Galatians 3:1
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” Galatians 3:1. Last week we looked at God calling people foolish. Anyone who allows themselves to be bewitched are foolish. These bewitchers were false representatives of the church in Jerusalem. They came with a false gospel. Any time someone adds works to salvation they are proclaiming a false gospel. Remember that their purpose is to take our focus off of Christ, and onto things such as legalism, idolatry, and fables. God’s grace is subtilty pushed to the side. You start out in the Spirit, but you end up trying to live for Christ through the power of the flesh. Many cults have been started as a result of this.
Can a true Christian be bewitched? Before we give the answer to this question let us first clarify that bewitched is not the same as someone who is possessed by a devil. You will never find a Christian possessed by a demon or demons in the Scriptures. Turn to Mark 5:1-20 and Mark 9:14-27. Notice in these verses how the possessed were controlled by the evil spirits, demons. The man in Mark 5 had supernatural strength. The boy in Mark 9 would go into convulsions. They were controlled by the demons. When Jesus cast the demons out, the demons never came back into those people again. Christ saved their souls, therefore; the demons could not possess these people again. If you ever see someone having convulsions, running across pews, speaking gibberish, etc., that is a sure sign of demon possession. Again, you will never find a true Christian in the Scriptures doing these things. So, can a true Christian be bewitched? The answer is yes.
The word “bewitched” in this verse means to malign, i.e. (by extension) to fascinate (by false representations):- bewitched. The Galatians were tricked. They were tricked by smooth talkers who were very convincing. They allowed themselves to be tricked. “That ye should not obey” in this verse means to assent to, obey, follow. Meaning to let oneself be persuaded, to be persuaded. They welcomed these false teachers in; and welcomed their false teachings. They were fascinated by what they said, and by who they were. This is why Paul wrote chapter 1 verse 8, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” No matter who or what people claim to be, if they are preaching a false gospel, don’t even give them one second to share their heresies. A Christian can be bewitched, but he cannot be possessed by a devil.
The direct result of being bewitched is that those who are tricked will not obey the truth. The word “truth” in this verse comes to mean divine truth, gospel truth, as opposed to heathen and Jewish fables. By allowing themselves to be tricked, they are not obeying the truth. Very often lies will sound better than the truth. People would rather hear that God wants you to be healthy and wealthy than to hear Jesus tell us to take up our cross and follow Him. Every heresy out there was started because someone did not like what the truth said. In the United States of America people are easily offended by the truth, any truth, so we are willing and ready to believe a lie. This is another reason why false teachers have such large followings. False teachers look religious, and they always tell you what you want to hear. All pastors are given a charge in II Timothy 4:1-5, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” People do not like for their wrongs to be exposed and to be admonished or charged sharply. This can cause someone to welcome that which is appealing to their flesh. This is another reason we follow after what Peter wrote in II Peter 1:12, “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” Even though they knew these things and were grounded in the truth, Peter saw the importance of bringing these things to their remembrance. Why do this, because our flesh is wicked, and weak when it comes to spiritual things.
We are in a constant battle with our unredeemed flesh. Turn to Colossians 3:1-17. In verse 5 the word “mortify” means to subdue. This is an aorist imperative and is a command for doing something in the future that is a simple action. Though it is a simple action in the tenses, it is not simple for us to do. This is another reason we need the aid of the Holy Spirit. Lord willing we will learn more about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 3:2-5.
The Galatians allowed themselves to be tricked, even though they knew the truth. “Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” What Christ had accomplished on the cross was written and put in public for all to see. Those who could read were able to read it, and those who could not read had it read to them. The point is, the Galatians knew the truth. They received the truth, Christ saved their souls and transformed their lives. Now they have been bewitched into thinking they can live the Christian life in the power of their flesh by keeping laws and regulations. They have turned away from the greatest gift Christ has given to His church; the Holy Spirit. May the Lord grant us grace to truly examine ourselves in light of these Scriptures. Do not be tricked into not obeying the truth. Lord willing next time we will pick up in verse 2. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
