A Truth Hidden in Plain Sight
“The righteous shall live by faith.” (Gal. 3:11)
Recently, a group of archaeologists announced a major new find in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. Petra is one of the world’s most significant archaeological sites. It had seemed that all the major archaeological structures had been found at this site. But recent use of satellite imagery revealed a massive structure, previously undiscovered. The satellite surveys revealed a massive platform, 184ft by 161ft, with an interior platform that was paved with flagstones, lined with columns on one side and with a gigantic staircase descending to the east. Although the large hump in the landscape had been noticed before, only satellite imagery revealed its true nature as a massive, man-made structure. The archaeologists reporting on their find entitled their paper, ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’. Interestingly, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia to highlight a crucial truth that was hiding in their plain sight.
In Galatians 3, Paul points out that the doctrine of justification by faith had been right under their noses all the way through biblical history. Paul draws from the story of Abraham and quotes from the book of Genesis: “Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” (verse 6). Paul is showing here that the gospel of salvation by faith first appeared in the opening pages of Scripture. In Genesis 12, God set His hand on a man named Abram. He told Abram that He planned to bless him and to use him to bring salvation the world. God said, “Leave your country and your people…I will make you into a great nation…all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen. 12:1-2) Later, in Genesis 15, we find Abraham having some doubts and questions about God’s covenant promise. He wonders how God could work out this great purpose and promise if he has no descendants. So God repeats His promise and declares, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”’ (Gen. 15:5) After looking up at the stars, “Abraham believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.“ (Gen. 15:6).
So God took a sinful man (Abraham) who took God at His word and declared him to be “not guilty” based upon his faith. This is the gospel in a nutshell. And Paul points out that God’s plan has always been—right from Genesis—to credit righteousness to those who believe His promise. As Paul writes, “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham…” (verse 8). Paul is deeply concerned that if the Galatians fail to understand this truth, they might believe the message of false missionaries who claim that religious rites or rituals (“works”) are necessary for salvation. This concern fuels Pau’s statement, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you!” (verse 1)
God’s promise to Abraham would ultimately come to fruition through the coming of Jesus Christ. Salvation would come to those who place their faith in Christ’s life, death and resurrection. It is in this sense that “those of faith who are the sons of Abraham…are blessed along with Abraham” (verse 7). Paul wanted the Galatian Christians to be fully convinced that God declares sinners righteous by faith alone – and not by works. The Lord wants us today to be convinced of that truth as well. The question for us, then, is simply this: Am I convinced that a sinner like me is only made right with God by faith, on the basis of what Christ has done?