Galatians 3:10-18

Galatians 3:10–18 KJV (WS)

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Introduction

Last week we introduced the idea that Abraham was blessed through faith in God.

The believer is then grafted into Abraham’s family of blessing through the same means, faith.

Faith is the key to God’s blessings, not the law, not circumcision, not works.

The law can only place us under a curse.

Galatians 3:10 “10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

The idea that mankind can do enough to make God happy with us is dangerous and untenable.

It is dangerous because people waste their whole lives trying to please God by doing enough.

It is dangerous because it gives people a false feeling of righteousness.

Performance based righteousness is untenable because no one can actually be good enough.

If it was possible to be made righteous by the law, you would always have to keep all of the law.

Every statute and command would need to be observed at all times.

If you failed to keep even one order, you would no longer be righteous.

You would then be cursed for breaking the law.

Nobody is able to accomplish this, to do so would require perfection.

Galatians 3:11 “11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”

Paul seems to be somewhat frustrated with this whole line of reasoning.

How could anyone want to make their religion something that is dependent upon themselves.

No man can be good enough to be justified in the sight of God.

This ought to be painfully self-evident.

Look at your own life and the sins you struggle with.

Look around at humanity and notice the proliferation of wickedness all around us.

If the just shall live by the law, then it is hopeless.

If the Lord is pleased with those that obey the law, then none of us can please God.

Praise God, this isn’t the case.

Praise God, the just shall live by faith.

Jesus died to open the road to freedom.

Galatians 3:12 “12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”

There is a powerful point that is somewhat hiding in this verse.

The law is not of faith right?

We’ve been saying that , but what does that really mean?

When we say we have faith, who do we place our faith in?

What specifically did Jesus do that we have faith in?

A one-time sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.

Christian faith is a Jesus’ work that was accomplished on the Cross!

The law, of necessity, is never satisfied.

You must always live in the law if you are going to submit yourself to that paradigm.

As soon as you stop living in the law, you will break it.

The law is not just a list of don’ts it is also a list of do’s.

Justification takes place at a moment in time when the believer places their faith in Jesus.

It is then God’s responsibility to maintain our salvation.

We do not have to work to remain saved.

Galatians 3:13 “13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”

Jesus moved us from cursed to blessed.

It important for us to remember and be reminded of how Jesus did that.

He became cursed so that we could be blessed.

Through his death, Jesus redeemed us.

Buy up, buy away from.

Jesus bought up all of us!

He bought us away from the curse and condemnation that we had been under before we got saved.

The law couldn’t do this.

Jesus did this and as a result, believers of every nation can be receive the same blessing that God gave to Abraham.

Now, Paul uses a human illustration to make his point.

Galatians 3:15 “15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.”

In human business, when a contract is drawn up and signed, it becomes binding.

Nobody can just come along and make changes to it.

They can’t take features out of the contract.

They can’t add to it either.

Galatians 3:16 “16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”

God made certain promises to Abraham and his seed.

I don’t believe it is a stretch to understand that the promise being referred to here is the same promise that Paul quoted back in vs 8 “in thee shall all nations be blessed.”

This promise was made to Abraham and his seed.

But, who is his seed?

Paul tells us that Abraham’s seed is to be understood as referring to Christ, himself.

This is what we said last week.

In Christ, shall all nations be blessed.

Galatians 3:17 “17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.”

The law did not come along until 430 years after God made these promises to Abraham.

The law could not change the contract between God and Abraham.

Abraham’s seed, Jesus, would be the means of blessing the Lord, not the law.

The legalists and Judaizers could not change or alter the deal.

Believers have inherited innocence.

Not from fealty to the law.

But by faith in the promise.

Therefore, the just shall live, not by the law, but by faith.

What does it mean to live by faith?

Living is an action word.

Our life is made up of works.

As Christians who are to live by faith, how do we keep from becoming performance based??

Do we just avoid all outward religious expressions and say “well I’m just living by faith not works?”

No if we are justified, redeemed, and living by faith, we will still exhibit the good works that are proofs of our faith, according to James.

The difference, though, is key and profound.

Under the law, under the curse of the law, we are separated from God by our inability to fulfill all the law.

We forget, if we are careful, what it means to live under the law.

Remember, those who were under the law did not have access to God.

Those who were under the law did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them.

They were doing good works to try and earn something they never could.

For those of us that live by faith, however things couldn’t be more different.

We enjoy direct access to God.

Whether you take advantage of it or not.

As God’s child, you have a 24/7 open invitation to God’s throne room to talk to Him about anything that is on your heart.

We get to check in with God on a day by day, hour by hour basis.

Not because of the law, but because of faith.

We enjoy a family of faith.

People are always looking for something bigger than themselves to belong to.

The just have a family that gathers multiple times a week.

Should they desire it, they can come and find a caring community that all share the same connections to Jesus.

So many let this benefit of freedom go by un-utilized.

Or, rather than viewing the local church as a gift, they view it as an obligation or a duty.

We enjoy the benefit of the Holy Spirit living within us.

Under the law, the word of God was an unknowable book of fables and Christian jargon.

For those that live by faith it is a well-spring of truth and clear, powerful direction for our life.

The Holy Spirit does that for us.

The just live not in an attempt to gain the blessings of God (freedom, access, family, empowerment) we live by faith enjoying the blessings that are already our through Jesus.

If you have not been saved, we want to invite you today to make that decision.

If you are saved, are you living by faith?

Are you enjoying the blessings that God has given you?