The book of Galatians was written to believers who had started right but drifted wrong. Paul says in Galatians 3:1, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?”
Notice that word “who”. It wasn’t what bewitched them, it was who. Most people who get pulled away from Jesus don’t fall because of ideas; they fall because of influence. Someone leads them away from the simplicity of faith in Christ toward the slavery of works.
The Galatians had traded the freedom of faith for the frustration of trying to earn God’s favor.
That’s why Paul reminded them of faith over and over again.
• 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?”
• Galatians 3:7 – “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”
• Galatians 3:8 – “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
• Galatians 3:9 – “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
Faith is the channel through which grace flows. When we replace faith with anything else: works, rules, pride, or performance, we frustrate the grace of God.
What Frustrates the Grace of God
1. Forgetting the Source Frustrates God’s Grace
Galatians 3:2 – “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
They forgot where their spiritual life began. It wasn’t by effort, it was by hearing and believing.
When you forget that salvation started by grace, you’ll start trying to keep your salvation by works. You were never good enough to receive salvation and you are never good enough to maintain salvation. Salvation is received and maintained by God’s grace alone.
2. Foolish Substitution for God’s Grace
Galatians 3:3 – “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
They tried to replace the Spirit’s work with their own strength. Foolishness isn’t ignorance, it’s knowing better and doing it anyway. Trying to perfect what the Spirit started is spiritual insanity.
3. False Security Outside of God’s Grace
Galatians 3:10 – “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
Depending on the law gives a false sense of security. The law can only condemn, not justify. Grace is freedom; law is a curse when trusted for salvation.
4. Faithless Standing Outside of God’s Grace
Galatians 3:11 – “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”
Grace is frustrated when we stop living by faith. We’re not only saved by faith, we live by faith.
5. Fleshly Effort Outside of God’s Grace
Galatians 3:12 – “And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”
Law and faith cannot mix. The flesh always says, “Do.” Faith always says, “Done.”
Trying to earn what grace freely gives will always drain your joy.
6. Forgetting the Cross of God’s Grace
Galatians 3:13 – “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”
They forgot that Jesus already bore the curse. When we add to the cross, we insult grace. Remembering Calvary keeps our faith alive and our hearts humble.
7. Futile Questions Against God’s Grace
Galatians 3:19 – “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made…”
They questioned the purpose of the law. The law wasn’t the problem; misunderstanding it was. The law reveals sin, but only Christ removes it.
8. Failing Comparison to God’s Grace
Galatians 3:21 – “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”
Grace is frustrated when we compare it to the law for the purpose of salvation. The law exposes; grace empowers. The two aren’t enemies, but they can’t occupy the same throne in your heart.
9. Faith Confirmed Through God’s Grace
Galatians 3:22 – “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”
Grace is confirmed through faith alone. The more you see your sin, the more you see your need. Grace shines brightest against the backdrop of guilt.
10. Faith’s Classroom of God’s Grace
Galatians 3:24 – “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
The law’s purpose was never to save but to show. It was the teacher that brought us to Jesus. Once you’ve found the Savior, you don’t keep sitting in the classroom of the law.
Paul ends by pointing the Galatians back to faith. Galatians 2:21 says, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Grace can’t flow where faith has failed. The only way to stop frustrating grace is to live every day by faith in what Christ already finished.
