TEXT: Galatians 3:10-14

SUBJECT: Exposition of Galatians #6: Argument from the Law

This Epistle is Paul's defense of the Gospel. He defended it because it was under siege. Its enemies--I'm sorry to say--were neither Pagan nor Jewish, but men who claimed to believe the Gospel. They never denied its doctrines, but what they did had the same effect: they added to them. What they added--in short--was "works" to "faith". Consequently, they removed "faith" from its central place in the Christian life. Under their scheme a sinner was made right with God, he grew in grace, and he became welcome in the church by faith in Christ and obedience to Law of Moses. Paul, of course, had nothing against the Law. But to make obedience to it a condition for fellowship with God and His people was to preach "a different Gospel" and to come under the curse of heaven.

In Chapter 3, Paul makes several arguments to counter the false teaching of the Legalists. In vv.1-5, he makes the argument from experience. Did the Galatians receive the blessings of salvation when they kept the Law or when the believed the Gospel? When they believed, of course. Therefore, salvation cannot be by Law-keeping. In vv.6-9, he makes the argument from Abraham. Did he become righteous by keeping the Law or by believing the Gospel? The Bible could not be clearer: he "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness". Therefore, if Abraham's salvation was apart from the Law, why should we seek God's favor in the Law?

The third argument is also the shrewdest. Like David before him, Paul is about to slay Goliath with his own sword. In vv.9-14, he proves that salvation cannot come from the Law of Moses by citing...the Law of Moses!

He begins with the Law's inescapable verdict, v.10: "For as many as are under the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, `Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them'".

St. Thomas Aquinas divided the Law into three categories: moral, civil, and ceremonial. Most Christians have followed him. But Paul did not! He understood the Law as a cohesive unit. To disobey any of it, therefore, was to be a Law-breaker. Is he right? James 2:10 seems to say so: "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all". Note: "the one point" to which he refers is not murder or idolatry, but something as "innocent" as showing personal favoritism.

What is the penalty for breaking the Law? Paul quotes Deuteronomy 27:26 to make it unmistakable: "Cursed". What is the curse? It is not a mild chastisement--or even a severe one. Read the chapter and the one following to get the idea: Plague, famine, war, slavery, and exile. To what do these earthly judgments point, but to the Final Judgment and its unquenchable fire?

The Law, therefore, cannot bless a guilty person, but only curse him. And not just some, but "everyone who does not continue in all things which are written".

If one cannot find God's favor by keeping the Law, where will he find it? Paul provides the answer in v.10: "But that no one is justified by the Law in the sight of God is evident, for `The just shall live by faith'".

The reference is Habakkuk 2:4. Its background makes Paul's interpretation clear. God warns the prophet of the Babylonian army that would soon crush Jerusalem. He is told to publish the prophecy so that those reading it may escape. Everyone read it; some believed and others didn't. Those who didn't died for their unbelief. Believers, on the other hand, were spared. Consequently, "life" is the result of faith and not works. In Habakkuk's day. it was physical life that was saved. Now, it is spiritual life that is gotten by faith in the promise of God.

In v.12, Paul anticipates the objection: "Why be so black-and-white about it? Why not combine faith and works?" He tells us why: "Yet the Law is not of faith, but `The man who does them shall live by them'".

The quote is Leviticus 18:5. Its teaching (as applied by Paul) is brutally candid: The Law doesn't care if you believe it or not--only if you do what it commands. All that it commands. If you do, you'll live by it. But if not, you're hopelessly lost. Or are you?

The implied question seques into v.13: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, `Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree')...

Every sinner is under the curse of God; the curse he will bear himself--unless Someone does it for him. Paul introduces this "Someone" as the Lord Jesus Christ who "became a curse for us". How? By the crucifixion. How does one follow from the other? Paul explains by citing Deuteronomy 21:23: "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree". At the Cross, He became our Substitute--absorbing the curse on behalf of His people.

The effect? "Christ has redeemed us from the curse". The Law doesn't punish a man twice for his sin. Once he dies, the penalty is done with. Therefore, because Christ became "a curse" for us, the curse upon His people is nullified.

"My sin, O the bliss of that glorious thought!

My sin--not in part--but the whole

is nailed to that cross--and I bear it no more!

Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord.

O my soul."

This is the first effect--but not the only one. Paul adds another, v.14: "That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith".

The promises (plural) made to Abraham were many: a land, a child, riches, protection, and so on. But "the promise" (singular) was the Holy Spirit--and all He implies--salvation in the fullest. He came to Abraham when he believed. It comes to us in the very same way. "We receive the promise of the Spirit through faith".

The Legalists are hanged on their own gallows. The Law they trusted to make them right with God and give them a place among His people has done just the opposite: it has cursed them! What it did to them, it will do to us--to everyone who trusts in the Law. Therefore, let's look to Christ for our salvation--and to Christ alone.

Make Him your pardon. Make Him your holiness. Make Him your fellowship. Make Him your hope. Make Him your all in all. He won't disappoint you.

"Whoever is believing in Him

will not be put to shame".