Paul continues hammering the point that "if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!". Paul is angry that the Galatians have turned from the truth that he taught them: "Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified." Paul uses strong words, not just because he is angry, but to try to get through to them. This passage reminds me of Jesus speaking to the crowd in John 8, where he calls them the children of the devil (strong words also):
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed..."
"Abraham is our father," they answered.
"If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did."
Paul argues what should have been obvious - that the Galatians did not receive the Holy Spirit by following the law, but by believing what they heard. Paul argues that Abraham was justified not by following the law (which was not given yet), but because he believed God. Paul, like Jesus, urges the Galatians to do the things that Abraham did: "So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith". Paul urges the Galatians to not put themselves under a curse, but rather to trust that Christ has redeemed them from the curse. "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
The application that I see for me is to LIVE by faith. In Christ, I have died to sin and I am no longer a slave to sin. But sin is not gone from my life. And it does not always *seem* to me that I have power over sin in my life. No, but BY FAITH I know that I have power over sin. And BY FAITH I have received "the promise of the Spirit" (v14). And BY FAITH I can choose to walk with the Spirit every day, relying on Him rather than "trying to attain [my] goal through human effort" (v3). Father God, increase my faith and allow me to live by faith.
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