Les Feldick Bible Study

What was the miraculous transformation that the Holy Spirit produced in the Galatians?

The Holy Spirit produced a miraculous transformation in the Galatians, turning them from paganism with its excesses, idolatry, and immorality to a whole new lifestyle. This change came not by the works of the Law but by the hearing of faith, showing salvation by grace through faith plus nothing.

Les explains that the Holy Spirit is capitalized and worketh miracles among you, and the question is whether this is by the works of the Law or by the hearing of faith. The Galatians could not perform miracles under the working of the Law; it was impossible. But when the Holy Spirit activated the hearts and minds of those pagan Galatians and others throughout the Roman Empire, the result was a miraculous transformation from paganism with all its excesses, idolatry, and immorality. They stepped out into a whole new lifestyle, which Les says is miracle enough in itself. There may have been other manifestations in the early church, though Paul does not explicitly delineate them. The same question remains: if you have witnessed a miracle, was it through keeping the Law or through the manifestation of the Spirit activated by faith? Plus how much? 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 whole theme of Galatians: don't be suckered into a works religion, but maintain that we are saved by grace through faith, plus nothing.

Galatians 3:5

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

What was the result of the Holy Spirit activating the Galatians?

The Holy Spirit's activation of the Galatians produced a miraculous transformation from paganism with all its excesses, idolatry, and immorality.