The Law of Moses thunders: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:20

Then I ask, “What is sin, then?” 

And the Bible answers: “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4, ignoring the law, living as if it did not exist! Disobeying it, even in one little area!

Therefore one must conclude … the Law (of Moses) has found me a violator, a transgressor … and has sentenced me to death, eternal death in a place called Hell!

I am guilty!

But then, today’s beautiful Text …

“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.” Galatians 3:13

Jesus took my curse and endured its pain, its penalty!

Our Lord did this on the Cross of Calvary!

That’s where they “hung” him on a tree, a stake, a piece of wood!

Paul here is referencing Deuteronomy 21:22-23. ”And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree. His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”

Yes, Jesus suffered God’s Wrath, God’s very Curse, on the “old rugged Cross!”

Then He offered, did our precious Saviour, to me and to you … “redemption!”

Liberty, release from the dangers of the Law!

The verb “redeemed” as in “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law” is “exagorazo,” meaning “to pay a price,” that is, “to make one’s own.” Virtually “to ransom!” 

Jesus (in a word picture) took my whipping for me!

Jesus died (suffering the gravest penalty of the Law) on our behalf, folks!

He vicariously endured the curse of the Law … so I would not have to!

Sure makes me love Him!

“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.” Galatians 3:13

This great verse should be the centerpiece of all our thoughts today!

In 2 Corinthians 5:21 the Bible says “God made Jesus to be sin!” Then adds “for us!” Adding, “to give us God’s Righteousness instead!” 

Here it is, word for word: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

That’s Galatians 3:13 re-written!

Praise the Lord!

What a Saviour!

What a Plan, God’s means of salvation!

I stand amazed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul wrote in Galatians 3:12. these words: “And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”

By “law” Paul  means “the legislation” God gave Moses in the wilderness, at Mount Sinai. (The Greek noun “law” translates “nomos,” indicating something “established, a custom, an act regularly done.” The way the Jews tried to live for centuries! From Moses to Jesus! In fact, many still do try!)

And by “faith” Paul means simple “trust” in Jesus, particularly as “Saviour.” (The Greek noun “faith” translates “pistis,” originally meaning “a deep conviction that something is true!”)

And these two entities, “law” and “faith,” are mutually exclusive … as far as salvation is concerned! This Point is a major facet in Paul’s theology, God-given theology! (They cannot coexist as means to salvation!)

The negative conjunction “not” is “ouk” in Greek, very strong indeed! Definitely not!

Then Paul draws a conclusion … one of many flowing from his powerfully analytical mind!

” … but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”

The man (or woman) that “does” the law (“obeys” and “follows” and “treasures,” making it the “means of salvation”) must “live” by that law!

Must comply with the law (of Moses) 100% … totally!

He cannot deviate one iota!

And the truth of that matter is … no one, not a single human being … has ever been able to obey the law to that extent!

Oh, what a dark situation!

In fact, what Paul just wrote being accurate … salvation, eternal life, would seem to appear HOPELESS!

The law can only condemn us, because we can’t live up to its standards!

It invariably finds us guilty!

Be sure and read tomorrow’s Lesson.

It, our verse then, gives us the Solution to this whole issue!

Hint: He is JESUS!

Thank God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

(What man could not do, God in sending His Son Jesus … absolutely did!)

 

No wonder they, the Bible scholars, call the little Epistle of Galatians a “polemic.” The Greek noun “polemos” means “war,” in fact!

And in those six chapters, Galatians, Paul is indeed “at war,” spiritually. Theologically too, defending the faith which was delivered to him years earlier. Back when Paul was “saved” by the … yes … the marvelous GRACE of GOD!

Paul is opposing certain men (likely from Jerusalem) who have infiltrated his Galatian Churches, wrongly teaching that the Law of Moses saves lost souls! Or that the Law of Moses helps save souls! Or that obeying the Law keeps one saved, maintains “in God’s good graces!”

“No, no, no,” says Paul!

“But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11, today’s Lesson, this Thursday morning’s Bible Text.

It was “evident” to Paul!

But apparently not so much to many (perhaps even young Believers in Jesus) … souls who lived in Antioch and Lystra and Iconium and Derbe! (The cities of Galatia Paul visited, at least we know of these.)

The adjective “evident” is “delos” in Greek. It means “clear,” as in not cloudy! Apparent! Obvious!

The qualifier “no man” is spelled “oudeis” in Greek, meaning “not a one!” It is translated “none” 27 times in the New Testament, King James Version. No exceptions!

“Justified” essentially means “made right with God, in His Eyes!” We would say “born-again, washed in the Blood!” 

“By” the law, by the commandments of Moses, found in the Books of Genesis through Deuteronomy, 613 laws the old Rabbis say … translates “en” in Greek, a preposition usually meaning “in, on, at, near, by, before, among!” Immersed in the law! Obsessed with the law! (As were these dangerous “visitors” from Jerusalem!)

What I DO can not save my soul from Hell!

Only What JESUS DID can save me from Hell!

In the “sight” in God utilizes another preposition, “para,” meaning right “beside” God! Virtually “in His Presence!” Before His very Eyes!

Then Paul quotes that glorious maxim: “The just shall live by faith.” (So very fundamental and essential a Truth that it must occupy all our time tomorrow, in the Lesson, Lord willing!)

Still for today though … that is HOW a man or woman is saved … “by faith!”

And the little preposition used here, “with,” is a translation of “ek” in Greek! (This is certainly a “preposition empowered” verse, Galatians 3:11!)  And “ek” means? “Out of “ Grace (an inexhaustible Supply!)! “From” as in “from the source of” Grace! And a total of 55 times in the New Testament, “by” Grace! That is “by means of” Grace!

Not law!

GRACE!

No wonder we sing about It so much!

Ever heard of a John Newton song named “Amazing Grace?” 

Zechariah 4:7 comes to mind: “He shall bring forth the Headstone (a Type of Jesus, I believe) thereof with shoutings, crying, GRACE, GRACE unto it.” 

Shouting “GRACE!”

Crying “GRACE!”

Maybe even singing “GRACE!”

I suspect, for all eternity!

Praise the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul and the “Law!”

And no matter what else he may have said about it, that august Body of 613 Commands God gave Moses for Israel to obey, the great Apostle nowhere in all His Literature (His Epistles) claims that the Law of Moses could “save” a single lost soul!

In fact, the very opposite is true.

The “Law” condemns a man to Hell!

“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.” Galatians 3:10

If a man (or woman) builds his (or her) life abound the Law, thus being “of the Law,” they have automatically placed themselves under a “curse!” Or, as Paul also says in today’s Verse … living a life based on obeying/doing “the WORKS of the Law!”

Trying to go to Heaven based on one’s “merit,” on one’s own “ability,” on one’s self proclaimed “holiness!” 

And where is this “curse” so written? (In Greek the noun “curse” is spelled “epikataratos,” undoubtedly based on a cognate verb meaning “to pray judgment down on someone,” and to do it vehemently, energetically!)

Paul sure did know the Old Testament well! In Deuteronomy 27:26 Moses promised Israel: “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them.”

To which Israel were to agree: “And all the people shall say, Amen.” And they did agree, did avow, time and time again!

Wow!

“All the things” written in the Law?

Yes!

Including injunctions like this: “If a bird’s nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam (mother) sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam (mother) with the young: but thou shalt in any wise let the dam (mother) go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.” Deuteronomy 22:6-7

Laws about every area of human life!

The big things and the one-would-have-thought little things too!

No human being, because of the “weakness” of his or her flesh, can so obey all those laws! (Here remember Romans 8:3 … “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” Read it and praise the Lord!)

Thus … to let obedience to all the “Law” be your Criteria, your Standard, of whether you can gain entrance to Heaven or not … is clearly an automatic sentence to Hell, to the Curse of God Almighty abiding upon you!

That’s exactly what Paul is teaching us in this Galatians Text this morning! “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.” Again, this is Galatians 3:10, King James Version.

I personally believe the Law was never designed to save sinners!

But rather, God instituted it to show us His perfect Paradigm of Holy, Separated Living! Then to show us we cannot abide by God’s “Yardstick!” 

The Law is designed to prove us sinners in the Eyes of God!

And to drive us to Him, begging for Mercy!

Another way of wording this idea. If a person “breaks” one point of the Law, one only, just some so-called “minor” infraction of the Rules … he is guilty of breaking it all! 

James 2:10 applies here: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

Pretty clear!

The Law … curses!

Jesus, on the other hand … saves!!!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I am a gentile.

By birth, of course.

But by what Jesus called “new birth” I am now “blessed” with “faithful Abraham!”

But that is clearly Jewish in flavor, “Abraham!”

Yes, and that is partly why the Apostle Paul wrote these words hundreds of years ago: “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” Galatians 3:9

The day God saved me, I was placed into that family which is here termed “of faith!”

In fact, that’s HOW I got into God’s family!

Of faith, “by faith,” again quoting Paul. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

By belief in, by trusting His Death on Calvary, JESUS!

And Mercy, truly … am I have been thereby “blessed!”

(Here Paul uses, under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Greek verb “eulogeo.” Really meaning “to say something good” … about a person! Once in the New Testament (King James Version) it is translated “praised!” The only possible meaning here is that when you are saved … God has some “good things” to say about you!)

Wow!

That blessed in Jesus! 

And … logically … since Jesus is “of Abraham” … we are blessed “with (faithful) Abraham” but only in the sense that Jesus came out of the loins of that great (faithful) man!

I still am not a Jew!

Though I love those dear people!

But I am a child of Abraham spiritually, by faith in Abraham’s greater Son, Jesus Who is the eternal Son of Almighty God!

Wow!

To God be the Glory!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell