He Will Perfect You
You Didn't Start by Works, So Why Try to Finish by Them?
SCRIPTURE:
Galatians 3:3 (NKJV) - Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
OBSERVATION:
One of the greatest pitfalls for a believer is to begin to think that we can be perfected through the law. Paul lays out the tendency to lean toward the idea that “Jesus has saved me, but I must maintain it by following the law.”
This very idea is why Paul uses such a harsh word… fool. Remember, according to Merriam-Webster, a fool is stupid, showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment.
What Paul means is that you (Galatians), who have seen Jesus publicly crucified (vs 1), cannot think you can perfect yourselves. If He, being “perfect” in the law… (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.) died to save us who have failed to keep the law, how can we perfect ourselves apart from Christ?
Paul continued his argument that righteousness is by faith. Abraham believed God's promises, and it was accounted to him as righteousness (vs 6). 430 years after the promise, the law was given… Did this invalidate the promise (vs 17)? The law was given to show our need for a savior… Everyone who does not do EVERYTHING in the law is cursed (vs 10) …Jesus took the curse for us. …Cursed is everyone who hangs from a tree (vs 13).
Galatians 3:3 (NKJV) - Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
OBSERVATION:
One of the greatest pitfalls for a believer is to begin to think that we can be perfected through the law. Paul lays out the tendency to lean toward the idea that “Jesus has saved me, but I must maintain it by following the law.”
This very idea is why Paul uses such a harsh word… fool. Remember, according to Merriam-Webster, a fool is stupid, showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment.
What Paul means is that you (Galatians), who have seen Jesus publicly crucified (vs 1), cannot think you can perfect yourselves. If He, being “perfect” in the law… (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.) died to save us who have failed to keep the law, how can we perfect ourselves apart from Christ?
Paul continued his argument that righteousness is by faith. Abraham believed God's promises, and it was accounted to him as righteousness (vs 6). 430 years after the promise, the law was given… Did this invalidate the promise (vs 17)? The law was given to show our need for a savior… Everyone who does not do EVERYTHING in the law is cursed (vs 10) …Jesus took the curse for us. …Cursed is everyone who hangs from a tree (vs 13).
Another way to say Paul’s message is like this: “You received the greatest gift — the Holy Spirit of God — by faith. Are you going on from there, not by faith, but by trusting in your own obedience under the Law of Moses?”
This was indeed foolishness. This deception was cultivated by Satan to set our Christian life off-track. If he cannot stop us from being saved by faith, then he will attempt to hinder our blessing and growth and maturity by faith. – David Guzik.
This was indeed foolishness. This deception was cultivated by Satan to set our Christian life off-track. If he cannot stop us from being saved by faith, then he will attempt to hinder our blessing and growth and maturity by faith. – David Guzik.
APPLICATION:
Trust that the Lord is working in you. Have patience with yourself. When you feel the need to be “perfected,” rely on the Holy Spirit. It is not a bad desire to be holy… But if the desire leads us to “self-righteousness,” we have missed the point of holiness… Holiness means being set apart. You and I cannot, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, do anything to make ourselves more righteous than what Jesus did on the cross. Positionally, we are holy; practically, we are being set apart daily by and through the Holy Spirit.
If you’re like me and struggle with this verse in Galatians, memorize what Paul says in Philippians… For those of us who are harder, more critical, and even at times use extreme judgment toward ourselves, make this your prayer and life.
Philippians 1:6 NKJV - Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Jesus, help me when I fall into the trap of trying to perfect myself. How often do I struggle with feeling not good enough, worthy enough, or righteous enough? The truth is, I am not. But You are. Continue to work in me and help me remember that You are perfecting and completing me. It will be completed when I finally see You face to face. Help me be patient with myself and trust that You know what You are doing.
Trust that the Lord is working in you. Have patience with yourself. When you feel the need to be “perfected,” rely on the Holy Spirit. It is not a bad desire to be holy… But if the desire leads us to “self-righteousness,” we have missed the point of holiness… Holiness means being set apart. You and I cannot, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, do anything to make ourselves more righteous than what Jesus did on the cross. Positionally, we are holy; practically, we are being set apart daily by and through the Holy Spirit.
If you’re like me and struggle with this verse in Galatians, memorize what Paul says in Philippians… For those of us who are harder, more critical, and even at times use extreme judgment toward ourselves, make this your prayer and life.
Philippians 1:6 NKJV - Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER:
Jesus, help me when I fall into the trap of trying to perfect myself. How often do I struggle with feeling not good enough, worthy enough, or righteous enough? The truth is, I am not. But You are. Continue to work in me and help me remember that You are perfecting and completing me. It will be completed when I finally see You face to face. Help me be patient with myself and trust that You know what You are doing.
The same faith that saved you is the same faith that sanctifies you — you can't out-effort the Holy Spirit, and you were never meant to try.
Posted in 09 - Galatians
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Words Spoken at the Right TimeHe Will SaveShining as the StarSOAPRepentance: It’s a Good ThingDawning of a New LifePerfect Not PerfectionThe Cure for AnxietyThe Way We Think About and Treat OthersRight AwayTax Collectors and SinnersChoosing Christ Above AllThe Yoke of LearningHope In His NameWhere Did He Learn ThisImmediatelyFrom the HeartOn This RockMustard Seed FaithTrue HumilityMission ImpossibleMoved with Compassion
February
Change Your MindInvitationDrop the MaskGood News ProclaimedDid or Did NotYour Accent Gives You AwayEli, Eli, Lama SabachthaniThe EndIf You Are WillingSins Are ForgivenCrazy!Silence! Be Still!Saw and Heard – Jesus Something BlessedEphphathaRight PerspectiveSalt and PeaceServe Not ServedRemoving DifficultiesAbundance vs Poverty
March
Never FailAnointing, Betrayal, and DenialCarry Jesus’s CrossRolling StonesGod Will Never FailSalvation In Three StoriesSlaves and SandalsThe Lord's Favor Has ComeCalling All SinnersActing As ChildrenDo You See This WomanPreaching and Announcing the Good NewsWhen We Can’tGo and Do the SameHow You Should PraySet on FireOne More ChanceTake the Lowest PlaceNotoriously Lost, But Now FoundHow Great a ChasmFaith to ForgivePray and Never Give Up
April
The Way to PeaceCornerstoneGiven EverythingThat’s Enough EntitledEarly on a Sunday MorningFull of Grace and TruthDo Whatever He Tells YouJoy CompleteBelieve What Jesus SaidWhen Traditions Get In The WayBelieve and KnowKnow the WordDisciples – Know the Word, Truth, and FreedomI’m The OneEternal Life & Eternal SecurityLoose Him, and Let Him GoLifted UpLast WordsBelieveChristlike LoveSorrow To Joy