in no way obtained through circumcision or the Law. By faith, he obeyed (Heb 11:8—“even though he did not know where he was going”), received God’s promise of “descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky,” and set out for a foreign land, trusting in God’s word, which was counted to him as righteousness.
Paul refers to this principle as “the righteousness he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised” (Rom 4:9-10). The event of Abraham being declared righteous by faith occurred first; circumcision was merely a sign, confirming the righteousness already granted. Romans 4 and Galatians 3 have many parallel passages. In Romans 4, Paul describes “the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works,” connecting it to David’s confession (Rom 4:6-8). And he concludes that Abraham was declared righteous entirely by faith, not by works.
Pastor David Jang emphasizes this connection between Romans and Galatians, noting that understanding Galatians 3 provides deeper insight into Romans 4 and 5, just as understanding Romans illuminates Galatians 3 more clearly. This theme—“the righteous shall live by faith” (Hab 2:4; Gal 3:11; Rom 1:17)—originates in the Old Testament and forms the backbone of the entire New Testament’s teaching on salvation.
Paul’s declaration that the same grace is given to Gentiles is powerfully conveyed when he refers to Abraham as “the father of all who believe” (Gal 3:7; Rom 4:11-12). For Jews who viewed Abraham exclusively as their own ethnic patriarch, Paul’s message was radical. Yet the logic of the gospel he presents is as follows:
- Abraham was declared righteous by faith even before receiving the Law.
- Therefore, the Law or circumcision is not an absolute condition for being declared righteous.
- The path of receiving righteousness by faith, as Abraham did, is open to all.
- Accordingly, Gentiles who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ are grafted into Abraham’s spiritual lineage.
In Galatians 3:10-12, Paul goes so far as to say, “All who rely on the works of the Law are under a curse” (quoting Deut 27:26). Since no one can keep the Law perfectly (Rom 3:10), the Law actually makes sin more evident and increases guilt and condemnation. In 1 Corinthians 15:56, when Paul says, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law,” he implies that rather than solving sin, the Law underscores it more starkly. Consequently, those who seek righteousness through the Law will never attain salvation and remain under a curse.
But Galatians 3:13-14 proclaims that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us,” the Scriptures declare. By hanging on the cross, Christ Himself bore the legal decree, “cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree” (Deut 21:23). Through this, He liberated us from the powers of sin, death, and the curse, granting us the promise of the Spirit by faith. Pastor David Jang summarizes this by stating, “Because the penalty for all sin was paid at the cross, all that remains for us is to believe that fact.” Once declared righteous through faith, we are then led by the Holy Spirit into the gradual process of sanctification.
The teaching of Galatians 3 directly challenges the ongoing legalistic tendencies within many modern churches. Some claim that “observing church laws, traditions, rituals, worship formats, or specific moral standards is a condition of salvation.” Pastor David Jang and other orthodox theologians do not advocate antinomianism (denying the need for the Law) or disregard for morality. In fact, Christianity demands the highest possible ethics and love. However, these cannot be the conditions of salvation. Since Christ has already accomplished our salvation, we must follow this grace by obeying the gospel, being transformed by the Holy Spirit into those who joyfully do good. This is how we “fulfill” and “complete” the Law on an entirely different level from legalism.
In this way, Paul presents a highly logical and Scripture-based argument in Galatians 3, fully refuting the Judaizers’ claim that one must be circumcised and keep the Law to be saved. The crux of his argument is: “Even Abraham was counted righteous by faith, not the Law, so of course uncircumcised Gentiles too can be saved by faith.” And in Christ, all believers become one, sharing in Abraham’s spiritual heritage.
3. Freedom in Christ, the Work of the Spirit, and Contemporary Application
Galatians is often called the “gospel of freedom,” not to encourage lawless indulgence, but to underscore the “freedom from the power of sin and death” gained through the gospel. In the latter part of chapter 3 (especially Gal 3:23-25), Paul explains that “before this faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.” In this sense, the Law served as our “guardian” (Gal 3:24), pointing out our sin but lacking the power to resolve it. However, through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have been liberated from the yoke and curse of the Law and ushered into the freedom of faith.
Hence, centered on Galatians 3, Paul’s conclusion is unmistakable: “We have been saved not by the works of the Law but by faith. Now we have received the Holy Spirit, and we live by the power and fruit of the Spirit.” This is what Paul refers to as “the power of the gospel.” The Holy Spirit fortifies our justification and then ushers us into sanctification. Pastor David Jang’s preaching and pastoral ministry frequently deal with how the indwelling and leading of the Holy Spirit, received by faith, transform individuals and communities. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ has already once and for all opened the way of salvation, and the effect of that salvation continues to grow within us through the Holy Spirit’s work.
Paul’s discussion of the conflict between “the desires of the flesh” and “the desires of the Spirit” is elaborated further in Galatians 5, but from chapter 3 onward, he hints at it through phrases like “held in custody under the Law.” Our human nature, being inherently sinful, may recognize sin through the Law but lacks the ability to sever it by our own power. However, when the Holy Spirit comes, we are granted the power to subdue sin (see Rom 8). While the Law is an external standard that points out sin, the Holy Spirit renews us from within and leads us toward a life befitting those who are “justified.” In this respect, Pastor David Jang teaches that “once believers experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they no longer carry out their faith merely by focusing on rules and prohibitions. Instead, they are set free by grace, using that freedom for noble purposes and for loving others.”
In summary, the core message of Galatians 3 is as follows:
- Salvation is a “gift of God” obtained not by the Law but through faith.
- Abraham, the forefather of faith, was declared righteous before he was circumcised.
- Through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are freed from the curse of the Law and receive the Holy Spirit by faith.
- This grace is shared by both Jews and Gentiles, uniting all of us into one body as Abraham’s spiritual offspring.
Why is this truth important? Because in our day-to-day faith journey, we constantly oscillate between “the Law” and “grace.” Even after receiving salvation, we may fear that if we fail to keep certain rules, our salvation might be revoked; or we may fall back into the mistaken habit of trying to earn God’s approval through our own efforts and good works. But remembering Galatians 3 and the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, we once again cling to the definitive markers of Christian salvation: “by grace alone” and “by faith alone.”
Pastor David Jang warns that “when a church becomes legalistic, the power of the gospel that sets souls free is diminished, and people end up condemning one another, pursuing only an external form of piety.” Conversely, “when the true gospel is upheld, believers bear good fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit, serve others, and actively and dynamically overcome sin.” This is the “gospel of freedom” that the Holy Spirit proclaims through Galatians 3.
Today, this is the gospel we must proclaim. Because Jesus Christ was crucified, anyone who believes can be declared righteous. Just as Abraham was declared righteous by faith, we too are justified by believing in the gospel of Christ, and we walk in newness of life through the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is a straightforward yet profound truth: We are saved through faith—sola fide.
Finally, the Apostle Peter exhorts us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Pet 3:15). We must clearly understand what Galatians 3 teaches about the definition of faith, the limits of the Law, and the power of salvation offered through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This understanding becomes the pillar that keeps our faith unshaken and the foundation for proclaiming the unchanging message of the gospel to those who do not know the Lord. Through countless sermons, writings, and discipleship training over many years, Pastor David Jang has continually reminded believers of this, teaching that “when people hold onto this gospel, every barrier is torn down, and they are freed from every kind of religious yoke to experience true liberty.”
In the end, Galatians 3 poses a question to us: “How did you receive the Holy Spirit—through the works of the Law or by believing what you heard?” And it provides the answer: “We received it by faith and were justified by faith.” This is our confession, and it must become the guiding truth lived out in our daily lives. Galatians 3 calls us to experience genuine freedom in the gospel, grow through the Holy Spirit, and unite more deeply in Christ as the church and the people of God. This is the simplest yet most profound essence of our faith that we must continually hold onto.