The God Shot: Galatians 3:2-3

"I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?" (Galatians 3:2-3)

In this letter, Paul is talking to the churches in a region near modern-day Turkey. These churches are filled with mostly Gentiles, which is another way of saying anyone who isn't a Jew. These Gentile believers believed in the death and resurrection of Jesus who was Jewish. Jesus had kept all the Old Testament laws, not just the 10 Commandments, but all 613 of them. So His new followers were trying to figure out if they needed to follow all those Jewish laws too. And here, Paul gives them the best news imaginable, Jesus saved us by fulfilling those things for us! We're saved to our faith in His perfect life of righteousness and His complete provision in His death, not by our own actions. Praise God! He's where the joy is!