Beware Bewitched Believers | Galatians 3:1

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. — Galatians 3:1

CALL OUT: Today, our callout goes to the 3 men I baptized last weekend in Ocklawaha, FL. I am so proud of you for taking this step of obedience.

It's easy for believers to go from being a brother (Galatians 1:11) to being bewitched (Galatians 3:1).

"Bewitched" is a word found nowhere else in the New Testament. It means "to give the evil eye" or "to cast a spell over." This description of the Galatians stands in sharp contrast to the fact that some saw the crucified Jesus with their own eyes.

So why does Paul describe them in this way?

He is concerned about how easily believers were persuaded by foolish ideas, knowing they witnessed Jesus' atoning work on the Cross. Thus, he is pointing out the danger of unanchored beliefs.

Emotional responses to Jesus can be genuine but also dangerous. If they are founded on sheer emotion, then when emotions change, so will their beliefs, regardless of the "noticeable" facts. Yet the Galatians are not the only believers who acted this way. Contemporary believers also act this way. Many live from one emotional high to the next. Therefore, they become bewitched by baseless beliefs, leading them to chase after foolish ideologies, pursuing temporary emotional highs or spiritual euphoria.

As a believer, you will have emotional responses and spiritual highs, but you should check these. They need to be grounded on stable facts established by God's Word. Just so you know – the one fact that Paul is concerned about here is the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, which needs no additional work from us.

So, if you are a new believer today, I want you to enjoy that spiritual high. But do not found your beliefs on fleeting spiritual highs and be bewitched. Instead, found your life on the stable foundation of Jesus Christ.

#AnchoredInChrist #StableFaith #BewareTheSpell #EmotionalFaith #GalatiansInsights

ASK THIS:

How can we ensure that our faith remains anchored in the stable foundation of Jesus Christ amidst the highs and lows of our emotions?
Reflecting on your own spiritual journey, what steps can you take to guard against being bewitched by fleeting emotions and instead build a faith grounded in the atoning work of Christ?
DO THIS: Stop running from one emotional high to the next. Be grounded, not bewitched.

PRAY THIS: Father, help me anchor my faith securely in the unchanging truth of your Son's sacrifice, guarding against the allure of fleeting emotions and unstable beliefs. Grant me the wisdom and strength to remain steadfast in Christ, resisting the temptation to be swayed by anything less than the solid foundation of your Word. Amen.

PLAY THIS: Blessed Assurance.