Paul uses the example of Abraham to prove that God's blessing comes by faith, not by man's own efforts. 'He believed God, and because of his faith, God accepted him as righteous.' The Judaizers wanted to take the Galatians back to the Law of Moses, but Paul takes them back before there was a Law, to the ancestor of the people of God, Abraham.

Abraham did not know the Law but to Abraham a great promise was made by God that through him God would bless all the nations (Genesis 12:3). Abraham believed God's promise, committing himself to God in obedience; 'so all who believe are blessed as he was'. 'You should realize, then, that the real descendants of Abraham are the people who have faith.'