“For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ But the law is not of faith, rather ‘The one who does them shall live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’ – so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.” Gal. 3:10-14
Devotional Thought For The Day
Through a series of quotations, observations, and conclusions, the apostle Paul makes perfectly clear that the dearly and ferociously held opinion of the vast majority of human beings – that we can and will be “justified” by our “works of the law” – is utterly false, facetious, and foolish. He assumes that his hearers will not be so blind, ignorant, and evil as to claim that they have abided by and done “all things written in the Book of the Law.” The Old Testament authors are quite clear that “there is not a just man upon the earth that doeth good and sinneth not” [Eccl. 7:20], that “the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” [Gen. 6:5] The history recorded in the Old Testament clearly and forcefully documents the reality that apart from God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness all would perish eternally in hell: “Enter not into judgment with Your servant, for no one living is righteous before You.” [Ps. 143:2] So the correct conclusion is clearly stated: “all who rely on works of the law are under a curse.”
The other side of the argument, which closes the debate, is the assertion of the principle that we are “justified” or brought into right relationship with God, into His grace and eternal life, by simple faith and trust in God’s work of redemption for us, a principle also asserted in the Old Testament: “the righteous shall live by faith.” There is only one way in which a person becomes “righteous,” and that is by God’s accounting, for “Abraham believed God and God counted it to him as righteousness.” [Gen. 15:6] Over and over again God calls His people to repent and to trust in His gracious mercy and forgiveness alone, and this is the only basis upon which we can properly relate to Him: “If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope.” [Psalm 130:3-5] This is likewise the assertion of God in the New Testament documents, that Jesus is “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world,” so that “whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” [Jn. 1:29; 3:16] So Paul, in accord with these verses and also with Isaiah 53, simply asserts that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” If the law “curses” us, but Christ has already redeemed us from “the curse of the law,” then there is no way and no need for us to resolve our guilt and just punishment; God, in Christ, has already done so for us. This wondrous blessedness is received “by faith.” We are justified, accounted righteous by God, through faith, and so like all of God’s people from the very beginning we “live by faith.”
The law, and relying on our keeping of the law as the basis for our relationship with God, is “not of faith.” The two ways of thinking and approaching God are utterly incompatible, contradictory, and mutually exclusive. So, anyone who asserts that our acceptance by God, our eternal life and salvation, is in any respect dependent upon our good works, our keeping of the law [for there are no good works other than those that are consonant with God’s law, what He explicitly commands], is utterly deluded and is doing the devil’s deceiving and bewitching work, rather than God’s work of bringing people to repentance and faith in His gracious mercy, forgiveness, love, and gift of salvation. Those “religions” which press this principle of reliance upon “works of the law,” regardless of what terms and Names they use in describing the Deity, whether Father, Jesus, Christ, Holy Spirit, Son, Logos, or how cleverly they disguise and inculcate this principle, are in fact anti-Christian, in utter rebellion against God, the only True and Living God, and rejecting of His Son, the only and true Savior of the world, and are in fact and reality demonic institutions. They may be “spiritual,” but the spirits they fraternize with and revere are the evil spirits. That such people can “disguise” themselves as “apostles of Christ,” “angels of light,” and “servants of righteousness” [2 Cor. 11:13-15] should come as no surprise to us; and neither will we be surprised when their end corresponds to their deeds.
All of this seems, of course, quite “uncivil” in our deluded times, and the vociferous and existential manner in which the apostle Paul presents these realities seems to us rather closed and narrow minded, perhaps even bigoted. We too are bewitchedly impressed by the apparent “piety” of those who devote themselves to padding their “celestial” resumes with good works in order to please and appease God. However, it is not Paul’s word, but rather God’s Word that is presented to us by Paul, and God not only “knows” the reality better than we do, He has resolved the reality of our falleness, sin, and guilt with the reality of His redemption and salvation in Christ Jesus. That there is no other way [Jn. 14:6] is stark reminder that God is God, and that we never will be God, nor even “gods.” Rather, we pray that God may grant us the true blessings of His grace – “so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, preserve us from all temptations to go back to living under the curse of relying upon our works. Grant us Your Spirit, so that we may see clearly our utter need for Your gracious redemption, and may grasp what You have done for us in Your redemption. Crush and destroy all those who would deceive, delude, and bewitch Your people. Grant us all of the blessings which You will for us to have in Your love, the blessings of a true and genuine faith. Amen.