The Curse of the Law
"For as many as are of works of law are under a curse, for it hath been written, `Cursed is every one who is not remaining in all things that have been written in the Book of the Law -- to do them,' and that in law no one is declared righteous with God, is evident, because `The righteous by faith shall live;' and the law is not by faith, but -- `The man who did them shall live in them.' Christ did redeem us from the curse of the law, having become for us a curse, for it hath been written, `Cursed is every one who is hanging on a tree,' that to the nations the blessing of Abraham may come in Christ Jesus, that the promise of the Spirit we may receive through the faith." (Galatians 3:10-14 - Young's Literal Translation)
If a person wants to be right with God through the law, he must keep the whole law. He cannot, like some do, pick and choose what laws he will obey. And once he breaks a law, any law, he is cursed and condemned. This is why the law cannot save a person. No one can perfectly keep the law.
Law defines what makes a person guilty. It has no provision for making a guilty person innocent. The law condemns. It cannot justify.
The just are to live by faith. The law is not of faith because it is of the flesh. It is physical. The law’s focus is on what we do. A person with no faith can try to keep the law.
Faith’s focus is on what we believe. Faith is what is in our heart. This is what is really important to God. Godly actions are to be a result of faith not out of a legalistic obligation.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. We do not have to fear the penalty for our sin. The word translated redeemed means to purchase a slave for the purpose of setting him free. We might use the word ransom. Jesus paid the ransom to free us from the power of the law and its condemnation.
The price of our ransom was the life of Christ. He took upon Himself our condemnation. He suffered in our place. He became cursed of God so that we would not be. He did this that we could receive the blessing of Abraham. He did this so that the Holy Spirit could cover us in the righteousness of Christ and live Jesus’ life through us.
We do not need to keep the law in order to be right with God. Abraham believed and was made righteous without the law. Christ paid the ransom demanded by the law.
Paul’s opponents might answer his reasoning in this chapter with this logic. “Yes, it is true that Abraham was justified without the law. However, that was because God had not yet given the law. Once God gave the law, then everyone was obligated to keep it. God’s way of dealing with the patriarchs was a temporary situation.”
Paul answers this objection in the next few verses.
If a person wants to be right with God through the law, he must keep the whole law. He cannot, like some do, pick and choose what laws he will obey. And once he breaks a law, any law, he is cursed and condemned. This is why the law cannot save a person. No one can perfectly keep the law.
Law defines what makes a person guilty. It has no provision for making a guilty person innocent. The law condemns. It cannot justify.
The just are to live by faith. The law is not of faith because it is of the flesh. It is physical. The law’s focus is on what we do. A person with no faith can try to keep the law.
Faith’s focus is on what we believe. Faith is what is in our heart. This is what is really important to God. Godly actions are to be a result of faith not out of a legalistic obligation.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. We do not have to fear the penalty for our sin. The word translated redeemed means to purchase a slave for the purpose of setting him free. We might use the word ransom. Jesus paid the ransom to free us from the power of the law and its condemnation.
The price of our ransom was the life of Christ. He took upon Himself our condemnation. He suffered in our place. He became cursed of God so that we would not be. He did this that we could receive the blessing of Abraham. He did this so that the Holy Spirit could cover us in the righteousness of Christ and live Jesus’ life through us.
We do not need to keep the law in order to be right with God. Abraham believed and was made righteous without the law. Christ paid the ransom demanded by the law.
Paul’s opponents might answer his reasoning in this chapter with this logic. “Yes, it is true that Abraham was justified without the law. However, that was because God had not yet given the law. Once God gave the law, then everyone was obligated to keep it. God’s way of dealing with the patriarchs was a temporary situation.”
Paul answers this objection in the next few verses.
posted by David Frank Wilson | 2:27 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home