Study of Galatians

Week 5

Galatians 3:10-14

Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia. He challenged these young Christians to rise up in their faith and to first, remember the redemptive message of Christ but also to clarify some erroneous teaching that had infiltrated the church fellowships. 

There were some Jews who were teaching that to be saved, you also had to become like a Jew, get circumcised and follow some of the Jewish Laws.

Paul used his letter to the Galatians to build his case for salvation by faith in Christ alone.

In Galatians 1 and Galatians 2, Paul shared his personal account of his conversion and his authority as an apostle.

But in Galatians 3, Paul begins to memorialize doctrinal truths.

His first point in Galatians 3:1-5:  We are saved through faith in Christ, and it is through that faith alone that we should live. 

His second point of instruction in Galatians 3:6-9 is this: Even the father of our faith, Abraham, was justified by his faith.

Now, let’s look at Galatians 3:10-14 for his third point. Paul writes:

“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse, for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them.’” (v10)

When we look at this word, curse, in the Greek, we find something very interesting.

It is the word, katara, and is used only six times in the New Testament but wow, the implication is mind blowing! Curse (katara) literally means that a penalty must occur, no allowances given.

It is not like a speeding ticket where you can pay the penalty, fight the penalty, talk your way out of it or take a class to dismiss the penalty. No, here the word curse, is a result of God himself condemning something. That ‘something’ is sin, breaking the Law, and a penalty must occur.

Paul recited what these Jews had grown up on, Deuteronomy 27:11-26 ,a familiar passage on curses, God’s form of curses, katara. If you broke one Law, you were guilty of all, and therefore, condemned by God. The penalty? Death.

Doesn’t sound very loving, does it? How could anyone possibly be spared? How could anyone possibly be redeemed?

That is exactly Paul’s point. He clearly states what is evident, “..no one is justified by the Law before God.” (v11).  Here, Paul emphatically draws a line in the sand for them.  

He is saying that either you try to follow the Law, all of the Law, OR you place all of your faith in Jesus Christ.  “The Law is not of faith..’(v12) 

It has been said that the Law was like a great mirror so that we might see our need for a great Savior.

Paul continues with this powerful claim, “Christ redeemed us (that’s you, me and Paul!) from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us- …. In order that in Christ Jesus, the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles (that’s us again!) so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith!”Galatians 3:13-14 

A payment had to be made. We have all broken the Law. We are all under the curse. But God provided that payment in the form of His only Son, Jesus Christ, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall have eternal life, (John 3:16)  

An undeniable curse (katara) needs an undeniable payment, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  

That is a loving God. That is our God. Providing a payment that we never could.  

Paul has just made his third point: Because of Christ, we are redeemed from the curse.

That, my friends, is grace.

jeannaswann

#nowuntohimwhoisable

Question for discussion: (your email is never posted or shared)

After reading today’s passage, how we can live our daily lives  with the understanding that we have been redeemed from the Law? (work, church, home, etc)