The Curse & the Promise

Read

Galatians 3:10–14 (ESV)

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.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall 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 hanged on a tree”— 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.

Opening Prayer

Recap

Last week we closed with v.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.”

John Calvin stated this...

“The law justifies him who fulfills all its commands, whereas faith justifies those who are destitute of the merit of works and rely on Christ alone. To be justified by our own merit and by the grace of another are irreconcilable.”

Trusting in the Law is to say, “I’ve kept the Law, I have confidence in my self.

I feel confident that I can stand before God and be declared righteous.”

Which is to say, “I’ve kept God’s Law perfectly every day of my life.”

Trusting in Christ is a declaration that you have no righteousness to offer God.

You are completely bankrupt of righteousness.

You need a righteousness outside your self.

The problem with the Law of God, then, is not the Law...

The problem with the Law of God is our sin.

Since we cannot keep the law, the law cannot bless us.

All it can do is curse us, placing us under the condemnation of divine wrath.

So, this morning I want us to start with this question...

If the Law Cannot Bless, Then How Can We Receive God’s Blessing?

We have to be freed from the demands of the Law of God...

The Law cannot free us from it’s own demands...

And, the demands of the Law are:

Obey & Live

Disobey & Die

Listen to what Paul says in...

Acts 13:38–39 (ESV)

38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

It’s not as if the demands of the Law...

The justice of God is some how evaded.

Like the Indiana Jones movies where the rock is rolling down the hill chasing him...

And the only escape is this door that is lowering and he has to slide under it before it closes...

And he just barely squeezes under it before it closes shut.

That’s not how we escape the curse.

Here’s how we escape the curse...

And, this is the answer to the question we asked...

How Can We Receive God’s Blessing?

Galatians 3:13 (ESV)

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”—

We receive the blessings of God by someone taking the curse of the Law for us.

We need a substitute.

We need someone to stand in our place.

Christ Was/Is Our Substitute

But look at v.13 again...

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”—

Here were told that the sins of Christ’s bride were imputed to His account.

He, the spotless, sinless Lamb of God was credited with our sins.

As R.C. Sproul stated, “as the Father imputed to Jesus, every sin of every one of his people, the most intense, dense concentration of evil ever experienced on this planet was exhibited.”

We’re told that this was such a remarkable, tragic event...

That sun failed to penetrate the darkness.

And darkness fell over the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour...

Matthew 27:46 (ESV)

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

In this moment, all the sins of Christ’s people were heaped upon Him.

The Father could not look upon Him because of the sin.

And, the Father turned His back on His Son...

...For the first time, ever.

Listen, Jesus did not merely feel forsaken...

He was forsaken by His Father.

He was, at that moment, accursed of God.

He was not on the cross for Himself.

He was not drinking the cup of God’s wrath for His own personal sins...

No. He was sinless.

He’d never experienced sin, not even a sinful thought.

But, He was on the cross...

Being forsaken by His Father as He bore the wrath of God for the sins of His people.

Think, for a moment with me, of what Christ is doing for His people.

Think of what He took for the eternal gain of His people.

Think of what He gives for the eternal gain of His people.

Paul summarizes it like this in,

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

It’s a love that surpasses full comprehension.

Christ became a curse for us, for the glory of God, yes.

But, also and inseparably for the eternal benefit of His bride, the Church...

So, that we might receive the blessing of Abraham.

What is the blessing of Abraham? What is the Promised Spirit?

Look again with me at...

Galatians 3:13–14 (ESV)

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”— 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.

Do you see … so that

God is giving us insight into the purpose of Christ’s mission...

The reason for, and the mission of, the Messiah on behalf of His people.

And we have two things listed here that are actually the same thing...

Described in two ways:

blessing of Abraham

the promised Spirit

What Paul is saying that the reward of Christ accomplishing all that the Father gave Him to do...

Jesus stated in...

John 17:4 (ESV)

4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

The reward was two fold:

God’s promises are kept. Glory to God

The Blessings of Abraham would come to fruition.

And this would have to take place by the pouring out of the promised Holy Spirit.

Now, what does that mean.

Galatians 3:13–14 (ESV)

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”— 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.

So, Paul is telling us here that in Christ ( and that is extremely important and Paul elaborates in just a few more verses)...

In Christ the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles...

And that in Christ we receive the promised Spirit through faith.

The way God is going to keep the promise all the way back in Genesis 3...

The way God is going to keep His promise to Abraham all the way back in...

Genesis 12:2–3 (ESV)

2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

The way God was going to form this great nation of righteous people...

The way God was going to form this holy nation...

This royal priesthood...

Was in and through Jesus the Messiah.

And He would do it through the new covenant.

The new Covenant promised through the seed of Abraham...

The new covenant comes to fruition through the work of Jesus.

The victory of Christ makes possible the giving of the promised Spirit of God.

The promised Spirit of God given in order for the blessing of Abraham to be fulfilled.

Listen to a few OT prophets on the fulfillment of the blessing of Abraham...

This promise to give the Holy Spirit to fulfill the promise of a holy people of God.

Isaiah 44:3–4 (ESV)

3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. 4 They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.

John the Baptist stated something similar...

God could spring up children for Abraham from the dry desert stones. (paraphrase)

We glean more clarity of this outpouring of the Holy Spirit in...

Ezekiel 36:26–27 (ESV)

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

New Heart = circumcision of the heart/regeneration

The Holy Spirit given to each person in this holy nation of God...

Which Paul says in Ephesians is the seal and guarantee of our inheritance.

And, the Prophet Jeremiah tells us...

Jeremiah 31:33–34 (ESV)

33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Jeremiah restates what Isaiah and Ezekiel say...

But adds something important...

A clarifier, if you will.

Something that stands out as different than before...

Everyone in this covenant knows the Lord, salvifically.

Everyone in this nation of God is completely forgiven of their sin.

In order for this people of God...

This family of Abraham...

This holy nation from all nations to be assembled unto God...

Forgiveness had to be obtained for the members of this holy nation.

Righteousness had to be acquired for the members of this holy nation.

This was all accomplished by the work of Christ in His life, death, resurrection, and ascension.

And, by the giving of the promised Holy Spirit...

So that new hearts for each person of this holy nation could be given for repentance of sin...

And faith in Christ to be expressed.

This is the promise that Peter preaches on the day of pentecost...

Acts 2:39 (ESV)

39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Acts 2:41 (ESV)

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The promise is for all who believe upon the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Here’s another glorious truth about God brought out in these verses...

And, I’ll close with this...

The Love of God Surpasses All Understanding

Galatians 3:14 ESV

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 love of Christ for His bride.

The willingness of the eternal Son of God to willingly take to form of a servant...

To willingly submit Himself to God the Father...

Willingly become a curse to God so that His people may live unto God.

The hymn catches this beautiful truth so well...

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss...

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul.

Oh, the gospel is so beautiful.

The promises of God, given in spite of our sinfulness...

In spite of our rebellion towards God.

The promises of God are so beautiful.

And, they’re all yes and amen in Jesus.

Listen to this procession of truth:

For this nation of God’s people to be real.

For it to come forth and be created.

For it to be a people who have the curse reversed for them.

It must be done by God.

God makes the promise.

God procures the means to keep His promise.

God creates in us, new hearts so that we are willing.

God seals us with the Holy Spirit.

God makes all things new.

God lives in our presence in a reconciled, loving relationship, forevermore.

He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Closing Prayer