Took the pop quiz in Galatians 3 this morning. Here are my answers:

1. By hearing with faith
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. By hearing with faith

Here are the questions:

Let me ask you only this:
(1) Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
(2) Are you so foolish?
(3) Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
(4) Did you suffer so many things in vain —  if indeed it was in vain?
(5) Does He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith — just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

(Galatians 3:2-6 ESV)

Okay, I know that Paul meant these as rhetorical questions and wasn’t looking for explicit answers. But this morning, as I’m hovering over this passage, I whisper out loud the answer to each of them. And I’m pretty sure I got them all right.

But the prize isn’t getting 100% on the quiz. Instead, it’s realized in being reminded that not only are those who are justified and declared righteous saved by faith, but that the righteous shall also live by faith (Gal. 3:11).

Full disclosure — I may have aced the test in theory, but my work in the lab classes of life so often results in a less than perfect score. Too often I look to the flesh for what only the Spirit can do. Too often I find my identity tied to how much I can muster up living like a son of God rather than resting in the truth that, because of Christ’s finished work on the cross and Christ’s on-going work inside of me, my “authentic self” is already a done deal. I am a child of God before I ever tried to live like one. I have already been given the Spirit of adoption and that’s why I want to cry, “Abba Father” (Rom. 8:15). And that, see question 1, by faith.

. . . for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

(Galatians 3:26 ESV)

One more question. Two more answers.

Why me?

By God’s grace alone. For God’s glory alone.

Aced it, again!