Chapter 12
NO JUSTIFICATION FROM THE LAW
(Galatians 3:10-14)
Before we begin our study let us pray,
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Father, please open our eyes and ears so we can truly see and hear what You are saying to us. Please open our hearts to receive the truth of Your Word. In Jesus' Name we ask.
Amen
In the previous two studies we found that we are justified in God the Father's eyes through faith in Him and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. To amplify upon this truth, the Holy Spirit also teaches us the reverse truth. Specifically, the Bible teaches us that we can never receive justification from trying to follow the Law. To see this let us read the Scriptures for this study,
Galatians 3:10-14
"[10] All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." [11] Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." [12] The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." [13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." [14] He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
To expand upon the above verses we will examine the following three key points.
1. Those that rely upon the Law to be justified are under a curse.
2. Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law.
3. Jesus physically rose from the dead and ascended back into Heaven.
With these points in mind we begin by exploring the following truth.
ALL WHO RELY ON THE LAW ARE UNDER A CURSE
This truth is recorded for us in,
Galatians 3:10
"[10] All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.""
To see this a bit more clearly let us go to the Old Testament and read what it teaches about those who try to do everything the Law requires but yet fall short.
Deuteronomy 27:26
""[26] Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!""
To expand upon this Scripture let us read from,
James 2:10-11
"[10] For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. [11] For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker."
Now some may be thinking to themselves, well, I never committed murder nor have I committed adultery. In fact, I can not recall of a time when I broke one of the Ten Commandments.
For those who may believe this, let us go to Jesus’ sermon on the mountain and read what Jesus taught about the Law and what it means to obey it. To do this we will explore three examples of what the Law says and then read Jesus’ explanation.
Our first example comes from Deuteronomy 5:17 and states that,
YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER
Now some may say to themselves, this commandment is no problem. I did not murder anyone. Therefore I'm fine. Before we become too confident, let us read what Jesus taught about this commandment. It is recorded for us in,
Matthew 5:21-22
""[21] You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' [22] But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
To help us understand the significance of this passage, let us go to Vine’s “Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words” and read the following definitions:
1. Raca – This was a word of utter contempt. It was worse than being angry. However, it was not as bad as saying a person was a fool.
2. Fool – In the above setting, a fool means that the person is accused of being godless, and/or a moral reprobate.
According to Webster’s “New World Dictionary” reprobate means: (1) depraved; corrupt; unprincipled. (2) Rejected by God; excluded from salvation and lost in sin.
Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ defines murder to not only be the physical act of killing another human being, but also to be when a person has within them their heart an utter contempt towards another individual.
With this insight, let us now read what Jesus is teaching us as it is recorded in,
Luke 6:35-37
[35] But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. [36] Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. [37] “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Let us now read what we are instructed to do if and when we discover we have committed this type of sin. To do this let us read the following passage,
Matthew 5:23-24
[23] "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."
Our second example is recorded in Deuteronomy 5:18 and states that,
YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY
Let us read what Jesus taught about this commandment from,
Matthew 5:27-28
""[27] You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' [28] But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Our third and final example concerns the practice of,
TAKING OATHS
Jesus’ teaching with respect to the taking oaths is recorded in,
Matthew 5:33-37
""[33] Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' [34] But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; [35] or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. [36] And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. [37] Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
As one reflects upon the above examples and the remaining explanations in Jesus’ sermon on the mountain, one finds themselves convicted of transgressing God's commands. In other words, when a person looks to the Law to justify them self, it points out to them where they have sinned and failed to meet its standards. Thus, they find themselves under God's wrath or according to the Law … cursed.
This conviction or realization helps us to see and accept the truth of the following passage in Galatians.
Galatians 3:11
"[11] Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, ...""
However, because of the great love God has for us He has given us a way out. To see what this is let us now read the entire passage from,
Galatians 3:11
"[11] Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith.""
To see this truth in a different light, let us read what the Apostle Paul wrote concerning the manner in which he lived his life. It is recorded for us in,
Galatians 2:20-21
"[20] I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [21] I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!""
This now brings us to the second key point of this study. That is,
JESUS DELIVERED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW
To see this let us now read from,
Galatians 3:13
"[13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.""
Some may ask;”What is the Holy Spirit teaching us here?” Or “What does it mean cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree?”
The answer lies in the Old Testament where it defines the punishment required for someone who is guilty for a capital offense. To see this let us read from,
Deuteronomy 21:22-23
"[22] If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, [23] you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance."
To see that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fulfilled every point of the above law or commandment, we begin by first recognizing that,
JESUS TOOK UPON HIMSELF OUR SINS
The Holy Spirit reveals this to us in,
2 Corinthians 5:21
"[21] God made him who had no sin to be sin for us …”
To expand upon this let us address the following questions; “In God's eye what is the penalty for sin?” “Specifically, according to the Law, what was the required penalty for the sins that were committed?”
The answer to this question is death. In God's eyes, sin is a capital offense deserving death. In fact, this truth was one of the major points to be learned from the whole Old Testament sacrificial system. This principle is also summarized for us in the Old Testament where it states that anyone who broke the Law or sinned was cursed. To see this let us read what Moses instructed the people to do when they crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Specifically, to remind them to obey God they were to split into two companies. One company was to pronounce blessings and the other curses. This is recorded for us in,
Deuteronomy 27:9-17
"[11] Then Moses and the priests, who are Levites, said to all Israel, "Be silent, O Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God. [10] Obey the LORD your God and follow his commands and decrees that I give you today." [11] On the same day Moses commanded the people: [12] When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin. [13] And these tribes shall stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali. [14] The Levites shall recite to all the people of Israel in a loud voice: [15] "Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol--a thing detestable to the LORD, the work of the craftsman's hands--and sets it up in secret." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" [16] "Cursed is the man who dishonors his father or his mother." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" [17] "Cursed is the man who moves his neighbor's boundary stone." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"" … etc.
Thus, as we read earlier one of the consequences of Jesus taking our sins upon Himself was, at this specific time, He became cursed. To refresh our memory let us reread,
Galatians 3:13a
"[13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us ...""
In addition, to fulfill the Law for us, when Jesus Christ took our sins upon Himself He also took our penalty. As the Scriptures state the penalty for sin is death. To refresh our memory let us read from,
Romans 6:23
"[23] For the wages of sin is death, ..."
Thus, in addition to becoming a curse for us,
JESUS CHRIST ALSO DIED IN OUR PLACE
This was the whole purpose for His crucifixion on the cross. For completeness let us review this event as recorded in,
Luke 23:26-49
"[26] As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. [27] A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. [28] Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. [29] For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' [30] Then "'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"' [31] For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" [32] Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. [33] When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals--one on his right, the other on his left. [34] Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. [35] The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." [36] The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar [37] and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." [38] There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [39] One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" [40] But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? [41] We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." [42] Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." [43] Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." [44] It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, [45] for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. [46] Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. [47] The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." [48] When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. [49] But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things."
For this study concerning justification let us notice the following verses,
39 … Even upon his impending death, one of the criminals by questioning Jesus’ claim to be the Christ, mocked Him.
40 … The other criminal, who was also being crucified, feared God.
41 … In fact, the criminal who feared God admitted that for what he did, he was being justly punished. Not only that but he also realized Jesus was innocent.
42 … In this verse we find that that this criminal knew Jesus was going to His Kingdom. Apparently, he must have known about Heaven and Hell because he by faith he asked Jesus to remember him. With this request the criminal had fulfilled what was written in,
Romans 10:11-13
[11] For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. [13] For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Let us now return to the Chapter 23 of the Gospel according to Luke and notice the following verse,
45 … Jesus accepted the criminal’s confession and request and told him he would be with Him in Paradise. In other words, by his faith in Jesus Christ, he was now justified in God’s eyes and hence saved from the pains of perdition.
It is interesting to note that the cross Jesus was crucified on was made of wood, which is made from a tree. When we continue to read about Jesus’ crucifixion and His physical death we also discover that,
ON THE SAME EVENING JESUS WAS BURIED
To see this let us read from,
Mark 15:42-47
"[42] It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, [43] Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. [44] Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. [45] When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. [46] So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. [47] Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid."
The significance of Joseph’s request and burial of Jesus Christ was that he was fulfilling the following command that is recorded in,
[22] “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, [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.
It is noted that by Joseph’s action, our sins, which were placed upon Jesus’ body, were buried.
Consequently, Jesus Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the Law for us. Hence, through faith in Him and what He did for us we have been redeemed from the curse of the Law and have been healed, i.e. or justified in God the Father’s eye. To see this let us read from,
1 Peter 2:23-24
[23] who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; [24] who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
As we reflect upon all this we are awed by the majesty of God and His love for us. In addition, we are also reminded of the following prophecy where God, at approximately 765 years earlier, foretold all these events,
Isaiah 53:4-10
"[4] Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. [6] We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [7] He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. [8] By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. [9] He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. [10] Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand."
However, the good news of Jesus Christ does not end in the grave. Jesus Christ not only died and was buried but,
JESUS ALSO ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN
To see this let us first return to the prophecy God gave, through the prophet Isaiah, concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 53:11
"[11] After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;…"
Let us now read the fulfillment of this prophecy by reading from,
Luke 24:1-8
"[1] On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. [2] They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, [3] but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. [5] In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? [6] He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [7] 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" [8] Then they remembered his words."
This brings up the following questions; “Why is the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ so important?” “Why bring it up in this study?”
Actually, His resurrection is extremely important for many, many reasons. However, for this study the significance of His resurrection goes back to the promise He made to His disciples as He prepared them for His departure from this earth. This promise is also referred to in the last portion of the following verse,
Galatians 3:14
[14] He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
With the above reference in mind, let us read the promise Jesus gave to His disciples as recorded in,
John 16:7
"[7] But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you."
In other words, Jesus told His disciples then and now us that because of His death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven, He has and will send the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in those that are His.
To see this let us read from,
John 14:15-17
""[15] If you love me, you will obey what I command. [16] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- [17] the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
SUMMARY
Let us now summarize the whole point of this study by reading from,
Galatians 3:13-14
"[13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." [14] He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
CLOSING
Let us close this study by reading the following excerpt from Psalm 32,
Psalm 32: 1-7
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
Amen and Amen