BaptistWay Bible Series for October 4: It’s faith all the way

According to the online resource, Wikipedia, a “bait and switch” is a form of deception. The party putting forth the fraud lures customers by advertising a product or service at an attractively low price, then later reveals to potential customers the advertised good is not available but offers a substitute. This substitute is usually more expensive. The “bait and switch” is alive and well in the marketplace, and it is alive and well in matters of faith.

What the Bible says …

Though the situation in Galatians was not the classic “bait and switch,” the parallels are clear. People were offered salvation by grace. Faith plus nothing was the essential truth of the good news. Then they were told in order to be accepted and loved by God, they would have to accept and practice certain acts and rituals.

In Galatians 3, Paul appealed to the Galatians’ own experience, to the clear teaching of the Old Testament and to examples from everyday life in order to convince them to reject this perversion of the truth. How important was this issue for Paul? One does not call people “foolish” and “bewitched” (v. 1) over trivial, insignificant matters. Paul wrote this letter to expose this damaging perversion of the truth of the gospel.

In appealing to their own experience, Paul asked, “Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law or by believing what you heard?” (v. 2). This is a rhetorical question—by its very phrasing, the answer is obvious: You received the Spirit by believing, not observing some ritual.

In reminding them of their past experience with Christ, he asks more of these rhetorical questions in Galatians 3:3-5. In each instance, the answer is obvious. Yes, you are foolish when trying to find approval by your own effort (v. 3). No, your suffering for Christ is not in vain (v. 4). No, God does not give the gift of salvation because you observe the law (v. 5). Yes, God gives the gift of salvation because you believed in what you heard (v. 5). After beginning with faith, they were trying to proceed in their walk of faith by their own human efforts.

Paul reminded them of the Old Testament hero, Abraham, as an example of one who lived by faith, not by works (3:6-14). Abraham was justified by his faith in God. Paul asserted Gentiles were included in this promise of salvation: “The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you’” (v. 8).

In contrast, the law was not based on faith. The law reveals man’s sinful condition. Those who sought to put the requirement of legalism on the Galatians were guilty of the classic “bait and switch.” The promises made to Abraham (Genesis 15:6; 12:3) both took place in Abraham’s life before God made any mention to Abraham concerning circumcision. The false teachers were misrepresenting the clear teaching of the Old Testament. The emphasis for Abraham was faith, not works or ritual. The law condemns; it does not save.

The Apostle used an example from everyday life in his argument. No one legally could change or amend a legal covenant once it had been duly established (v. 15). Paul stated Jesus was the true descendant of Abraham, and through him the promise of salvation was completed. Our inheritance of salvation through Christ was promised 430 years before the law was introduced. Paul concluded: “For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise” (v. 18).

The false teachers demanded circumcision of Gentile converts, a ritual that applied only to males. Galatians 3:28-29 makes the most obvious point of all: God’s gracious promise of salvation by faith transcends all human categories. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (vv. 28-29).

What the Bible means for me today …

As stated above, the “bait and switch” method offers a product or service at a very low price—almost too good to be true. Then you find out what is really offered—something very different and much more expensive.

Paul offered the “real deal.” One received salvation by faith in Jesus Christ—nothing more, nothing less. Then others sought to take this truth and replace it with something very different. They pressed legalism upon any who would listen.

God said, “Make no images of me.” But is it not easier and more exciting to pray to something you can see with your eyes and touch with your hands? The truth is switched on us and before we even realize it, we are idolators.

Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). But is it not easier to keep diligently certain traditions on any given Sunday, and to condemn those who do not follow our rules and regulations? Once again, the truth is switched on us, and we become keepers of the law.

The Galatians were not the only ones who were bewitched and acted foolish.