The Book Of Galatians Chapter 3 Part 3 Law Condemnation And Gospel Glory

Paul seeks to stir up the Galatians emotional and spiritual sensitivities so that they remember their conversion to Christ.

Chapter three begins with three words: "O foolish Galatians" and these words express Paul's anguish because they were swayed by Judaizers presenting a false gospel.

The law of God is holy and good but it is powerless to save anyone.

Romans 7:7-14  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.  8)  But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9)  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10)  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11)  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12)  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13)  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14)  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

We must also point out that when Paul speaks of the law being a curse, it is with regard to its ability to save us from our sins.

Some people mistakenly think of the law as something bad.

The law itself is holy and good because God gave it. The moral law of God is a standard of God's holiness and it will never change.

An essential purpose of the law is to show mankind when we sin and thus, demonstrate that salvation must be by faith in Christ.

No one can perfectly keep the holy law of God because it demands perfect obedience. This is why God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ to perfectly obey His law. 

Jesus did perfectly obey it so that when we trust Christ for salvation, His obedience under the law is imputed to us. 

His righteousness under the law is credited to us. 

All humanity is condemned by the holy standard of God's law. 

Galatians 3:10-11  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11)  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith. 

Paul received a solid religious education and was very knowledgeable about the law God gave to Moses.

He connects his statement about the law being a curse to God's instruction to Moses after He gave the law to him (See Deuteronomy 27:26).

Paul makes it clear that all who seek salvation by doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is impossible for any man to meet the righteous standard of the law. 

The law of God condemns all humanity.

Romans 3:19-20  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20)  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

Here is God's purpose for His holy law. The whole world, all humanity is condemned and stands guilty before God.

No man, woman or young person can ever be justified by trying to keep the law of God. All humanity is guilty of sin.

This is the heart of the good news proclaimed by the gospel of Christ. God the Father sent a Savior for the whole world, His own Son, Jesus Christ.

The gospel of Christ offers salvation to all humanity.

John 3:16-18  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17)  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

God will save all who repent of their sin and trust His Son Jesus Christ, for salvation. All of the world needs to hear this good news!

Although God's law condemns all humanity, salvation is made available to all people everywhere if they hear and heed the gospel of Christ.

Again, this is why Jesus Christ, the virgin born Son of God came. He was both man and God in the flesh and He did perfectly obey the law and His Father.

Jesus took our place on the cross, willingly dying in our place, receiving the wages of our sins which is death (See John 10:17-18).

Death had no claim on Christ and Jesus had both the power to lay down His life for us and the power to take it up again at His resurrection.

Christ's righteousness is imputed to all who repent and put their full faith in Him.

This is what Paul means when he quotes Habakkuk saying "The just shall live by faith" (See Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 10:38).

"Justification" is a forensic legal term that describes something God does in heaven when a sinner repents and turns to Jesus Christ for salvation.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines justification as follows: "In theology, it is the full remission of sin and absolution from guilt and punishment; it is an act of free grace by which God pardons the sinner and accepts him as righteous, on account of the atoning work of Christ."

The law is not of faith and cannot save anyone. 

Galatians 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 

Keeping the law promises no forgiveness to believing, but requires perfect obedience. It is not, What do you believe? but, What have you done? 

The man that keeps the law perfectly, at all times, and in all places, he shall live in them; but if in any case he fails, he forfeits his life.

Since all men are born with a sin nature inherited from Adam, it is impossible for anyone to perfectly obey the law of God.

It is the Gospel of Christ that reveals the righteousness of Christ, and directs all people to believe in Him and be saved. 

Thus, the law will always condemn mankind of our sins. 

Jesus redeemed mankind from the curse of the law, but you must believe!

Galatians 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: 

Jesus Christ made an atonement for our sins for whatever was offered as a sin offering was considered as bearing the punishment due to sin. 

The person who suffered for his transgression was born with the curse of sin in his body. In the Old Testament the worst offenders were hung on a tree.

Use of a tree points to the cross of Christ which was made of wood from trees.

When a criminal was executed, his body was quickly buried so that the land was not polluted. Some heinous sinners were hanged and considered accursed of God, (See Deuteronomy 21:22-23).  

The Redeemer is Christ, the Son of God, who was appointed to this work by His Father. 

Christ came as the suffering Messiah and obtained eternal redemption for all who believe on Him (See Isaiah 53; John 3). 

As a man, Christ was the near kinsman redeemer like Boaz, to whom the right of redemption belonged (See Ruth 4:1-12). Jesus, as God in the flesh, was able to accomplish redemption for us.

The word "redeemed" means buying them again and refers to purchasing all who believe by faith in Christ.  

Jesus shed the very blood of God on His cross as a perfect atonement for the sins of all humanity for all time (See Acts 20:280 Hebrews 9:11-28; 10:1-18).

Christ purchased from the curse of the law all who hear and heed the gospel with the price of his own blood. 

Christ delivers all repentant sinners from wrath to come, and redeemed from the second death, the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.

The blessing of Abraham will be given to all who believe the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

What is the blessing that comes to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation? We receive the blessings outlined in the covenant God made with Abraham 

That is, full justification and full pardon from all of our sin, with all other blessings connected with salvation, such as peace with God, spiritual life, and a future in eternal glory.

The Spirit of adoption and sonship with God such that the Father calls us His sons and daughters when we believe in His Son. 

All this abundant blessing was through faith in Jesus Christ. 

From the beginning God purposed that salvation should be through faith, and that no one should be justified by the works of the law. 

God gave that law that the exceeding sinfulness of sin might appear, so that sinful man might be prepared to receive the Gospel, which proclaims salvation to a lost world through the atoning death of Christ.

May we commit ourselves to sharing the gospel of Christ with those who do not yet believe.

May we not hold back the words of eternal life from those with whom we interact.

May we be ready to open our mouths and tell others about our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Bob