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Can You Begin by the Spirit and Be Completed by the Flesh?

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By John=20 Piper March 13, 1983=20

Galatians 3:1-5

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose = eyes=20 Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you only = this:=20 Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with = faith? Are=20 you so foolish? Having begun with the Spirit, are you now ending with = the=20 flesh? Did you experience so many things in vain?=E2=80=94if it really = is in vain.=20 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do = so by=20 works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

We have learned at least four things from chapters 1 and 2 that we = need to=20 keep in mind as we begin the main body of the letter. 1) There are false = teachers in the Galatian churches preaching what Paul calls a different = gospel=20 (1:6), which is no gospel at all. 2) The opponents of Paul are = discrediting his=20 message by denying Paul's authority as an apostle. They say he has his = gospel=20 and apostleship secondhand and that the real authorities are the = Jerusalem=20 apostles. 3) Paul establishes by historical reports that his gospel and=20 authority are not from any mere man, but came by revelation of Jesus = Christ, and=20 not only that, there is a deep unity of theology and faith between Paul = and the=20 Jerusalem apostles in spite of their independence. 4) The way Paul has = defended=20 his authority and his gospel show the kind of false teaching that is = threatening=20 the churches of Galatia. It appears that a Jewish group of professing = Christians=20 who claim to have James on their side (2:12) are teaching that it is not = enough=20 to trust Christ for righteousness. If you rely on faith alone, you = become a=20 "Gentile sinner" and make Christ the agent of sin (2:17)=E2=80=94they = said. So faith=20 must be supplemented with "works of the law." Trusting in what Christ = did for=20 you has to be supplemented by what you can do for Christ. God's work = plus your=20 work equals justification. So the Judaizers required circumcision (2:3), = dietary=20 restrictions (2:12, 13), and the keeping of feasts and holy days (4:10), = and at=20 least implied that by these works the Galatians could contribute their = part to=20 the transaction of justification.

As far as Paul is concerned, if you buy into this mingling of faith = and=20 works, you nullify the grace of God (2:21), you step out of sync with = the truth=20 of the gospel (2:14), and you remove the stumbling block of the cross = (5:11). As=20 close as it may sound to the truth, as close as it may seem to be tied = to the=20 apostles, it is another gospel, which is no gospel (1:7), and those who = follow=20 it will be accursed and cut off from Christ (1:8, 9).

"It's Not How You Drive; It's How You Arrive"

The importance and relevance of this issue for us only increases as = we turn=20 to Galatians 3:1=E2=80=935. For here it becomes crystal clear that the = heresy of the=20 Judaizers is not so much related to how you begin the Christian life but = how you=20 live it and try to bring it to completion. Anyone who says, "Well, I = know that I=20 began the Christian life by faith alone, and so the warnings of = Galatians don't=20 apply to me,"=E2=80=94that person has not understood the book, = especially 3:1=E2=80=935. Like my=20 dad always used to say to me when I would out-drive him by 50 yards off = the=20 first tee: "It's not how you drive; it's how you arrive!" And he was = right.

In 3:1=E2=80=935 Paul does the same thing to the Galatians that he = did to Peter in=20 2:11, 14ff.=E2=80=94he confronts them head on with their folly and the = inconsistency of=20 their behavior. They have begun to be sucked in by the Judaizers, and = Paul shows=20 them that their action contradicts the work of Christ on the cross and=20 contradicts the work of the Spirit in their lives. Let's see how he does = it. If=20 you want to know the main point in advance, it is stated in 5:5. = Galatians 3:1=E2=80=935=20 is a series of rhetorical questions that don't come right out and state = Paul's=20 point. But 5:5 does: "Through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope = of=20 righteousness." The hope and confidence of every Christian is that at = the end of=20 the world, when he stands before the Judge of the universe, the verdict = he will=20 hear is "righteous." And the point of this verse is that the only way to = hear=20 that verdict is to wait for it through the Spirit, not the flesh, and by = faith,=20 not by works. That's the main point of 3:1=E2=80=935, indeed, of the = whole book. So=20 let's listen carefully to 3:1=E2=80=935 and let the Lord teach us how to = live through=20 the Spirit by faith rather than through the flesh by works. For as Paul = says in=20 Romans 8:13, "Those who live according to the flesh will die."

The Foolish Galatians

Twice Paul calls the Galatians foolish. Verse 1: "O foolish = Galatians"; and=20 verse 3: "Are you so foolish?" The next phrase in verse 1 explains what = he means=20 by foolish: "Who has bewitched you?" He means that they are acting as if = someone=20 cast a spell on them. It's as if they have been hypnotized. They are = irrational,=20 out of touch with reality, mentally drunk.

Let me draw out two minor implications of these words. First, don't = ever=20 forget that it is the people who don't take Christ into account who are = in a=20 dream-world. The real fairy tale is not the incarnation, death, and = resurrection=20 of Christ, but the fantasy of godlessness. The most seriously bewitched = people=20 are those who don't believe in demons. The most deluding stupor in the = world is=20 caused by the sedative of secularism. If Christ is real, it is not his = followers=20 who are fools.

Second, even though the Galatians are, as it were, bewitched, = irrational, out=20 of touch with reality, Paul still writes a very reasonable and tightly = argued=20 letter to break the spell. Some people say, "If people are dead in their = sins=20 (Ephesians 2:1) and blinded by the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), = there is=20 no point in reasoning with them. Only the Holy Spirit can open their = eyes." But=20 Paul reasons for six chapters with people so deluded he calls them = bewitched.=20 The reason is that the Holy Spirit does not work in a vacuum. He uses = the Word=20 to break the spell of confusion and unbelief. Don't let the = unreasonableness of=20 your acquaintances stop you from sharing the wealth of the gospel. God = may grant=20 them to repent and come to know the truth and escape from the snare of = the devil=20 (2 Timothy 2:25, 26).

Contradicting the Work of Christ

The main thing Paul does in 3:1=E2=80=935 is help the Galatians see = why their actions=20 are so foolish. The two reasons he gives is that they are contradicting = the work=20 of Christ on the cross, and they are contradicting the work of the = Spirit in=20 their lives. Verse 1 says, "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, = before=20 whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?" It was = incredible=20 to Paul that anyone who had seen Christ crucified in the gospel could = still get=20 caught up in legalism. The death of Christ for our sin shows how = hopelessly lost=20 we are, and how we can't make any contribution to our salvation. The = stumbling=20 block of the cross, the thing that makes it so offensive, is that it = means in=20 ourselves we are helpless (Romans 5:6) and can't do anything to enhance = our=20 justification or sanctification. Paul said in Galatians 5:11, "If I = preach=20 circumcision, . . . the stumbling block of the cross has been removed." = If we=20 believe that by being circumcised or doing any other work of law = (tithing, going=20 to church, teaching Sunday School), we can add to the work of Christ, = then we=20 are bewitched and do not understand the gospel.

Not only does the death of Christ for our sin show how hopelessly = lost we=20 are. It shows how utterly sufficient the atonement is which God made in = Christ=20 for our sin. The death of Christ is the death knell to our pride, but = also the=20 dawn of our hope. That it should take the death of the Son of God to = atone for=20 my sin should shut my mouth forever and bring my life to an end. But = that it was=20 no less than the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me (2:20) = awakens=20 new life of hope and faith. The cross kills the independent, = self-reliant,=20 insubordinate me, and the cross quickens a new me who lives only by = faith in the=20 all-sufficiency of Christ and never looks to itself with any expectancy = of power=20 or virtue. Therefore, when we or the Galatians follow the Judaizers and = erect=20 the law as a ladder to heaven on which to demonstrate our contribution = of will=20 or effort, we nullify the grace of God (2:21), we remove the stumbling = block of=20 the cross (5:11), and we show that we are bewitched and foolish (3:1, = 3). That,=20 then, is the first reason Paul gives for why the action of the=20 Galatians is so foolish: it contradicts the work of Christ on the = cross.

Contradicting the Work of the Spirit

The second reason Paul gives that the Galatians are foolish is that = their=20 action contradicts the work of the Spirit in their lives. Some of you = expressed=20 a special interest in hearing more about the practical meaning of = Galatians=20 2:20, "It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life I now = live in=20 the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave = himself for=20 me." I think 3:2=E2=80=935 are a commentary on that verse; only instead = of speaking of=20 Christ in us, Paul speaks of the Spirit. The experience is the same = because 4:6=20 says the Spirit which God sends is the Spirit of his Son. Christ and the = Spirit=20 are one. Christ comes to us in his Spirit. So keep 2:20 in view as we = look at=20 3:2=E2=80=935.

Paul begins to show them how their action contradicts the work of the = Spirit,=20 by reminding them how they received the Spirit at the start of their = Christian=20 lives. Verse 2: "Let me ask you only this: did you receive the Spirit by = works=20 of the law or by hearing with faith?" This verse raises three questions: = 1) What=20 is the relationship between becoming a Christian and receiving the = Spirit? 2)=20 What is the evidence that the Spirit is present in your life? 3) How do = you=20 receive the Spirit?

Becoming a Christian and Receiving the Spirit

1) The answer to the first question is that becoming a Christian=20 means receiving the Spirit of Christ. Paul assumes in this = verse that=20 all Christians have received the Spirit. It's not something that happens = later.=20 Romans 8:9 makes this crystal clear, "Anyone who does not have the = Spirit of=20 Christ does not belong to him." This is why it is impossible to think of = Christianity merely in terms of a change of beliefs and a change of = status=20 before God. Becoming a Christian always involves the coming of Christ's = Spirit=20 to dwell and work in the believer. As 2:20 said, the old self dies with = Christ,=20 and in its place the risen Christ comes to live. As a Christian you are = no=20 longer your own; you have been bought by Christ and possessed by his = Spirit.

Evidence of the Spirit's Presence

2) What is the evidence of the Spirit's presence in your life? The = New=20 Testament teaches three kinds of evidence, and all of them are mentioned = in=20 Galatians. The first is mentioned in verse 5, "Does he who supplies the = Spirit=20 to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law or by = hearing with=20 faith?" One evidence that the Galatians could point to was miracles that = God was=20 doing by the Spirit in their midst. I think this refers to the kinds of=20 miraculous signs Jesus did, because the language used is so close to the = language which describes Jesus' miracles in Matthew 14:2 and the gift of = miracles in 1 Corinthians 12:6. In other words, mighty works like = healing and=20 exorcisms and significant altering of circumstances through = prayer=E2=80=94these gave=20 evidence to the Galatian believers that the Spirit had been poured into = their=20 lives. But Paul is aware that physical miracles in themselves do not = verify the=20 work of God's Spirit, since (according to 2 Thessalonians 2:9) Satan can = produce=20 powerful signs and wonders.

So it is important that we consider the second evidence of the Spirit = in the=20 Christian life, namely, the deep assurance that God is our = Father and=20 we are his children. Galatians 4:6 says, "And because you are sons, God = has sent=20 the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying, 'Abba! Father!'" When your = heart=20 is enabled to cry out sincerely to God as your loving Father, it is = evidence=20 that the Spirit of sonship is in you. Paul puts it like this in Romans = 8:15, 16,=20 "You received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is = the=20 Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children = of God."=20 So the second evidence of the Spirit's presence is the = assurance we=20 feel that God is our Father and that we are heirs with Christ of glory. = (See=20 also 1 Corinthians 12:3, "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the = Holy=20 Spirit.")

But even assurance can be deceitful. Jesus tells about people who = felt they=20 were his disciples but will be turned away from heaven because their = lives=20 weren't changed (Matthew 7:21=E2=80=9323). So the third evidence of the = Spirit's=20 presence should be added, namely, a genuine impulse of love. Galatians = 5:22=20 says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love." The bottom line in testing the = Spirit=20 is the test of love. For most of us there is a combination of these and = other=20 evidences (like joy in affliction, 1 Thessalonians 1:6; and boldness in = witness,=20 Acts 4:31) that signify the Spirit's reality in our lives.

How the Spirit Is Received

3) Now the third question verse 2 raises (and answers) is how we = receive the=20 Spirit. "Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing = with=20 faith?" Answer: by hearing with faith. Paul asks them: Remember back to = the time=20 I was preaching there in the synagogues and in the streets? I was = reasoning from=20 the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ; I was arguing = that all=20 people are sinners, that this Jesus died for sin and rose again, that = any who=20 trust him can have forgiveness and hope . . . and as you were hearing my = message=20 faith happened. You didn't plan it, you didn't force it. It came upon = you like=20 dawn comes upon a darkened city, and with it=E2=80=94whether in front or = behind you=20 could not tell=E2=80=94came the Spirit. And you felt yourself crying out = in your heart,=20 "Abba! Father!" (Galatians 4:6), and, "Jesus is Lord!" (1 Corinthians = 12:3). You=20 did no works. You were worked upon. The Word of God, "sharper than any = two-edged=20 sword" (Hebrews 4:12), cut away all your defenses and laid bare your = need and=20 God's provision. "The light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" drove = out the=20 darkness of unbelief. You found yourself as helpless as a little child, = yet=20 utterly secure in the love of Jesus. He had come to you in his Word; the = Word=20 had produced faith; the old self of rebellion died; and the Spirit of = Christ=20 took up residence in your heart. Galatians, you did not get the Spirit, = you did=20 not become Christians, by working for God. You received the Spirit when = God=20 worked for you. As James 1:18 says, "Of his own will he brought us forth = by the=20 word of truth."

So verse 2 is the first step in showing the Galatians why their = actions=20 contradict the work of the Spirit in their lives. Paul reminded them how = they=20 began the Christian life. Then, as step two, Paul tells them in = verse=20 3, you have to keep going the same way you began. "Are you = foolish?=20 Having begun in the Spirit are you now ending (or being completed) in = the=20 flesh?" The clear implication is, it can't be done. If you try it, you = will make=20 shipwreck of the Christian life (Romans 8:13). So we need to be very = clear about=20 what the Galatians were about to do here so we can avoid it like the = plague.

The Spirit or the Flesh

Notice the change in terminology between verse 2 and verse 3. In = verse 2 the=20 contrast is between works of law and hearing of faith. = In=20 verse 3 the contrast is between beginning by the Spirit and = trying to=20 be completed by the flesh. We've talked about the Spirit. But = now, what=20 is this "flesh"? It is not physical. It's the old "I" which cherishes=20 independence and self-assertion. Romans 8:7 says, "The mind that is set = on the=20 flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, indeed, it = cannot."=20 Flesh is the autonomous self, so in love with its personal power of=20 self-determination that it does not and cannot submit to God's absolute=20 authority. But don't think the flesh always looks wicked. In its=20 irreligious form the flesh always flaunts its insubordination = to God in=20 immorality, idolatry, envy, drunkenness, and the like, as Paul says in = Galatians=20 5:19 where he describes the works of the flesh. But in its = religious=20 form the subtlety of insubordination and self-determination can manifest = itself=20 in a philosophy of Christian growth which encourages people who begin = with faith=20 to grow by works.

Consider verse 3 very carefully. It is not directed to those who are = yet to=20 start the Christian life. It is written for us who began some time ago = and are=20 now in grave danger of trying to live the Christian life in a way that = nullifies=20 grace and leads to destruction. The point of the verse is that you must = go on in=20 the Christian life the same way you started it. Since we began by the = work of=20 the Spirit, we must go on relying on the Spirit. The essence of the = Galatian=20 heresy is the teaching that you begin the Christian life by faith, and = then you=20 grow in the Christian life by works, that is, by drawing on powers in = yourself=20 to make your contribution to salvation. One modern form of the heresy = is: "God=20 helps those who help themselves." If you buy into that as a way of = advancing in=20 the Christian life, you have put works where faith belongs. Faith is the = only=20 response to God's Word which makes room for the Spirit to work = in us=20 and through us. Flesh, on the other hand, is the insubordinate, = self-determining=20 ego which in religious people responds to God's Word not with reliance = on the=20 Spirit but with reliance on self. It can produce a very rigorous = morality, but=20 it nullifies grace and removes the stumbling block of the cross.

I hope you can see that the essential mark of a Christian is not how = far you=20 have progressed in sanctification, but on what you are relying to = get=20 there. Are you striving for sanctification by works? Or are you = striving=20 for sanctification by faith? (Note well the issue in verse 3 is how to = be=20 completed, i.e., sanctification.) Are you advancing in the life of love = by the=20 power of the Spirit? Or are you trying to love in the power of the = flesh, that=20 is, by your own works?

Practical Advice

Let me close by describing, very practically, how I try to live the = Christian=20 life so that I can say it is "not I but Christ"; it is not by the flesh = but by=20 the Spirit. I use an acronym: APTAT. I begin my day with it, and I = follow it=20 when I must exert some effort to do right. The goal is for this way of = thinking=20 and feeling to become so much a part of me that I approach all of life = this=20 way.

"A" -: I acknowledge that apart from Christ I can do nothing of = eternal=20 value (John 15:5). I acknowledge with Paul in Romans 7:18, = "In me,=20 that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing." I acknowledge = that the=20 old "I" which loved to deny this fact was crucified with = Christ.
"P" -: I pray. I pray with Paul in 1 Thessalonians 3:12 = that=20 Christ would make me abound in love. I pray that grace might = reign in=20 my life through righteousness (Romans 5:21). I pray that God = would=20 produce in me the obedience he demands (Hebrews 13:21; 2 Thessalonians = 1:11).
"T" -: I trust. This is the key because Galatians 3:5 says, = "Does he who=20 supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works = of the=20 law, or by hearing with faith?" In other words, the ongoing work of = the Spirit=20 to enable us to love as we ought happens only as we trust the promises = of God=20 (Galatians 5:6). So by faith I lay hold on a promise like Isaiah = 41:10: "Fear=20 not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will = strengthen=20 you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right = hand." I=20 trust that as I act, it will not be I but the power of Christ = in me=20 and me only clinging to him in faith.
"A" -: I act in obedience to God's Word. But, O, what a world of = difference now between such an act and what Paul calls works of law. = The=20 acknowledgment that I am helpless, the prayer for divine enablement, = the trust=20 that Christ himself is my help and strength=E2=80=94these transform = the act so that it=20 is a fruit of the Spirit, not a work of the flesh.
"T" -: Finally, when the deed is done and the day is over, I = thank God=20 for whatever good may have come of my life (Colossians 1:3=E2=80=935). = I thank him for=20 conquering, at least in some measure, my selfishness and pride. I give = him the=20 glory (1 Peter 4:11).

APTAT: A=E2=80=94Acknowledge your inability to do good on = your own.=20 P=E2=80=94Pray for divine enablement. T=E2=80=94Trust = the promises of God for=20 help and strength and guidance. A=E2=80=94Act in obedience to = God's Word.=20 T=E2=80=94Thank God for whatever good comes. If you feel that = this makes too=20 little of you and too much of God, then I urge you to check your = testimony=20 against that of Paul who said in 1 Corinthians 15:10, "I worked harder = than any=20 of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God = which was=20 with me." And in Romans 15:18, "I will not venture to speak of anything = except=20 what Christ has wrought through me." So we are back to the main = point=20 of 3:1=E2=80=935 stated in 5:5. Through the Spirit (not the = flesh), by=20 faith (not works), we wait for the hope of righteousness. Only = when=20 that is true can we say, "I am sure that the one who began a good work = in me,=20 he (and he alone!) will bring it to completion at the day of = Jesus=20 Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

=C2=A9 Desiring God

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to = reproduce=20 and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not = alter the=20 wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of = reproduction. For=20 web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any = exceptions=20 to the above must be approved by Desiring God.

Please = include the=20 following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. = =C2=A9 Desiring=20 God. Website: desiringGod.org