What was the miracle that happened when the Holy Spirit activated the pagan Galatians?
When the Holy Spirit activated the pagan Galatians, the miracle was a miraculous transformation from paganism with its idolatry, immorality, and excesses. They stepped out into a whole new lifestyle. That transformation was miracle enough in itself, and it came by faith, not by works of the Law.
Les explains that the Galatians could not perform any 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 of its excesses, idolatry, and immorality. They stepped out into a whole new lifestyle. Les says that is a miracle enough in itself. No doubt there were other manifestations of the miraculous in the early church, but Paul does not explicitly delineate them. The same question remains: was a miracle through keeping the Law, or through the manifestation of the Spirit activated by faith? The theme is that we are not under Law but under grace, saved by grace through faith plus nothing, and should not be suckered into a works religion.
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 characterized the paganism of the Galatians?
The paganism from which the Galatians were transformed was characterized by excesses, idolatry, and immorality.