Galatians 3:2

Question 1: How did you receive the Holy Spirit? The answer to this one question should settle the whole debate (cf. Galatians 3:5). It was obviously not by keeping the Law but by hearing and believing the gospel, the message of Christ crucified (cf. Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Paul assumed his readers’ salvation.

Justification (Galatians 2:16) and the Holy Spirit become the believer’s possession not by the works of the Law but by faith through one act of believing. Receiving the gift of God’s Spirit is one of the highest privileges mortals can experience. Since God gives us this gift when we believe the gospel (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13), believing the gospel is clearly superior to obeying the Law. Furthermore since the Spirit is the guarantee of final salvation (glorification; cf. Ephesians 1:13-14), and the Spirit comes to us by faith, final salvation must depend on faith, not obedience to the Law.

". . . those who stressed the law put no emphasis on the Holy Spirit. But from the day of Pentecost on, the Christians emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit for Christian living." [Note: Morris, p. 95.]