"Blessed or Cursed?"

Faith has always been the God-required response that brings salvation! –

Ephesians 2:8–9 CSB

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.

Even the saints of the OT were saved by faith!

Hebrews 11:1–2 CSB

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved.

Hebrews 11:6 CSB

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

After showing the Galatians from their own experience they were saved by faith, Paul now defends that doctrine from Scripture!

· His first argument is POSITIVE, showing what true faith does.

· His second is NEGATIVE, showing what the Law cannot do!

· His final argument is the POSITIVE HOPE that comes through Jesus!

I. POSITIVE PROOF from the LAW! – (3:6-9)

Paul’s proof that the OT teaches faith rather than works revolves around Abraham—the patriarch of Judaism!

Certainly the Judaizers used Abraham as proof of the necessity of circumcision!

Genesis 12:2–3 CSB

I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Genesis 17:10 CSB

This is my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, which you are to keep: Every one of your males must be circumcised.

From these passages, their argument would be:

“Isn’t it obvious that if the Gentiles are to share in the promised blessings to Abraham, they must take on the sign that marks God’s people?”

Quoting Genesis 15:6, Paul is countering their argument!

Galatians 3:6 CSB

just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness?

(v.6) – Paul’s argument is, “Have you conveniently ignored the fact that Scripture ascribed righteousness to Abraham by faith BEFORE He commanded him to be circumcised?”

Paul used the same argument in (Romans 4:1-12)

Circumcision is the mark, not the means of salvation!

God established circumcision as a physical sign to identify them as belonging to God.

Romans 2:25–29 CSB

Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.

– Circumcision itself carried no spiritual power! Righteousness is ALWAYS a matter of the heart!

Paul is using the same argument in Galatians:

(v.7) – Only believers have any claim to a relationship to Abraham!

(vv.8-9) – There is no benefit to becoming a Jew first, because Gentiles are blessed with believing Abraham!

Those who are saved are saved because of faith, and those who are lost are lost because of unbelief!

II. NEGATIVE PROOF from the LAW! – (3:10-12)

After showing what faith can do, Paul now shows what the Law cannot do.

No one can be saved by the Law because no one can keep all the Law!

(vv.10-12) – If you missed one point in the Law, you are under a curse!

Matthew 5:48 CSB

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

– Perfection allows no exceptions, no failures of the smallest sort!

James 2:10 CSB

For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.

Romans 10:1–4 CSB

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God concerning them is for their salvation. I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Since they are ignorant of the righteousness of God and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes,

III. POSITIVE HOPE in Jesus Christ! – (3:13)

“…redeemed” is from the word meaning, ‘to buy a slave’s freedom.’

Christ justifies those who believe by buying them back from their slavery to sin!

“…becoming a curse for us” – A criminal who was executed was then hanged on a post till sunset as a visible representation of their rejection by God!

The person did not become cursed by being hanged on a tree, rather they were hanged because they were cursed!

1 Peter 2:24 CSB

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

CONCLUSION – (v.14)

Notice the REASONS for Jesus being cursed:

1. To Fulfill God’s PROMISE! – (v.14a)

(Hebrews 10:9a) – “…Here I am, I have come to do your will.”

(Acts 2:39) – “The promise…”

2. To Provide the Holy Spirit! – (v.14b)

When Jesus died, the veil of separation was torn in two!