What does it mean to begin in the Spirit but then try to be made perfect by the flesh?
To begin in the Spirit means salvation was generated by the Holy Spirit through faith. Trying to be made perfect by the flesh means seeking to be made right with God by the Law, which is fleshly, weak, and beggarly. The Spirit is received by the hearing of faith, not by the works of the Law.
Les explains that the Galatians had begun in the Spirit—the Holy Spirit's work generated their salvation because of their faith. Now they were considering being made perfect, or right with God, by the flesh. Les identifies the flesh as a reference to the Law, which was fleshly, weak, and beggarly. He contrasts this with receiving the Spirit by the hearing of faith, not by the works of the Law. Faith is taking God at His Word, and Scripture says it is by faith, not the works of the Law.
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Can a believer be made perfect by the flesh after beginning in the Spirit?
No. Having begun in the Spirit, the believer is not made perfect or right with God by the flesh, which refers to the Law. The Law is fleshly, weak, and beggarly. Salvation was generated by the Holy Spirit because of faith, and Scripture says it is by faith, not the works of the Law.
What does 'made perfect' mean in Galatians 3:3?
In Galatians 3:3, 'made perfect' means being made right with God. The verse contrasts having begun in the Spirit with trying to be perfected by the flesh, which refers to the Law. The Law was fleshly, weak, and beggarly; being made right with God comes by faith, not by the works of the Law.
More Questions
What does 'begun in the Spirit' mean in Galatians 3:3?
In Galatians 3:3, 'begun in the Spirit' refers to the Holy Spirit's work that generated salvation because of faith, and 'made perfect by the flesh' means trying to be right with God by the Law.