Grace and works in Galatians 3: theological analysis and connections

Galatians 3, Paul discusses the difference between grace and works. Paul claims that "under law, we are blessed and grow spiritually by earning and deserving," whereas "under grace, we are blessed and grow spiritually by believing and receiving," (Guzik 2001). Works is defined as ascription to the law, or the religious codes outlined by the Jews. Paul also defines works as any human endeavor: mundane physical efforts such as that which is achieved via self-will. In Galatians 3:3, Paul calls the Galatians "foolish" because of their tireless efforts that have nothing to do with faith: "After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Works is human effort that can never, no matter how hard we try, achieve spiritual goals.

Therefore, Galatians 3 can be read as Paul's criticism of self-reliance and self-will. A human being cannot achieve spiritual salvation by self-will. Only by grace can a person come to stand before God in righteousness. Grace is presented as a by-product of faith, whereas works (the law) is a by-product of self-will. Paul makes the difference between the two clear.

Moreover, Paul points out that human beings are practically incapable of following the law because of original sin. He notes, "the whole world is a prisoner of sin," (Galatians 3:22). God understood this and therefore made a covenant, a promise, with Abraham. Abraham understood that grace was the key, not works. "God in his grace gave" Abraham a promise (Galatians 3:18).

Paul defines grace in several different ways. Grace is partly defined in terms of Christ and His forgiveness and therefore to the forgiveness of all sin (Henry 2010). Paul also defines grace as the ultimate covenant with God, a spiritual state that proves God's love (Henry 2010). Grace is also the result of a mature faith, one that is cultivated via belief in Christ (Henry 2010).

Paul also explains that the Old Testament has in fact been misinterpreted to mean that works are what God wants. In fact, Abraham showed that grace, not works, was what God wanted and expected. God made it clear that the children of Abraham would be justified "by faith," (Galatians 3:8). Paul makes it clear that it is faith and grace, not works and law, that justifies a human being before God.

The connection between grace and works is therefore a highly complex one. On the one hand, it took the law and the work required to follow it to bring the Gentiles to Christ in the first place. "The law was a school master to lead them to Christ," (Henry 2010). An individual must come to Christ of his or her own volition, which can be described as works. That same individual must develop some kind of willingness to believe in Christ. Although not effort in the sense that Paul describes, this type of work is nevertheless a human step towards faith.