How Faith Grows
How Faith Grows
Galatians 3:1–14
The way you enter the Christian life is the way you advance in it—by faith.
We live in a culture obsessed with self-help and performance. Do this spiritual practice, attend that retreat, follow these five steps, then you’ll really grow. But Galatians 3 confronts that mindset head-on. Paul reminds us that holiness does not come through self-sufficiency but through daily dependence on God. The same faith that saves us is the faith that sustains us.
Paul begins the chapter with a sharp rebuke: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” (3:1). They had started their journey with Christ by faith, yet were now trying to grow by effort. Paul will not allow this divide. If salvation is by grace, then sanctification—our growth in holiness, must also be by grace.
1. The Spirit Starts the Work and Sustains the Work
The Christian life is not about mustering willpower but about relying on the Spirit. Paul asks: “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” (3:2). Just as we cannot save ourselves, we cannot sanctify ourselves. The Spirit is not a starter battery that fades out; He is the ongoing power source of the Christian life. Every step forward is by faith, not flesh.
Charles Spurgeon
"The same hand which put the bread of life to your lips must continue to feed you all your days, or you will starve."
2. The Gospel Is the Foundation We Build On
Paul points to Abraham as the model of faith. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Faith not only imputes righteousness (credited to our account) but also imparts life (transforming us from within). Like a foundation poured for a house, the gospel is not something we leave behind, it is what we build everything on. Forgiveness, relationships, perseverance, integrity, all of it grows out of the gospel.
3. Faith Moves Us Forward
Faith doesn’t just save; it transforms and sends us out. Paul reminds us that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, so that the blessing of Abraham—the promised Spirit—might flow to all who believe (3:13–14). Faith is like a river: it receives from God and flows outward into our homes, workplaces, and communities.
This means faith is not about getting what we want but trusting God’s wisdom in what He gives. It’s about believing that even in pain, disappointment, or unanswered prayers, God is writing a bigger story of than your moment. Faith is about trusting that God is giving you what you would want if you could see life from His perspective. His view goes deeper than your pain, beyond your disappointment—into the redemption of your life, your family, your church, and even the lives of people you haven’t met yet.
How Do We Respond to God’s Gift of Faith?
Paul’s message isn’t just theological, it’s deeply practical.
Here’s how we live this out:
The Way Forward Is Jesus
The good news of Galatians 3 is this: what God starts, He will finish. “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
Galatians 3:1–14
The way you enter the Christian life is the way you advance in it—by faith.
We live in a culture obsessed with self-help and performance. Do this spiritual practice, attend that retreat, follow these five steps, then you’ll really grow. But Galatians 3 confronts that mindset head-on. Paul reminds us that holiness does not come through self-sufficiency but through daily dependence on God. The same faith that saves us is the faith that sustains us.
Paul begins the chapter with a sharp rebuke: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” (3:1). They had started their journey with Christ by faith, yet were now trying to grow by effort. Paul will not allow this divide. If salvation is by grace, then sanctification—our growth in holiness, must also be by grace.
1. The Spirit Starts the Work and Sustains the Work
The Christian life is not about mustering willpower but about relying on the Spirit. Paul asks: “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” (3:2). Just as we cannot save ourselves, we cannot sanctify ourselves. The Spirit is not a starter battery that fades out; He is the ongoing power source of the Christian life. Every step forward is by faith, not flesh.
Charles Spurgeon
"The same hand which put the bread of life to your lips must continue to feed you all your days, or you will starve."
2. The Gospel Is the Foundation We Build On
Paul points to Abraham as the model of faith. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Faith not only imputes righteousness (credited to our account) but also imparts life (transforming us from within). Like a foundation poured for a house, the gospel is not something we leave behind, it is what we build everything on. Forgiveness, relationships, perseverance, integrity, all of it grows out of the gospel.
3. Faith Moves Us Forward
Faith doesn’t just save; it transforms and sends us out. Paul reminds us that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, so that the blessing of Abraham—the promised Spirit—might flow to all who believe (3:13–14). Faith is like a river: it receives from God and flows outward into our homes, workplaces, and communities.
This means faith is not about getting what we want but trusting God’s wisdom in what He gives. It’s about believing that even in pain, disappointment, or unanswered prayers, God is writing a bigger story of than your moment. Faith is about trusting that God is giving you what you would want if you could see life from His perspective. His view goes deeper than your pain, beyond your disappointment—into the redemption of your life, your family, your church, and even the lives of people you haven’t met yet.
How Do We Respond to God’s Gift of Faith?
Paul’s message isn’t just theological, it’s deeply practical.
Here’s how we live this out:
- Return — Run back to the cross. That’s where grace breaks performance.
- Remember — “It is finished.” Nothing left to prove.
- Obey — Obedience is Spirit-dependence, not self-performance. Trust God enough to do what He says today.
- Pray — Let Scripture shape your cries and fuel your faith.
- Trust — Sin is silenced. The cross has the final word.
The Way Forward Is Jesus
The good news of Galatians 3 is this: what God starts, He will finish. “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
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