How do we receive the Holy Spirit and miracles: by works of the Law or by hearing of faith?
The Holy Spirit and miracles are received by the hearing of faith, not by the works of the Law. The Spirit is ministered and miracles are worked among believers through faith, not Law-keeping, because no miracles could be performed under the working of the Law; salvation and grace come by faith plus nothing.
Les explains that the Spirit who is ministered among believers and works miracles does so not by the works of the Law but by the hearing of faith. Under the working of the Law, miracles were impossible. But when the Holy Spirit activated the hearts and minds of pagan Galatians and others throughout the Roman Empire, it produced a miraculous transformation from paganism, idolatry, and immorality into a whole new lifestyle—a miracle in itself. Les notes the early church no doubt had other manifestations of the miraculous, though Paul does not explicitly delineate them. The question remains: if you witnessed a miracle, was it through keeping the Law, or through the manifestation of the Spirit activated by faith? The answer adds nothing. Les emphasizes that we are not under Law but under grace, and we come under grace and out from under the Law by faith plus nothing. This is the theme of Galatians: do not be suckered into a works religion; maintain salvation by grace through faith plus nothing.
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
More Questions
Does the Galatians' receiving the Spirit and miracles come by works of the Law or hearing of faith?
Paul's question in Galatians 3:5 is answered by saying the Spirit and miracles come by the hearing of faith, not by the works of the Law.
Do all genuine miracles come through faith and not through the law?
Every miracle, including any witnessed today, comes through the Spirit activated by faith, not through keeping the Law.