Lesson 9
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, may the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Galatians 3: 10-18, the just shall live by his faith
VV 10-12, 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
The law justifies no one. To be under the law is to be under the curse of the law. Law is legalism, and faith is grace. Those who obeyed the law will live by the law, but those who breaks the law will die by the law. The law cannot save sinners. Paul quoted Habakkuk 2: 4. The just shall live by his faith, in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”.
Habakkuk 2:4, “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him, but the just shall live by his faith”.
VV 13-14, 13 Christ has 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”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Paul quoted Deut. 21:23. Christ died on the cross as a substitutionary atonement for our sin. He redeemed us from the curse of the law. He was cursed so that we can be blessed. He paid the ransom for sin and saved us from the law. The promise of the Abrahamic covenant comes to the Gentiles through faith in Christ.
Deut. 21:23, “his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, for he who is hanged is accursed of God”.
2 Cor 5:21, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”.
VV 15-16, 15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.
The Abrahamic covenant is an unconditional covenant between God and Abraham which no one can nullify. Abraham was a blessing to all the people on earth through his Seed, who is Christ.
VV 17-18, 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
The Mosaic law cannot nullify the Abrahamic covenant because the covenant preceded the Mosaic law by 430 years. The covenant was a promise, but the law was not.
Application:
The law is not a channel for salvation. The law is a mirror that reflects sin. Without the law, you will not see your sin. Once you saw our sin and are convicted of sin, you come to Christ by faith. Christ paid the punishment for sin that you could not pay. All you need to do is believe in Him. It is by grace that you are saved through faith.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we believed that You died on the cross to pay the punishment of our sin for us. We claim the promise that just shall live by his faith in the finished work of the cross, in Jesus’ name, Amen.