Galatians 3:10-1410 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
In our last teaching we covered Galatians 3:6-9. We saw that Paul made it very, very clear to the Galatian believers and ALL present (Judaizers, etc.) that salvation has always been the way of faith. To prove this is so, he uses the most respected Jew in the Old Testament – Abraham. Then shows “…just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness…”.
Now that brings us to verses 10-14. Here we will cover the curse of the law.
Verse 10
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
Paul is here quoting from Deut. 27:26 to prove his point!
Paul here teaches that the Law BRINGS a curse. He does NOT say the law IS A curse; rather striving for “salvation” by keeping the law is doomed for failure – 100% of the time.
Inevitably, the outcome of anyone who seeks the law to obtain righteousness, ALWAYS has a 100% chance of falling short of its demands. To fail in part is to fail in the whole. – As we have seen in Gal. 2:14-15 and also seen in James 2:10 - 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. And Gal. 2:16 “…by the works of the law shall NO flesh be justified”.
Verse 11
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
“NO ONE is justified by the law…” This is makes it clear NO ONE!
Paul quotes Hab. 2:4 to demonstrate that a person can only be justified through faith.
Verse 12
12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."
“…the law is NOT of faith…” The law and faith are NOT mutually compatible ways to God.
He then cites Lev. 18:5 to buy into one part of the law is to be indebted to do ALL the law.
To claim ANY righteousness apart from the Righteousness of Christ (II Cor. 5:21) is to be drawn into an entire system of LEGALISM, and thus GRACE is taken out of the equation.
Verse 13
13 Christ has redeemed (Redeemed = literally means, "Paid the ransom, buy out a slave) us [first person plural pronoun referring to both Jews and Gentiles] from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),
Paul here quotes Deut. 21:23 – “...he that is hanged (upon a tree) is accursed of God…”
Being under the curse through trying to be justified by the works of the law is contrasted with being blessed as a believer (v. 9). The quotation from Deut. 27:26 says that those who do not keep the whole law are cursed, proving that all are cursed who follow the law, because all fall short of the law's standards (see Rom. 1:17; 3:10, 23).
Just as II Cor. 5:21 says Christ became SIN for us (IN OUR PLACE).
So here it says Christ took the CURSE of sin for us (IN OUR PLACE).
Verse 14
14 that the blessing of Abraham [by faith NOT the law] might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Praise God the plan of salvation does not run on two tracks, one for Jewish people and the other for Gentiles. There is only one way for all and that is through faith!
Note:
Six things that Galatians show the Law CANNOT accomplish:
1. The Law cannot JUSTIFY the sinner (Gal. 2:16)
2. The Law cannot give man RIGHTEOUS standing before God (Gal 2:21)
3. The Law cannot give the gift of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:2)
4. The Law cannot guarantee our spiritual inheritance (Gal. 3:18)
5. The Law cannot GIVE LIFE (Gal. 3:21)
6. The Law cannot GIVE LIBERTY (Gal. 4:8-10)
(Taken from material gathered by Warren Wiersbe)
Praise God, the law has a purpose – It shows you are in trouble, you need help, and that help is only found in TRUSTING in Jesus Christ as your LORD and SAVIOR. AMEN!
So do you want to put yourself under the law? If you do so, you must keep every bit of it, which is impossible. BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!
Question: Have you believed (complete trust and abandonment) in the perfect one, the Lord Jesus Christ. Many others had experienced the brutal crucifixion, but none other was cursed on the cross for us but JESUS.
I also pray that if you have lived a legalistic, works kind of contact with God,
that the Lord will set you free to live a faith-filled, loving relationship with God through our living Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!!!
THIS CONCLUDES THIS WEEK’S TEACHING.
I look forward to questions, comments, and testimonies from you.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
Paul is here quoting from Deut. 27:26 to prove his point!
Paul here teaches that the Law BRINGS a curse. He does NOT say the law IS A curse; rather striving for “salvation” by keeping the law is doomed for failure – 100% of the time.
Inevitably, the outcome of anyone who seeks the law to obtain righteousness, ALWAYS has a 100% chance of falling short of its demands. To fail in part is to fail in the whole. – As we have seen in Gal. 2:14-15 and also seen in James 2:10 - 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. And Gal. 2:16 “…by the works of the law shall NO flesh be justified”.
Verse 11
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
“NO ONE is justified by the law…” This is makes it clear NO ONE!
Paul quotes Hab. 2:4 to demonstrate that a person can only be justified through faith.
Verse 12
12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."
“…the law is NOT of faith…” The law and faith are NOT mutually compatible ways to God.
He then cites Lev. 18:5 to buy into one part of the law is to be indebted to do ALL the law.
To claim ANY righteousness apart from the Righteousness of Christ (II Cor. 5:21) is to be drawn into an entire system of LEGALISM, and thus GRACE is taken out of the equation.
Verse 13
13 Christ has redeemed (Redeemed = literally means, "Paid the ransom, buy out a slave) us [first person plural pronoun referring to both Jews and Gentiles] from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),
Paul here quotes Deut. 21:23 – “...he that is hanged (upon a tree) is accursed of God…”
Being under the curse through trying to be justified by the works of the law is contrasted with being blessed as a believer (v. 9). The quotation from Deut. 27:26 says that those who do not keep the whole law are cursed, proving that all are cursed who follow the law, because all fall short of the law's standards (see Rom. 1:17; 3:10, 23).
Just as II Cor. 5:21 says Christ became SIN for us (IN OUR PLACE).
So here it says Christ took the CURSE of sin for us (IN OUR PLACE).
Verse 14
14 that the blessing of Abraham [by faith NOT the law] might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Praise God the plan of salvation does not run on two tracks, one for Jewish people and the other for Gentiles. There is only one way for all and that is through faith!
Note:
Six things that Galatians show the Law CANNOT accomplish:
1. The Law cannot JUSTIFY the sinner (Gal. 2:16)
2. The Law cannot give man RIGHTEOUS standing before God (Gal 2:21)
3. The Law cannot give the gift of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:2)
4. The Law cannot guarantee our spiritual inheritance (Gal. 3:18)
5. The Law cannot GIVE LIFE (Gal. 3:21)
6. The Law cannot GIVE LIBERTY (Gal. 4:8-10)
(Taken from material gathered by Warren Wiersbe)
Praise God, the law has a purpose – It shows you are in trouble, you need help, and that help is only found in TRUSTING in Jesus Christ as your LORD and SAVIOR. AMEN!
So do you want to put yourself under the law? If you do so, you must keep every bit of it, which is impossible. BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!
Question: Have you believed (complete trust and abandonment) in the perfect one, the Lord Jesus Christ. Many others had experienced the brutal crucifixion, but none other was cursed on the cross for us but JESUS.
I also pray that if you have lived a legalistic, works kind of contact with God,
that the Lord will set you free to live a faith-filled, loving relationship with God through our living Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!!!
THIS CONCLUDES THIS WEEK’S TEACHING.
I look forward to questions, comments, and testimonies from you.
