What does 'having begun in the Spirit' mean?
It means the believer’s spiritual life began by Paul’s Gospel through faith plus nothing, not by the Law or flesh. The Spirit starts salvation; attempting to grow deeper through fleshly legalism contradicts that beginning. It is newness of spirit versus the oldness of the letter.
Les explains that “having begun in the Spirit” refers to Paul’s Gospel received through faith plus nothing. The Galatians started in the spiritual realm, delivered from the Law, which was an administration of death, so they should serve in newness of spirit, not the oldness of the letter. To then seek a deeper spiritual life by the flesh is legalism, Law-keeping, part of the old Adamic nature.
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?