Galatians – Part 4

Series – June 2022 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Galatians – Part 4

In our third part last month we considered the beginning of Galatians 3. This month we continue our Series by looking first at verses 10-12 of that same chapter. They say, “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. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them” ( KJV ).

The Ten Commandments, which were given of God by the disposition, or direction, of angels to Moses and the children Israel (see Acts 7:53), were the highest moral and ethical standard known to man. But this was God’s minimum standard, for in Jesus Christ we see God’s highest standard. The nation of Israel was to be ruled by God’s law. Essentially, this was their written constitution. If one kept the law he would live in peace with God and men. If a person broke the law he would die without mercy upon the testimony of two or three witnesses.

The law only offered life to the person who kept it. However, once it was broken, that person immediately fell under the curse as a law-breaker who must die without mercy. The entire nation of Israel was guilty before God, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). No one measured up to God’s required minimum standard. The law justified no one. Justification comes by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but the law is not of faith. All men would be condemned to the lake of fire forever (Rev. 20:15) had it not been for the Lord Jesus, who suffered, bled, died and rose again from the dead. He went through that for us, as our Substititute (Rom. 5:8-9).

The phrase “the just shall live by … faith” was first spoken by the prophet Habakkuk (Hab. 2:4). It is repeated three times in the New Testament: Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38. The book of Romans tells us how one becomes just. Galatians conveys how one ought to live, which is not on the principle of law but on that of faith. In the book of Hebrews we are told, especially in chapter 11, that the walk, work and word of certain men and women of old were done by faith. They even died in faith. The law therefore cannot be a code of living for the just or the Christian, because the law is not of faith. “The just shall live by faith.”

There are some who say we are saved by grace through faith but that the requirement to live by the law remains. This is as far from the truth as the east is from the west. How can Christ deliver us from the yoke of bondage and then lay it again upon our backs? How can Christ build again the things that He had destroyed? How can Christ redeem Jews from the curse of the law only to place them again under the curse?

We are told in 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 every one that hangeth on a tree.” “To redeem” means “to buy back.” The Jews were a nation under the law. It was to them a rule of living. They were under obligation to keep the whole law lest they be under penalty of death. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (v.10). Christ came, and by dying He bought and freed the believing Jews from the curse of the law, being made a curse for them.

In verse 14 we read: “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” As a result of the death of Christ, that which was long promised by God to bless the Gentiles through Abraham has come to the Gentiles. The Spirit came to the Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2), and to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius (Acts 10). The gospel is being preached unto all, to the Jews first and also to the Gentiles. The blessing of God is upon all who believe, to the Jews first and also to the Gentiles.

Paul continued his letter by writing: “Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it is but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Gal. 3:15-16). A covenant becomes a binding agreement on consenting parties once it is confirmed by the agreed method of validation. However, the covenant that God made to bless Abraham’s seed was unconditional. This meant that God’s promise to Abraham was not dependent on him keeping his end of the bargain. God therefore bound Himself to a covenant and confirmed it with an oath that He would bless the world through Abraham’s “seed” (not “seeds,” which would refer to Isaac and his children). “Seed” is in reference to Christ. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, God is now blessing all nations. Anyone who believes on the Lord Jesus, regardless of nationality, is blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus (see Eph. 1:3).

God confirmed a covenant in Christ to bless the world. “And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (Gal. 3:17-18). The law, which came in 430 years afterward, cannot alter, annul or make void the promise of God. He is now fulfilling His promise to bless all who exercise the same faith that was seen in Abraham; and this He is doing without the works of the law. One cannot inherit the blessing on the ground of law and on the ground of promise at the same time. God gave it to Abraham by promise. It therefore cannot be gained and enjoyed on the ground of law.

“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid; for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe” (vv.19-22). The law could add nothing to the promises of God; neither could it take away from it. So why was the law given? It was given because of transgression to make sin exceedingly sinful in the eyes of men, for men were sinning in the eyes of God.

If I have property, and people are walking through it and interfering with my goods, they may feel quite free in doing so. However, the moment I erect a fence and install a sign warning that trespassers will be prosecuted, right away the one who reads it and understands it becomes guilty if he steps past the fence. This, dear reader, was the reason for the law. The purpose of the law was not to impart life, for that could not be. If the law could impart life, there would have been no reason for Christ to come and suffer, bleed and die. Christ came that we “might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). For all “were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1), and “the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe” (Gal. 3:22).

Despite the fact that “the wages of sin is death; … the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). God is giving you eternal life if you believe on His eternal Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Will you reach out by faith and receive life from the Lord Jesus today? He has promised that “him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (Jn. 6:37).

By Milton Jamieson

Look for Part 5 of this Series next month.