<p>3:3 <i>Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit</i>- The reference is to having begun spiritual life at their baptisms by receiving the Spirit (see on :2).</p><p><i>Are you now perfected in the flesh?</i>- The function of the Holy Spirit is to guide our spiritual development unto maturity or 'perfection'. Obedience to Law will not achieve this. The same word is used in describing how the Lord has &quot;begun a good work within you&quot; and will perform or 'perfect' it until the day we meet the Lord (Phil. 1:6). This work is essentially <i>within</i> us. We are in a program of development, and attempting to justify ourselves by work will interrupt that program. </p>