Galatians 3:10-18
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The Law is a curse, Christ is freedom
The Law is a curse, Christ is freedom
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.
So let us take this section verse by verse!
Starting with Galatians 3:10 “10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.””
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.
For all who - that seems to be very clear that every person that relies on or depends on doing good according to the works of the law is under the curse of the law.
Is there a better or more clear way of understanding this passage?
* Paul goes on to clarify: Cursed is everyone who disobeys the law and false to do them!
A. To be clear Paul is stating facts! All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of the Lord! Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
B. The wages of sin is death! Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C. The judgement is on all those that reject Christ as sufficient to save, and try through there works to accomplish what faith requires!
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
What Paul is referring to is that inward quality that makes up the decisions of the heart.
Paul is clear that no deeds “or good works” of the law shall no flesh be justified in God’s sight!
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The greatest point in verse 10 “the law are under a curse” The curse comes from Deut 27:26
26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Even Deuteronomy 28:58 “58 “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God,”
So the clear teaching is from scripture thus Paul quotes from scripture!
For it is written “Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
Paul is clear that they must obey the entire law, not just portions that they like or that are taught, but all of it!
The result of a failure in any point is the curse of the law!
Revelation 21:8 “8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.””
Scripture is clear that all have sinned and fallen short of His glory! and The “wage of such sins is death and hell!”
Galatians 3:11 “11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.””
Paul is pushing the teaching further by stating that before the law of God noone is justified!
A. The teaching thus, “all have sinned” and stand condemned!
B. Only those righteous are those that live by faith in Christ Jesus alone!
Paul is quoting scripture at this point in Habakkuk 2:4 “4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”
God’s plan for salvation of man through faith in God’s only Image of Himself to mankind! Salvation by Faith in Christ alone was always the plan!
Again for clarity, “faith in God through Jesus Christ alone, not in a person’s ethnicity or wealth!
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3
Habakkuk was a prophet in the OT who wrote to the southern kingdom of Judah as the Babylonians rose in power in the seventh century BC. Judah was not in a position to deliver itself from the Babylonian army, and had to wait and trust in God for deliverance (
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.
No man is justified by the law in the sight of God! The misunderstanding is that it appears to be that law teaches people to do its works. Like you shall know them by their fruit.
The truth is God did not intend for the law to make people righteous. All that the law does according to scripture Leviticus 18:5 “5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.”
The law teaches us the way to live obediently before Almighty God!
But once you violate the law in one point, it reveals we are failures then in all points!
Galatians 3:12 “12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.””
This phrase means that the law is based on doing, not trusting!
Galatians 3:13 “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 hanged on a tree”—”
God’s provision then was Jesus Christ death on the cross!
His death enables believers to no longer live under the threat of condemnation! By the way condemnation that will come upon all those that live under it’s precepts.
How does Christ, become the substitution of our punishment?
Deuteronomy 21:23 “23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.”
So Christ became the curse for us through His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary!
He accomplished redemption and fulfilled the necessary atonement to those that believe.
Galatians 3:14 “14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”
The clincher of this teaching, at least the affermation that faith was the basis by which their life in Christ stood or fell was the Spirit.
The Spirit of God was received by faith. Galatians 3:2-5
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
They received the Spirit of God by faith not by works of the law!
Since it all began by faith, they will continue by faith! (vs. 3)
God ministered to them through the Spirit, with miracles through hearing! Not through doing!
This Covenant that God made with Abraham in Genesis 15:9-11
9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.
16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,
21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
I believe the “smoking fire pot and a flaming torch” was “the Lord Jesus Christ” He was the one that passed through the pieces of meat that day!
He was the one that fulfilled the Holy Covenant of God through the Person of Jesus Christ! This covenant with Abram was to “Your offspring” All the nations will be blessed because of this Covenant!
He fulfilled it through Jesus Christ!
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.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
