Dwell in the Word: Galatians 3:10-14

Consider these questions as you dwell in Galatians 3:10-14:

1. How does Paul's argument against mixing faith and works in salvation focus on the impossibility of attaining righteousness through adherence to the law, and what Old Testament examples does he utilize to support his point?

2. In emphasizing the significance of faith, how does Paul illustrate the role of Christ in redeeming believers from the curse of the law, and what implications does this hold for the Gentiles?

3. What practical challenges does Paul's message pose to believers in distinguishing between relying on personal efforts and placing trust in Christ's work for salvation, and how can this distinction shape our daily approach to faith?

Transcript:

So, Paul is continuing to speak out against this idea that faith and works are mixed together. Remember, we're addressing the claims of the Judaizers. They are the people who are saying, Yes, faith in Christ is good, but you have to mix in the works of the law, specifically the ritual act of circumcision. You have to be circumcised. Now we can understand why this would be a problem as Paul was trying to reach out to Gentile believers. This would have been a major obstacle for them. So, Paul is addressing this. And remember, Paul is upset. We have seen this in the way that this letter has been unfolding, and really in the tone that we see of the letter. So as Paul continues to make his case here, he's saying, Hey, if you are going to rely on the works of the law, really, you're under a curse, because curse be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law. Do them. In other words, Paul is saying, There's no way you can keep the law perfectly. You are not going to be saved by it. Even if you think that you have this ritual or that ritual or this good work or that good work sorted out, you are not going to keep all of them.

 So, the law becomes first. Paul is not saying that the law is bad. He's simply saying if you were going to hold yourself up to the standard of the law, that is not a standard that you can reach. Only Christ reached that standard. That's the idea of the perfect obedience of Christ, that stint that you and I could not bring ourselves to in our fallen state. Christ has accomplished on our behalf. So we see Paul going back to the state, the righteous shall live by faith. Not that the righteous are going to live by the law, not that the righteous are going to live by the rituals. The righteous shall live by faith. We are trusting, by faith, the one who did this on our behalf. So, we see here, Paul making this case, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. How did he do that? By coming up first for us. In other words, he took that curse on himself, even though he did not deserve it. And Paul goes back to the Old Testament. He goes back to a statement from the 22:1-2, first is everyone who is hanged on a tree.

 In other words, Jesus took that punishment on himself for us at cross. He was hurt for us. Why? Well, Paul says, So that in Christ Jesus, the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles. Now, notice what he's doing again. He's going back to Abraham, the man of faith. Abraham was translated righteous, justified by faith before he ever was circumcised. That's why Paul keeps on going back to Abraham. He wants us to understand Bible that scripture says that Abraham was declared righteous prior to his receiving man to be circumcised. We want to come likeAbraham. We want to be man, the woman of faith. We want to have faith. And we do that in Christ. We do that by receiving Spirit. Notice what I said to you. See that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith, not by us doing works. Remember last time we read that Paul asked you the question, How did you receive the Spirit? Did you do a work for it? So keep coming back to that idea. What? Yeah, we receive the Spirit. We do this before we do anything. It is the work of God in us. So if he has done this in us, then we don't need to do anything to merit him, to achieve him.

 We are doing this by faith, just like Abraham, we are people of faith. So as we think about this passage, it goes back to what we've been seeing and what I've been seeing throughout Galatians so far. Are we trusting in Christ? Are we trusting in Him by faith? Or are we hoping that somehow we are going to be right in ourselves? As we see Paul continue to make his case on why we have to trust Jesus by faith. May you and I daily take up our crowns and look to Jesus instead of looking to ourselves.