Galatians 3:5 “So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”
Paul poses a rhetorical question to emphasize that the blessings and power of God—including the giving of the Holy Spirit and miracles—are not granted through works of the Law but through faith.
1. God is the One Who Supplies the Spirit
Scripture: “He who provides you with the Spirit…”
Teaching: God Himself is the initiator of spiritual life. The Holy Spirit is not earned; He is gifted.
Application: Start each day acknowledging that you are dependent on the Spirit, not your own strength. Pray: “Lord, fill me afresh today with Your Spirit.”
2. The Spirit is Continually Supplied
Scripture: “…provides you with the Spirit…” (present participle in Greek, epichorēgōn)
Teaching: The verb implies continuous action—God keeps supplying.
Application: Live in expectation of daily spiritual renewal. Don’t rely on yesterday’s grace—seek fresh anointing through prayer and Scripture.
3. God Works Miracles Among Believers
Scripture: “…and works miracles among you…”
Teaching: The early church experienced visible, divine interventions through faith.
Application: Cultivate a faith that believes God still intervenes today. Look for His hand in daily needs, healing, transformation, and provision.
4. Miracles Are Not Earned by Law-Keeping
Scripture: “…do it by the works of the Law…?”
Teaching: Miracles and spiritual power are not rewards for good behavior.
Application: Stop measuring your worthiness for God’s power. Trust in His grace, not your perfection.
5. Faith Is the Key to Receiving
Scripture: “…or by hearing with faith?”
Teaching: God’s blessings flow through faith in His Word, not human effort.
Application: Feed your faith daily by meditating on God’s promises. Say, “I believe what You’ve said, Lord, even when I don’t see it.”
6. The Gospel Is Heard, Not Achieved
Scripture: “…hearing with faith…”
Teaching: The Christian life begins and continues by believing what we’ve heard from God, not by doing religious works.
Application: Be a good listener to God’s Word. Schedule quiet time each day to hear and respond in faith.
7. Paul Reemphasizes Justification by Faith
Scripture Context (v. 1–5): Paul’s argument builds on Abraham’s example (v.6).
Teaching: Paul reiterates that spiritual life begins with and continues through faith—not law.
Application: Keep preaching the gospel to yourself. Remind yourself: “I live by faith in the Son of God.”
8. Law Leads to Self-Reliance; Faith Leads to God-Dependence
Scripture: Contrast between “works of the Law” and “faith.”
Teaching: The Law tempts us to focus on our effort; faith draws us to God’s sufficiency.
Application: When you catch yourself striving in your strength, stop and surrender. Ask, “Am I trusting myself or God today?”
9. The Spirit-empowered Life Is a Daily Experience
Scripture: “…provides…works…”
Teaching: This is not a one-time event but a lifestyle.
Application: Begin each day with a faith-filled expectation that the Holy Spirit will guide, empower, and manifest God’s presence.
10. Faith Is the Channel for the Spirit and Power
Scripture: “…by hearing with faith?”
Teaching: Faith is not just the entry point but the ongoing channel for the Spirit’s work in our lives.
Application: Develop the habit of “faith-listening”—read Scripture expecting God to speak, and act on it in obedience.
Conclusion for Daily Living
Galatians 3:5 teaches that the Spirit is God’s gift, not man’s reward, and that faith—not performance—unlocks the flow of God’s presence and power. Therefore, we must:
- Abandon self-reliance in favor of Spirit-dependence.
- Exchange performance anxiety for peace-filled trust.
- Prioritize Scripture and prayer to nurture hearing and believing.
- Expect God to work daily through His Spirit in quiet and miraculous ways.
By Faith Alone
You give, and You do not stop.
The Spirit moves, not by our hands,
But by Your will, by Your gift,
Not because we earn, but because You love.
This is grace. This is true.
We do not trade work for power.
We listen, and faith rises.
The Word is near, the Word is clear,
The Spirit speaks when we believe,
Not when we strive with fear.
No law can give what You supply.
No rule can stir the wind of God.
But faith—quiet, open, and low—
Finds the path to the unseen things,
And waits with a heart full of trust.
You still work in the world today.
Your miracles are not forgotten.
They live among the faithful who hear,
Not because they are strong or good,
But because they hold fast to You.
Let me be one of them, O Lord.
A soul who listens and believes.
Not by trying harder, but by leaning in.
Not by my hands, but by Your heart.
This is the way of faith.
Prayer:
Gracious Father, thank You for the Spirit You give so freely, not by our merit or our effort, but by Your mercy. You are the God who works powerfully among us not because we keep every law, but because we believe You. Teach us to live each day not from a place of striving but from a place of listening—hearing with faith the voice of Your Word, the promises of Your covenant, and the nearness of Your Spirit.
Lord, help us unlearn the way of self-earning. So often we run back to law, rules, and our own strength to gain Your approval. But You have already given us everything in Christ. Help us grow in grace. Let our faith not be passive but active—trusting You deeply, waiting on You fully, and moving only as You lead. Let Your Spirit fill every corner of our lives—our thoughts, our choices, our conversations.
Today, let us live by faith in You. When we are weak, remind us that You are our strength. When we are uncertain, teach us to trust in what You have said. Let us expect the moving of the Spirit not because of us but because of You. And let our lives be a testimony to this truth: the God who gives the Spirit is faithful, powerful, and near. We praise You for the miracle of grace. Amen.