Chapter 12
NO JUSTIFICATION FROM THE LAW
(Galatians 3:10-14)
Before we begin our study let us pray,
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Father, please open our eyes and ears so we can truly hear and see what You are saying to us. Please open our hearts to receive and be obedient the truth of Your Word. In Jesus' Name we ask.
Amen
In the previous two studies we found that we are justified in God the Father's eyes through faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. To amplify this truth, the Holy Spirit also teaches us the reverse truth. Specifically, the Bible teaches us that there is no justification from the Law. To see this let us read the Scriptures for this study,
Galatians 3:10-14
"[10] All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." [11] Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." [12] The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will 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 hung on a tree." [14] He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
Perhaps the best way for us to begin to grasp the depth of what is being taught in the above Scriptures is to expand upon the following two key points.
With these two points in mind let us begin by exploring the following truth.
ALL WHO RELY ON THE LAW ARE UNDER A CURSE
This truth is recorded for us in,
Galatians 3:10
"[10] All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.""
To see this a bit more clearly let us go to the Old Testament, where the Law is given, and read what it teaches about those who try to do everything the Law requires but yet fall short.
Deuteronomy 27:26
""[26] Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!""
This principle is also stated in the New Testament. It can be found in,
James 2:8-11
"[8] If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. [9] But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. [10] For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. [11] For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker."
Now some may be thinking to themselves, well, I never committed murder nor have I committed adultery. In fact, I can not recall of a time when I broke one of the Ten Commandments.
For those who may believe this, let us read what Jesus taught about the Law and what it means to obey it. To do this let us take some examples of what the Law says. For example,
YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER (
Deuteronomy 5:17)Now some may say to themselves, this commandment is no problem. I did not murder anyone. Therefore I'm fine. Before we become too confident, let us read what Jesus taught about this commandment. It is recorded for us in,
Matthew 5:21-24
""[21] You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' [22] But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. [23] "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."
Pretty sobering isn't it?
Let us now move on to,
YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY
(Deuteronomy 5:18)Let us read what Jesus taught about this commandment from,
Matthew 5:27-28
""[27] You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' [28] But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Let us now go and read what our Lord taught concerning,
OTHER PORTIONS OF THE LAW
To do this let us continue our reading from,
Matthew 5:33-48
""[33] Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' [34] But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; [35] or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. [36] And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. [37] Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. [38] "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' [39] But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. [40] And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. [41] If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. [42] Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. [43] "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [44] But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. [46] If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? [47] And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? [48] Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
As I reflect upon the above teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ I find myself convicted of transgressing God's commands. I find that when I look to the Law to justify myself, it points out to me where I have sinned and failed to meet its standards. In other words, the Law condemns me, that is I find myself under God's wrath or according to the Law, cursed.
This conviction or realization helps us to really begin to see the truth of the following passage in Galatians.
Galatians 3:11
"[11] Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, ...""
However, because of the great love God has for us He has given us a way out. To see what this is let us now read the entire passage from,
Galatians 3:11
"[11] Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith.""
To see this truth in a different light, let us read what the Apostle Paul wrote concerning the manner in which he lived his life. It is recorded for us in,
Galatians 2:20-21
"[20] I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [21] I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!""
This now brings us to the second point of this study. That is,
JESUS DELIVERED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW
To see this let us now read from,
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 hung on a tree.""
Question
: What is the Holy Spirit teaching us here? What is He saying?To find out let us go to the Old Testament and read the context in which the above passage was given.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
"[22] If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, [23] you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance."
To see how our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fulfilled every point of the above law or commandment, we begin by recognizing that,
JESUS TOOK UPON HIMSELF OUR SINS
The Holy Spirit reveals this to us in,
2 Corinthians 5:21
"[21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
And again in,
1 Peter 2:24
"[24] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
As a consequence of taking on our sins we find that Jesus became a curse for our sakes. To understand this we need to recognize that in the Old Testament it states that anyone who broke the Law or sinned was cursed. To see this let us read what Moses instructed the people to do when they crossed over the Jordan River into the promised land. Specifically, to remind them to obey God they were to split into two companies. One company was to pronounce blessings and the other curses. This is recorded for us in,
Deuteronomy 27:9-17
"[11] Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, said to all Israel, "Be silent, O Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God. [10] Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today." [11] On the same day Moses commanded the people: [12] When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. [13] And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali. [14] The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice: [15] "Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol--a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of the craftsman's hands--and sets it up in secret." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" [16] "Cursed is the man who dishonors his father or his mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" [17] "Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor's boundary stone." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"" … etc.
Consequently, to fulfill the Law for us, when Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself He became cursed.
Question: In God's eyes what is the penalty for sin? Specifically, according to the Law, what is the required penalty for the sins we have committed?
Right … death! In God's eyes, sin is a capital offense deserving death. In fact, this truth was one of the major points to be learned from the whole Old Testament sacrificial system. This principle is also summarized for us in,
Romans 6:23
"[23] For the wages of sin is death, ..."
Thus, we find as a consequence of taking upon Himself our sins,
JESUS CHRIST DIED IN OUR PLACE
This was the whole purpose for His crucifixion on the cross. For completeness let us review this event as recorded in,
Luke 23:26-49
"[26] As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. [27] A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. [28] Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. [29] For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' [30] Then "'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"' [31] For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" [32] Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. [33] When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. [34] Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. [35] The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." [36] The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar [37] and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." [38] There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [39] One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" [40] But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? [41] We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." [42] Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." [43] Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." [44] It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, [45] for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. [46] Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. [47] The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." [48] When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. [49] But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things."
It is interesting to note that the cross Jesus was crucified on was made of wood, that is a tree. Thus, to completely fulfill the Law we read in Deuteronomy 21:22-23, that is the body was not to be left hanging overnight, we find that,
ON THE SAME EVENING JESUS WAS BURIED
To see this let us read from,
Mark 15:42-47
"[42] It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, [43] Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. [44] Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. [45] When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. [46] So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. [47] Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid."
Thus, we find that Jesus Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the Law for us. Hence, through faith in Him and what He did for us we have been redeemed from the curse of the Law.
As we reflect upon all this we are awed by the majesty of God and His love for us. In addition, we are also reminded of the following prophecy where God, at approximately 765 years earlier, foretold all these events,
Isaiah 53:4-10
"[4] Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. [6] We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [7] He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. [8] By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. [9] He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. [10] Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand."
However, the good news of Jesus Christ does not end in the grave. Jesus Christ not only died and was buried but,
HE ALSO ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN
To see this let us return to the prophecy God gave through the prophet Isaiah concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53:11
"[11] After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;…"
Let us now read the fulfillment of this prophecy by reading from,
Luke 24:1-8
"[1] On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. [2] They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, [3] but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. [5] In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? [6] He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [7] 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" [8] Then they remembered his words."
Why is the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ so important? Why bring it up in this study? His resurrection is extremely important for many, many reasons. However, for this study the significance of His resurrection goes back to the promise He made to His disciples as He prepared them for His departure from this earth. This promise is recorded for us in,
John 16:7
"[7] But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you."
In other words, Jesus told His disciples then and now us that because of His death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven, He has and will send the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in those that are His.
To see this let us read from,
John 14:15-17
""[15] If you love me, you will obey what I command. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- [17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
SUMMARY
With all the above background, let us now summarize the whole point of this study by reading from,
Galatians 3:13-14
"[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 hung on a tree." [14] He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
Amen and Amen