As Far as the Curse is Found Part 1

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Intro:

Well, we made it. It is officially Christmas.

What I’m learning is that when people talk about Christmas they don’t really mean the day of Christmas, they mean the season and everything that happens around Christmas

There’s always lots to do and fun to be had around this season

There’s memories to be made, traditions to be had, gingerbread houses to make, cookies to bake, hallmark movies to watch, songs to be sung

And there’s things that happen this time of year that only happen this time of year.

Now, some of y’all are trying to stretch that way too far.

You’re decorating your tree in October and singing carols in September and that’s got to stop but

But I do love some of the lyrics to the carols we have

When you really listen to them and reflect on them, they are rich and poetic and thought provoking

And one of those songs is Joy to World. A classic right?

Joy to the World was written by Isaac Watts, who is widely regarded as one of the finest hymn writers in history.

Watts often wrote paraphrases of the Psalms for his hymns, and “Joy to the World” was no different. The lyrics were inspired by his study of Psalm 98, especially verse 4 which reads: “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.”

What is ironic is that Watts never meant for his hymn to be a Christmas song.

The hymn is really an Old Testament Psalm mixed with New Testament language which probably describes Christ’s second coming better than his first.

Still, the note of joy and the images of the Lord coming and every heart preparing him room combine to make this one of the best-loved Christmas carols of all time.

And so this year, our Christmas series is based on the words of this carol, but probably not the lyrics you would think.

What is also ironic is that the 1st, 2nd, and 4th verses are the more recognizable of the song with the 3rd being left out in a lot of covers. And that’s the one I want us to look at:

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found

So, what does it mean for God to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found?

That’s what we want to talk about to day

pray

Text: Galatians 3:10-14

Galatians 3:10–14 NIV

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The Tension - Where do we find hope in a hopeless world?

To many in the world, hope is very evasive.

even the correct definition of hope is uncommon

But Christmas is about hope right?

But look at the world around us

Where can we find it?

How do we find hope in a hopeless world?

As far as the curse is found.

Galatians speaks about a curse.

Galatians was written in 49-50 AD, around the time of the Jerusalem Council

In Galatians 3-4 we come to the doctrinal portion of the letter.

it’s written by the great apostle Paul who gives a Scriptural defense of the Gospel.

He does this by addressing the Galatians themselves, using their example of inconsistent conduct to launch into an exposition of justification by faith.

So, Paul’s aim and effort is to show the superiority of the Gospel over Judaism, the Spirit over the flesh (Gal 3:3), faith over works (Gal 3:2),  being justified over being held by the law (Gal 3:8, 11), being blessed over being cursed (Gal 3:9, 10)

Galatians 3:10 NIV

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

What is this curse?

I want to take a little bit of time to unpack this, because I think it’s an important distinction that many confuse.

Paul here is not talking directly about the curse of sin but rather the curse of the law.

So, God in all of His goodness, with concern for His glory and mankind's best interest in mind, designates a law by which people must live by.

a moral code if you will

He establishes and communicates this law with His people and in order for salvation to come, the law must be kept

but of course it isn’t

And so the law becomes a curse

The law, which is good, now becomes a curse because we are not

the curse of sin makes the law a curse

And for centuries, mankind has tried to earn his way into salvation

To be justified by good works.

Thoughts like, if I just do more good than bad

Or if I mess up I will do something good

Or even, If I go to church here and there, throw a few bucks in the giving plate, and tell people I love Jesus then I have earned my salvation

But what Scripture teaches us is that there is no salvation or justification to be found under the Law.

It is justification by faith that we need

Justification by faith is based on what God does for man, whereas justification (an impossibility) under Law is based on what man does for God

so these two ways of seeking justification proceed in opposite directions, ultimately even opposite destinies, respectively Heaven or Hell!

And here is your wake up call this morning, you and I are under this same curse!

The curse is universal. (10b-11)

Galatians 3:10–11 NIV

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

J Vernon McGee says that the important word here is ABIDE (emmeno in present tense) -  I am willing to grant that maybe there was a day in your life when you felt very good, when you were on top of the world and singing, "Everything's coming up daisies." On that day you walked with the Lord and did not stub your toe. Then you say, "Well, because I did that, God saved me." But notice what this verse says, "Cursed is everyone that continueth not (abide) in all things which are written in the book of the law." How about that? Do you keep the law day and night, twenty-four hours every day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks out of the year in thought, word, and deed? (Thru The Bible)

This is the expectation.

This is the bar that is set for living under the law

Not just good, but perfect!

Not just sometimes, but always!

And so just as the text says, “clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God.”

Noami pointing out Essie’s sins

We are all cursed under the law!

And that curse is twofold:

A present condition of alienation from God in this life, and Final banishment from His presence in eternity.

A man must render an obedience to the law which is complete and continuous or else be subject to its curse.

In other words, doing the best we can is not good enough.

We are under the curse

and the curse is at odds with faith. (12)

Galatians 3:12 NIV

12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”

Ligon Duncan: The two principles of law and grace of faith and works are incompatible. As Paul says, "The law is not of faith." The two cannot be mixed. That's what the Judaizers were doing. They were mixing faith and law, but they can't be mixed. Trying to mix them in order to gain salvation is like trying to mix salt and water to slake a thirst. It won't work. The water is worthless. The salt destroys it. The purpose of the law is to create a desire for righteousness, just as salt creates a thirst within a person. It is faith that satisfies, just like water satisfies the thirst. And faith is the means of obtaining the righteousness that the law causes us to desire. So if a person chooses the principle of law keeping to gain life, he will only fail and be condemned. (Sermon)

James Montgomery Boice says "faith excludes law, and law by its very nature excludes faith."

The Judaizers of this day and age were teaching that the law was a means of justification.

But Paul begins to deconstruct that argument by declaring that law is a means of condemnation.

And there is only one way out of this curse of condemnation under the law and that is through the blood of Jesus who rescues us!

The curse is defeated (next week)!

The Take Aways

Trying to “live right” to please God is a hopeless effort!

There is a trap in common christian culture and it’s the trap of the law

I want to again state that the law is not a bad thing, in fact it is good!

And we should desire to keep the laws of God

I just believe that the law doesn’t lead to salvation, salvation leads to a desire to keep the law

But the curse of sin has made the law a curse.

And there is a trap set before us, that has been tangling the church up for centuries and centuries.

The trap of justification under the law

The trap of good works salvation

The trap of earning your way to salvation

You will never be able to live right enough to please God

You will never be able to do good enough to earn His salvation

It is a hopeless effort

There is hope! We are brought from Certain Doom to Glorious Atonement through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross!

Where do I find hope in a hopeless world? At the feet of Jesus

Where do I find hope when all hope is lost?

Where do I find hope when I can’t earn it?

Where do I find hope when I’m under a curse?

Our clear response is not to do something, but to surrender to someone!

Barclay says, "...the only logical choice is to abandon the way of legalism and to venture upon the way of faith, of taking God at His word and of trusting His love."

The curse means that we can not save ourselves, but there’s hope in the fact that we don’t have to.

Yes, you and I are under the curse of sin and that curse has made the law a curse.

But Hope has come and it stretches out as far as the curse is found

Where the curse is wide stretching and all encompassing

Christ has come. Emmanuel, God is with us.

And Emmanuel has offered us hope as far as the curse is found.

Joy to the World, the Lord has come … to bring us HOPE!