I’ve thought a lot about these verses lately:

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3)

What strikes me so about this scripture is that it is possible for people, who have been saved by grace through faith and the working of the Holy Spirit, to become duped, to be bewitched—seemingly, into thinking that the power of God that brings a person to salvation is not enough to sanctify them, that they also need a set of rituals or an “in addition to…” program of self-help to get their lives straightened out—so that there is a slipping away from a faith powered relationship with Jesus into a performance-driven religion.

Consider this, also; that anyone without the Spirit of God dwelling within them, well, they are fair game to every bewitching deception of the enemy.

I think a lot of bewitching has taken place in our nation and around the world, especially in the past year. Of course, I would expect this to happen before Jesus appears to catch His bride up in the clouds to be with Him. The thing is, who is even able to recognize or willing to admit that they have been deceived? Sin deceives us (Romans 7:11); pride (Obadiah 1:3) or self-righteousness, whether Christian or not, will not allow us to consider the possibility that we could be deceived. We can be deceived by bad influences (1 Corinthians 15:33), relying on our own efforts, and crediting “good luck” instead of acknowledging that every good and perfect gift comes from God; and focusing our attention in any other direction than God, leads to deception (James 1:16-17). Fear and insecurity often play roles in the hearts of those who have lords other than the Lord of heaven and earth ruling over them—however, “…God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

“O Lord, our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your Name alone we bring to remembrance.” (Isaiah 26:13)

Scripture teaches there are those who use “smooth talk and flattery” to deceive Christians:

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve.” (Romans 16:17-18)

We also know that satan is a deceiver (Revelation 12:9), and the father of lies (John 8:44).

I’ve been duped by con artists and lost a lot of money. I’ve been deceived by sin— “…lured and enticed by [my] own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin….” (James 1:14, 15) I have been bewitched by religion that may (or perhaps not, I don’t know) have begun in the Spirit, but then relied on the works of the flesh (such as religious requirements) to do what only the sanctifying work of the Spirit can do—and relying on the human endeavor leads to self-righteousness, undermining Christ-righteousness (which is the only saving kind)!

I’ve been convinced that I was too broken to be a good parent or to be used by God. And there was a time when I thought that counseling and psychiatry were the only ways out of my mire. Yet God is able to complete the work He initiates in us through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Philippians 1:6). Although we may need some encouragement and help along the way (such as a godly counselor, advisor, or the encouragement of good friends), ultimately, it is only Jesus who can save, heal and restore.

Scripture teaches us that God is able to “save to the uttermost [completely, at all times] those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25) As a Christian, to believe or act otherwise will put us in the position of trying to be “perfected by the flesh” and not living by faith.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” (Romans 1:16-17)

The apostle wrote these words to Timothy, and they are as important to Jesus’ church now, if not more, than they have ever been:

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man [and woman] of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:12-17)

Let us proceed through these bewitching times filled with the Spirit and armed with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God!