GALATIANS 3:6-14
AN OLD TESTAMENT ARGUMENT FOR FAITH
Having dealt with the Galations’ subjective experience of receiving the Holy Spirit, Paul now turns to the objective evidence of the Word of God. We never judge the Scriptures by our experience; we test our experience by the Word of God. In verses 1-5 Paul asked six questions. In this next section he will quote six Old Testament Scriptures. His idea is again to prove that salvation is by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law (CIT).
The Judaizers wanted to return the church to the Law, so Paul quotes from some pivotal passage concerning the law. The point is that a relationship based on faith and not on law is the way to right standing with God. Believers are justified by faith in Christ, not by works of law.
The four points of our message are:
I. ABRAHAM WAS SAVED BY FAITH, 6.
II. THE BLESSED CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM, 7-9.
III. NO JUSTIFICATION BY LAW, 10-12.
IV. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST, 13-14.
Abraham was the all important father figure in Judaism so first Paul quotes Abraham as his authority. He states that Abraham was justified by faith not law. Even so Abraham "believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."
Paul begins by quoting Moses to show that God’s righteousness was placed in Abraham’s account only because he believed God’s promise (Gen. 15:6). Despite his and Sarah’s advanced ages, Abraham believed God’s promise to give him an heir in Isaac (Rom. 4:16-25). Abraham believed God’s promise in spite of it being biologically impossible. Abraham placed his faith in God and His promise and God gave him His righteousness even before the law came into existence, even though the living out of his faith was far from perfect.
If we look at our own sins, it is impossible for us to be saved but God has promised to save all who believe in His Son. If we will believe God like Abraham, God will do the impossible. Just like in Abraham’s case when a sinner trusts Christ, God’s righteousness is accredited to his account.
God takes the righteousness of Christ and places it in your account when you by faith receive Christ. When you trust Jesus it is like God writes righteousness over your sins. This means that the record of sin is always clean before God (by His blood) and a right standing is given in its place. The believer therefore can never be brought into judgment for his sins for God has called him righteous in Christ.
II. THE BLESSED CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM, 7-9.
Just as Abraham was saved by faith so too must we be saved by faith. Verse 7 defines who are the true children of Abraham. Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
The Jew and Judaizers were very proud of their relationship with Abraham. They thought that this relationship guaranteed them salvation. John the Baptist warned them that their physical descent did not guarantee spiritual life (Mt. 3:9). Jesus made a clear distinction between "Abraham’s seed" physically and "Abraham’s children" spiritually (John 8:33-47). Yes, Abraham’s physical descendants through Isaac and Jacob are the Jewish people but Abraham’s spiritual descendants are those who believe God for salvation. Abraham’s children are the sons of faith as contrasted with those of works or of circumcision or of heritage.
Some people today still imagine that salvation is inherited, or earned. Because mother and father were godly people, or because they were raised in church, the children think that they are saved automatically. But it is not true. It has well been said, "God has no grandchildren." Each person individually must determine to live by faith in God and His word.
Verse 8 includes the prophecy that it is by faith that the Gentiles also are justified. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in You. "
God’s foundational promise or covenant to Abraham was that salvation by faith was for all nations. The prophecy, "In you shall all the Nations be Blessed" is a foreshadowing of the Gospel (Gen 12:3; 18:18). Scripture proposes that from the very beginning of Abraham’s relationship with God that the blessing of the promised salvation would be for a people of faith. From other Scriptures we understand that "in you" was in Abraham’s seed (Gen. 22:18; 26:4; 28:14), meaning the Lord Jesus Christ, for there is no other name given among where by you must be saved (Acts 4:12). The gospel was first proclaimed to Abraham apart from and before the law.
Verse 9 indicates that the blessings of God come as they always have, by means of faith in God and His promises. So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
The conclusion is that the old and new testaments or dispensations are united. All believers dwell under the tent of faith. All persons of faith for all time stand together with Abraham, the pioneer of a faith-based relationship with God. The object, proof and reason for that faith in God were more specified and clarified under the new covenant. [The old olive tree did not need to be up rooted, the new branches just needed to be in-grafted (Rom 11: 17).] The names of God’s people are written in the same Book of Life. This is why God’s truth, God’s Word under the old dispensation speaks to us today. (See William Hendricksen, NT Com. -Faith & Obedience, 120-121)]
The blessings of God were and are inherited not by keeping or trying to fulfill the law but in living by faith in God and His word. Jesus our righteousness has fulfilled the law for those who are in Him (Rom. 4:9-10).
III. NO JUSTIFICATION BY LAW, 10-12.
Verse 10 proclaims that salvation cannot be by means of the law, for the law brings a curse. 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. "
Having attacked the Jew’s confidence in their physical relationship to Abraham, Paul now shows that the Law brings a curse by quoting the Greek [Q.T.] version of Deuteronomy 27:24. This verse indicates that if anyone proposes to be saved by the law, he must keep every part of it at all times. If you cannot, and no one can, then you are under ( -under authority or power) bondage to sin. Because of our failure to fulfill or keep the law, salvation must be received by grace through faith in Christ (James 2: 10-11).
Contrary to what the Judaizers claimed, the law cannot justify and save- it can only condemn. Breaking even one commandment brings a person under condemnation. And because everyone has broken the commandments, everyone stands condemned. The law can do nothing to reverse the condemnation (Romans 3:20-24). But Christ took the curse of the law upon himself when He hung on the cross. He did this so we wouldn’t have to bear our own punishment. The only condition is that we accept by faith Christ’s death on our behalf as the means to be saved (Colossians 1 :20-23).
Verse 11 makes it clear that no one will be saved or sanctified by law. Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "The righteous man shall live by faith."
Paul next quotes Habakkuk 2:4, "The just shall by faith." This verse is so important that the Holy Spirit inspired three New Testament books to explain it. Romans explains the just by telling how the sinner can be justified before God (Rom 1: 17). Galatians explains how the just shall live the crucified live in the power of the Spirit. Hebrews defines and discusses faith (10:38,11:1). No one could ever live righteously by law for the law kills and show the sinner guilty before God (Rom. 3:20; 7:7-11). Righteousness before God is granted by faith.
Verse 12 teaches that you cannot live by law and faith for they are mutually exclusive. However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "He who practices them shall live by them."
Someone might argue that it takes faith even to obey the law, so Paul quotes Leviticus (18:5) to prove that it is obeying the law not believing it that God requires. The law says, "Do and live!" but grace says,"Believe and live!" Paul’s own experience (Phil 3: 1-10) as well as the history of Israel (Rom 10: 1-10) proves that works of righteousness can never save the sinner, only faith in God’s Word can do so.
Legalists want to reduce religion to legal works and rituals. Paul wants you to enjoy a relationship of love and life by faith in Christ. For the Christian to abandon faith and grace for law and works is to lose everything exciting the Christian can experience in his daily fellowship with Jesus. The law cannot justify a sinner, neither can it give him righteousness. Why return to the Law?
IV. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST (13-14).
The next two verses summarize all that Paul has been saying. Christ has freed us from the curse of the law. "Christ 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."
Law breakers have been put under a curse; but repentant sinners need not worry. Christ has redeemed us from the curse! He has brought us up out of the sentence of condemnation which the law pronounced on us and from the punishment of eternal death it required (Gen. 2: 17; Deut. 30:15.19; Jn 3:36; Rom. 5:12; 8:1). He rescued us by payment of a ransom, the ransom price being His own spilt blood. He became a curse, literally "an accursed one" for us.
How was Christ made a curse? While dying on that tree, God laid on Him the iniquity of us all. By dying on that tree Christ bore the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 36). On the Cross He bore the punishment of sin which is the punishment of the law. Now the believer who is under Christ is no longer under the law (legally) and its awful curse.
The results of our redemption is given in verse 14. In order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Having lifted the curse off our shoulders, the blessing of God can now flow. The two purpose clauses are coordinated and work together. The covenant blessings promised to Abraham have come to all believers. Among all the priceless gems sparkling in the glory of Abraham’s blessing the gift of the Holy Spirit is the most precious. Through Abraham, specifically through his seed Jesus, a countless multitude of people would be blessed. Through Christ and, literally, the Spirit of Promise, the river of grace, full, flowing, refreshing and free would stream to all the people of faith.
CONCLUSION
All that is necessary to partake of the blessing of Abraham is faith, faith in the Crucified and Risen Lord. Because of Calvary where the fire of God’s wrath spent its fury, believers in Christ Jesus of every tribe, tongue, race and nation are redeemed from the curse of the Law.
Have you been redeemed from the curse of the Law? Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If so, rest in His finished work on the Cross for you. Rejoice and give thanks! Don’t make the all too common mistake of thinking that you can earn His favor.
