Paul's letter to the Galatians is a masterful example of apostolic-theological argumentation at its finest.
Paul's strategy turns another corner with our passage. Up until now, his argument was based on his personal knowledge and experience. Now, he appeals to theirs.
It is significant to note that the Holy Spirit is mentioned three times in four verses.
At this point in his epistle, Paul attempts to engage their minds by asking five penetrating questions in four verses:
“did you receive…” (v2); “Are you so foolish…” “are you now being…” (v3); “Did you suffer…” (v4); “Does He then…” (v5).
One of the most effective means of persuasion, Paul attempts to get the Galatian believers to make their own theological corrections by posing compelling questions designed to make them do what they have not been doing – thinking.
This passage is about two things primarily: 1) The Sovereignty of God; and, 2) The Importance of Mind & Memory.
Paul's argument in our text is laid out as follows:
1) God's Sovereignty at the Point of Salvation (v2);
2) God's Sovereignty in the Process of Sanctification (v3);
3) God's Sovereignty in Providence and Contextualization (v4);
4) God's Sovereignty in the Power of Glorification and Completion (v5).
By the end of these short verses, it ought to be quite clear that salvation as well as sanctification is entirely an accomplishment of God by grace, through our faith in His Son Jesus Christ. And not by any legalistic self effort to keep the Law of Moses.
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