Galatians 3:6-9

Justification by Faith Alone

Galatians 3:6-9 presents the doctrine of justification by faith alone, using Abraham as the foundational Old Testament example. This truth addresses three key questions: the example in Abraham, who are the true descendants of Abraham, and what it means to be blessed with Abraham.

Just as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

The Old Testament Example: Abraham Believed God

How does a person go from being dead in sin, a God-hater and sin-lover, to standing righteous before God? The Psalmist asked, if You, Lord, should mark iniquities, who could stand?

Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! ... If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

Psalm 130:1, 3

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We were dead in trespasses and sins, with nothing to offer. God's forgiveness is not arbitrary like some systems of religion. It is through faith in Christ's work: He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Abraham believed God, and it was accounted—credited, imputed—to him for righteousness. This is not Abraham's own righteousness but Christ's merits applied through faith. Christ bore our curse, our judgment, our condemnation. By grace, God accounts Christ's righteousness to us. We stand before God with empty hands of faith, banking on Christ's death, resurrection, and intercession. The Father declares, "Not guilty."

This is justification by faith alone, apart from works. Abraham's life illustrates it: God sought him, spoke promises, and Abraham believed in Genesis 15:6—before failures like Hagar. His justification stood firm as the foundation for his life.

The True Descendants of Abraham

Only those of faith are sons of Abraham. As Gentiles, when we trust Christ's atoning work, our spiritual lineage traces to Abraham. The covenant and promises God made to him are ours: justification by faith for all nations.

In you all the nations shall be blessed.

Genesis 12:3

Scripture itself preached the gospel to Abraham—the promise of blessing through his Seed, ultimately Christ. Old Testament saints like Abraham were saved by faith in the coming Messiah. True descendants inherit justification and blessing through faith in Jesus.

Blessed with Believing Abraham

Those of faith are blessed with Abraham—receiving God's favor in salvation, eternal life, the same as Abraham's.

Implications of Justification by Faith

Understanding justification by faith alone transforms everything.

1. The Salvation of Our Souls

The Judaizers added works like circumcision (today, perhaps baptism as a saving act), but Paul warns: if righteousness is by works, Christ died needlessly. Any addition nullifies grace. We contribute nothing; we are justified by God's free grace, Christ's merits alone. To preach otherwise is a non-saving gospel.

2. The Foundation for Living

Proper understanding prevents confusion: Do I need works to stay accepted? Does sin revoke justification? No—it's a one-time declaration. Abraham sinned post-justification yet remained justified, later proving his faith through obedience.

Misunderstanding breeds anxiety over acceptance or self-righteousness: "Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Salvation starts and finishes by God, who began the good work and will complete it.

3. Living for God's Fatherly Pleasure

We live not for acceptance—we are eternally accepted, pardoned, adopted through Christ—but for God's pleasure as children please a father. No mortal sin revokes it; we rest in Christ's righteousness.

4. Maximizing the Gospel

Maximizing the gospel means viewing it fully (Christ crucified) and living it everywhere. It humbles us: Abraham has no boast before God. All glory to God—any contribution steals His glory.

This permeates life: Serve not to impress but because Christ saved wretches like us. Forgive spouses from gospel grace, for we've been forgiven infinitely more. Petty offenses pale against the cross.

More than that, I also count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

Philippians 3:8-9

Gospel maximization yields true satisfaction: God is our highest good. It instills hope of resurrection, enjoying Christ forever.