galatians

galatians 3, the curse of the law, part one
galatians 3, the curse of the law, part two


expert studies on galatians at bible.org*

*There is a lot of valuable material at bible.org, so enjoy digging around! However, I do not agree with every premise made or conclusion drawn in every study. Many have a traditional, learned bias against the Torah which God is stripping away in His Church in these last days.

the curse of the law, part two

Originally posted at a little perspective in October 2007.

Previously: the curse of the law

“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.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 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”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Gal 3:10-14

The heading in my Bible, at the beginning of this passage says, “The Law Brings a Curse.” (The headings, paragraph divisions, chapter divisions, footnotes, and references are not divinely inspired, by the way!) Yes, how does the law bring a curse, and what is the curse of the law?

The assumption is generally made, that the curse of the Law is upon all those who obey the Law. But we saw yesterday that the curse of the Law is not brought upon us by obedience to the Law. But the curse of the Law is brought upon us by disobedience to the Law, which condemns us as sinners in God's sight (Deu 28:15, Rom 2:12-13, Gal 3:10).

Jesus has redeemed us from the indictment of the Law, which decreed us a transgressor of the Law (Col 2:13-14) and therefore worthy of death, the wage for sin (Rom 6:23). He has redeemed us by becoming a curse for us (Gal 3:13)! He has taken the sin, which is charged to our account because we broke the Law (which is the definition of righteousness and sin), upon Himself. Our sin was imputed to Him, and His righteousness (for He lived a sinless life and did not break the Law in any particular) was imputed to us (2 Cor 5:21). We receive the gift of righteousness through faith, not by obedience to the Law (Rom 3:19-24). For, as Paul points out, if we receive righteousness because of our work, then it is our wage, and not a free gift (Rom 4:4-5).

Paul is saying that we have been into the courtroom of the Heavenly Judge, the blood of the Lamb was found brushed over our guilty verdict, and therefore we have been redeemed from the indictment -- the curse -- of the Law which required death as a result of our sin.

Yes, Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Law! But it is not obedience to the Law which is the curse, but our having to be justified by our obedience to the Law that is the curse! We know that the curse cannot be obedience to the Law itself, because the prophets tell us that the Law will be written on our hearts (Jer 31:31-34) and we will be careful to obey its statutes (Eze 36:25-27); Jesus tells us that He does not know those who practice Law-lessness (Mat 7:21-23); John tells us that sin is Law-lessness, and the one who practices sin (Law-lessness) does not know Jesus (1 Joh 3:4-8); and Paul tells us that no one who makes a practice of those things which the Law condemns as sin, will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 6:9-10). Paul himself was obedient to the Law throughout his ministry (Act 21:18-24).

Now that we have been redeemed from the curse of having to be justified by our obedience to the Law, we are free! Free to love God from a heart washed clean, and to show Him that we love Him, by clinging to His Word which includes His Commandments in love with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deu 6:4-9, Joh 14:21-24)! He is our loving Abba, and we are His loving children, who walk in His straight way (which is Torah, the father's teaching for his son) that He has marked out for us!

the curse of the law

Originally posted at a little perspective in October 2007.

Previously: law or torah

“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.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 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” that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Gal 3:10-14

Now many people read, “as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse,” and automatically assume it means that anyone who is obedient to the Law is under a curse. However, Paul himself was obedient to the Law at least until he was taken prisoner to Rome (Act 21:17-24)! So let us look into this passage to see what it is really saying.

In the book of Galatians, Paul is contrasting two kinds of people: those who want to be declared righteous in God's sight by obedience to the commands of the Law (the Torah), and those who receive right standing before God by grace through faith as a free gift. The occasion of this letter was the rise in influence of a zealous sect of Pharisees who had believed in Jesus as the Messiah -- the circumcision party (Act 15:1-2) -- who were going around to all the churches teaching that no man could be saved or justified in God's sight unless he converted to Judaism first and received the sign of circumcision (the sign of the Abrahamic covenant) and then kept the whole Law (the Sabbath is the sign of the Mosaic covenant) before he could be accepted in God's sight, in order to receive salvation. That the point of contention was about justification can be shown by seeing how many times Paul refers to it as his topic (emphasis mine):

“And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” Gal 2:4-5

(What is the truth of the gospel? That righteousness is of faith!)

“We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Gal 2:15-16

“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.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Gal 3:10-11

“You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” Gal 5:4

Now Paul is not saying that those who obey the Law are under a curse or have been severed from Christ, but those who seek to be justified by obedience to the Law are under a curse and have been severed from Christ; for we saw that the truth of the gospel which Paul is preserving, is that righteousness (justification) is of faith - to which the patriarchs, Moses, the prophets, and Jesus all attest.

So we can see that Paul, in the above passage and throughout the book of Galatians, is speaking about what it is that justifies a man. With this understanding, we can clarify Paul's meaning in Gal 3:10-14 so as to make it crystal clear (my clarification in brackets):

“For as many as are of [justification by] 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.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet [justification by] the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse [brought by having to be justified] of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

So what is the curse of the Law from which Jesus Christ has redeemed us? Is it obedience to the Law that is the curse, or something else? To be continued ...

Continued in the curse of the law, part two