Friday 28 March 2025
For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (v. 5)
Background
Paul continued to push back against any suggestion that Gentile Christians in Galatia, who were not of Jewish origin, needed to follow the Jewish law. He was distressed that other teachers were encouraging them to do this and to demonstrate their obedience by accepting circumcision. He saw this as contradicting the gospel he shared with them, which depends on God’s grace and not on anything we do.
His attack on these mistaken beliefs is balanced by his strong affirmation of God’s love for us in Christ. This gift comes to us from God through the Holy Spirit, the foundation of all life as a Christian. He recognises the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Christians in Galatia by the way they behave, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their life. How can they turn away from the freedom it offers?
The Christian response to the Holy Spirit is faith, which has a rich meaning in Paul’s thought. It combines belief, commitment and reliance on God. At the same time, Paul often also has in mind the faithfulness of Christ, revealed in his unswerving determination to do God's will. We are saved both by our own faith and by the faithfulness of Christ.
Hope is a strong word for Paul. It is not a vague, general expectation that everything will turn out all right, but is confidence that we already belong to God’s people and will continue to do so for ever. This does not depend on our stability but on God’s. God has promised us an eternal relationship, and God does not go back on promises. This hope leads us to righteousness, the state of being put right with God which sums up the joy of being a Christian. We await the fulfilment of these hopes like children waiting for Christmas!
The passage ends with Paul’s confident assurance that what really matters is faith working through love. An alternative translation speaks of faith ‘expressing itself’ through love. Perhaps this is more helpful because it points us to the right way to value a Christian lifestyle. We do not, indeed cannot, live a life of love unless God gives us faith through the Holy Spirit. But when we do receive that gift, the life of love follows naturally as a result of our commitment to Jesus, who first loved us and gave himself for us.
To Ponder:
- Paul teaches the Corinthians that "faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). His teaching here also refers to all three virtues. How do you think the three fit together?
- Take some time to think about the ways you live out your faith. How far does your lifestyle as a Christian sit within Paul’s image of ‘faith expressed through love’?
Prayer
God, faithful to us, you call your people to be faithful to you. Help us to put love at the centre of our lives, so that all we do may reflect our faith and our hope of righteousness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Caroline Wickens
Caroline Wickens is the Superintendent of the Manchester Circuit. She has taught biblical studies in Africa and the UK, and continues to be fascinated by this amazing book.