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The Apostle’s Cry: Who Has Bewitched You?
Call to Prayer
Title: The Apostle’s Cry: Who Has Bewitched You?
By: Daniel Peter
Date: August 16, 2024
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
Galatians 3:1 (NIV)
Solomon said, “Whatever is, has already been, and what will be has been before…” (Eccl. 3:15), which indicates that nothing is new. Therefore, when we observe something on earth, we can ask ourselves, “When did it happen before?” and “How was it solved?”
In his ministry to the Gentile world, the message he taught them was “salvation by grace through faith in Christ” (Eph. 2:8). That is, believers are to trust in what Christ did for their salvation, not their own works, and thereby take their rest in Him. However, some Jews came preaching to the Gentiles that they needed to practice the laws of Moses to be saved (Gal. 5:3-4).
Though the laws of Moses were good, they were not intended to bring salvation. The Galatian church was at risk of falling from the faith because they started trusting in their own works (which the laws of Moses emphasized) instead of grace. This prompted Apostle Paul to cry out, asking them, “Who has bewitched you?” indicating that the evidence of bewitchment is rejecting grace for works.
The question Apostle Paul asked the Galatian church could still be asked of a section of today’s church. Who has bewitched you? Many churches, in an attempt to encourage people to live righteous lives, preach salvation by works instead of by grace. You often hear, “If you don’t do this or that, you won’t make heaven,” as though we are saved by works instead of faith in Christ. Many churches don’t understand the difference between the Old and New Covenants, mixing Christ with Moses and not properly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).
Although Christians are expected by God to walk in righteousness, we are not saved because of our righteous works but because we believe. We received righteousness as a gift when we believed in Christ (Rom. 3:21-24), and the manifestation of this righteousness is a process, even as we mature in our faith. We don’t become saved when we attain perfection of character but the moment we believed, even while still in our sins (Rom. 5:8).
To fall into sin is different from falling from the faith. When we start trusting in our righteousness for salvation, we have fallen from the faith. However, as Apostle Paul did for the Galatian church, we must pray that Christ be formed in the hearts of God’s people (Gal. 4:19). This is the solution the church needs now, or else a section risks being cut off from Christ (Rom. 11:20).
Prayer Point
Let’s thank God for His word today. Let’s also ask Him to form Christ in the heart of each member of the body of Christ.
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