Galatians 3:1-3

1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

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? (Of course salvation is only by hearing with faith)

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

The Galatians had understood the principle of salvation; that it is by the grace of God, and not by following the law. The problem was that they thought that doing good deeds and following rules and regulations would increase their spiritual status.

Paul tells them they are foolish. Be careful: it’s very easy for us to get caught up in doing good deeds, volunteering, giving, or doing Christian service, thinking that that is how we become “perfected” or matured as believers.

This is not to say that there is anything wrong with Christian service! As you grow, you will be more and more motivated to do things in the service of Jesus Christ. The reason Paul tells them they are foolish is that they are looking to the works to make them mature.

When you emphasize service and good deeds, it makes the Christian way of life sound like hard work! The Word of God says the exact opposite!

Remember what Jesus said about being a follower of Him:

Matthew 11:28-30

28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.

30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Many people (both believers AND unbelievers) see the Christian way of life as a life of struggle, trying to work hard to measure up to what God wants. But the real Christian life that Jesus talks about here is a life of ease!

We know that in salvation, God does all the work. It is simply by the grace of God, by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, that we are saved. In salvation, God does all the work, and therefore should get all the credit.

Why should living the Christian life be any different? God, in His grace, has provided everything we need to become “perfected” Christians. Therefore, He should get all the credit!

Look how Paul explains this better than I can!

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (we know salvation is only by the grace of God)

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Even the good works that we do have been prepared by God beforehand!

Don’t get distracted from your Christian growth by Christian service. It’s very easy to start giving yourself credit!

This is not to say that there is anything wrong with Christian service! The problem comes when we think that the service makes us better Christians, or when we start giving ourselves credit for it.

The Christian life is not hard. If you simply set your priorities around Jesus Christ and His Word, then He will “perfect” and mature you.

2 Corinthians 11:3

3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.