Hello
Friends!
During
this week’s gathering, we’ll continue to work our way through the book written
to the Galatians as we consider
the ONE and ONLY saving “salvation” message of “Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent
Epistle – “Only ONE Gospel!”
Galatians: Only ONE Gospel! (Chapter 3:10-18)
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.” 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. 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. 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 – Galatians 3:10-18
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: The statement “Cursed is everyone” is a universal BIBLICAL statement,
parallel to OTHER stinging statements QUOTED
directly from throughout the Old Testament
by the “Apostle Paul” such as:
For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God – Romans
3:23
Wherefore, as by
one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed
upon all men, for that all have sinned – Romans
5:12
However,
to say: “Cursed is everyone” adds
even MORE strength
to this trying TRUTH!
In fact, that is a very difficult statement for MOST people
to hear and it ALSO appears to be a very difficult
statement for MOST prominent “preachers”
of TODAY to preach. WHY?
Because these pragmatic “preachers”
are quite EAGER to tell the “lost”
and waning “world” that “God” simply ONLY
lastingly “loves” them... However,
that
meek MARKETABLE manic
“message” is inoffensive, welcoming, acceptable
to ALL people… And yes, even FINANCIALLY quite
– LUCRATIVE!
But,
just HOW do we
KNOW that
EVERYONE is
“cursed” indeed? Because the “scriptures” are VERY clear with FURTHER statements such as: “The
soul that sinneth, it shall die” and “will not at all acquit the wicked” and “dead in trespasses and sins”:
Behold, all
souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine:
the soul that sinneth, it shall die – Ezekiel
18:4
The Lord is
slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked:
the Lord hath
his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his
feet – Nahum 1:3
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in
trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that
now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of
the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as
others – Ephesians 2:1-3
And let’s not forget “For
the wages of sin is death…”
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift
of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord – Romans
6:23
Thus,
the “word of God” is universally quite CLEAR in this matter. Absolutely “everyone” is indeed “cursed”
due to the “sin” nature WITHIN absolutely
ALL mankind. And “we”
indeed ALL have “sinned”
in thought,
word
and deed.
Therefore – EVERYONE
dies!
Sadly,
many pious “preachers” of TODAY are also quite EAGER to tell the “lost”
and waning “world” that “God” wants to blindly BLESS them with ENDLESS fleshly fancies of which are just waiting
to be RECEIVED in hand. That “God”
desires to make them happy, healthy,
trouble-free, successful,
fulfilled
and packed FULL of personal
purpose. And “God”
even wants to BLESS them in ways that
are divinely designed around their own dreams of
which they can simply “speak into existence” and
thus this grandiose “God”
of their own making MUST
thus accommodate. This is the CONSISTANT main-line LYING message of which permeates the
contemporary evangelical landscape. However, what these pungent “preachers” do NOT inform the plethora of unsuspecting “lost souls” in their midst is that ALL of
them are actually UNDER a divine “curse”
of eerily – EPIC
proportions!
QUIZZING QUESTION: What does it MEAN to be CURSED? The Greek word Paul
uses here in our passage to the “Galatians”
is kataran of which means to be crushingly “Cursed” as assigned
& consigned unto destruction & damnation.
It’s quite the OPPOSITE of the Greek
word euloge of which means to be BLESSED. Therefore, to be euloge is to be granted all that
is good
as received BY God and to be kataran is to be granted all that
is bad
as received BY God – Polar Opposites!
TWO Curses!
There
are TWO crushing “curses”
diligently described in this serious section of scripture. The FIRST represents GOD’s
divine “curse” on ALL mankind
= The BAD news! The SECOND represents
GOD’s divine “curse”
on ONE man =
The GOOD news!
Let’s consider them BOTH as Paul excellently explains each one in these
poignant passages…
Curse ONE: The BAD news = ALL Mankind!
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” – Galatians
3:10
In
other words, Paul is solemnly saying: “You’re ALL
completely CURSED if you do NOT keep ALL of the law!”
Really? Does “God”
actually mean we MUST keep absolutely ALL
of His “law” absolutely ALL of
the time? – YES He DOES!
Cursed be
he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people
shall say, Amen – Deuteronomy
27:26
Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect – Matthew 5:48
For
whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty
of all – James 2:10
However… If you WANT
to “live” by the “law”
itself, you will ONLY know the WRATH of “God”
in the here-and-now as well as forever. WHY? Because – ALL of mankind is CURSED!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: The detrimental DISTINCTION that MUST be made here is this: Those people of whom are
determined to “keep the law” are NOT actually
“cursed” by “Satan”
at large. Rather, they ARE eternally “cursed”
by “God” Himself! And that Divine “curse” will be fully REALIZED in a LITERAL
eternal punishment in “hell” from which there will be NO physical escape. Thus, EVERY human
being who has EVER lived since “Adam”
and Eve” had “sinned”
in the “Garden of Eden” is BORN as “cursed”
by “God” according to – The TRUTH
of GOD!
But that
no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith” – Galatians
3:11
This
is the TRUTH from “God”
of which BIBLICALLY based “Christianity”
proclaims that “Jesus Christ” died! And
these are just a FEW of the DAMNING passages that pansy “preachers”
in the pulpit don’t want to BOLDLY address. WHY?
Because this deep “doctrine” obviously OFFENDS people
and thus DECREASES the fickle flow of “nickels
and noses” in attendance! Therefore, these “wolves
in sheep’s clothing” are unfaithful as they cleverly ignore
the FULL counsel
of “God” that COMPLETES the great “gospel”
message of our great “Savior”
Himself. Thus, BEFORE we “seek”
to relay the CURE for mankind’s serious “sin”
problem, we must FIRST describe the DISEASE of the fallen “heart”
condition – EVERYONE
is CURSED!
Behold, his soul which is lifted
up is not upright in him: but the
just shall live by his faith – Habakkuk
2:4
Therefore
by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by
the law is the knowledge of sin – Romans
3:20
The
ENTIRE human
race is “cursed” by “God” Himself. WHY?
Because they are “under the works of the law”
by default. In other words, they have the lifetime OBLIGATION to fully OBEY Him, just as “Israel”
and the “Jewish” people. And sadly,
even “Israel” could NOT fulfill
the “law” of their great “God”
Himself…
Yet the
law is not of faith, but “the man
who does them shall live by them” – Galatians 3:12
They
were REQUIRED to
rightly “repent” and “trust” Him for His “righteousness”
just as “Abraham” was instructed.
However, WHAT inevitably happens? The “religious”
people go the WAY of waning WORKS and thus now “under
the law” they THINK that IF they keep SOME of it SOME of the time and DO good things to a minimal & nominal degree,
that will be – ENOUGH
to fully SATISFY God!
Ye shall
therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live
in them: I am the Lord – Leviticus
18:5
This
becomes is a “religious” system of: works, morality,
goodness
and ceremony.
And IF you MUST fully “live”
by them, you MUST therefore be “perfect”
to “keep” them ALL.
However, the FACT of the matter is
that “law” and “faith” are mutually exclusive
and are TWO realities that are NOT at all compatible with one another…
For if
they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of
none effect – Romans 4:14
Beloved,
the moment one introduces “works”
unto true “faith”
their SALVATION is thus VOID all together! Therefore, it is
spiritually DEADLY when people “seek”
to ADD their
“works righteous” to the great “gospel” of grace. WHY?
Because “Salvation” is only BY God’s
great “gift” of “faith alone” which is Paul’s whole
point in this serious section of scripture! However, there are
rebellious “religious” people who give lip
service to the FACT that “Salvation”
is ONLY by “faith”
in “Jesus Christ” through “believing” in Him, His “death” and His “resurrection”
from the dead… PLUS
works – NO WAY!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: It was “John
the Baptist” who had adamantly addressed the “Jewish” elite “Pharisees”
and “Sadducees” of whom were the “religious” leaders of “Israel” back in his day:
But when he saw many of the
Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of
vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth
therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves,
We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these
stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the
root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire – Matthew 3:7-10
Can
you imagine
visiting a group of “religious”
rabbis today who BELIEVE the LIE that says just because they’re “Jewish” they are SAFE with “God” and
then saying to them: “O generation of
vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” And
HOW would that work out for
you? – NOT WELL!
And
perhaps the most POWERFUL dialog between our “Lord
Jesus Christ” and the “Jewish”
leaders of “Israel” on this subject is
found in the Gospel of John where “Jesus” expresses to them the FACT that
they do NOT at all “know”
the “truth,” they do NOT at all “know”
the “gospel,” they do NOT at all “know”
their “God” and they do NOT at
all “know” the plan of “salvation”
for their souls…
Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of
myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but
ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I
judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but
I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the
testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the
Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is
thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known
me, ye should have known my Father also – John 8:14-19
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man:
how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? – John 8:32-33
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free
indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my
word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and
ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto
him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's
children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man
that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of
fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were
your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither
came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because
ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and
the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and
abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a
lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it – John 8:36-44
POIGNANT POINT: Try this POWERFUL
approach to true “faith” at the next public
convention gathering of Orthodox “Jewish”
rabbis and see what happens! It’s a RELIGIOUS
reality… These “religious”
rebels absolutely – TRUST
in their Abrahamic ANCESTRY!
Curse TWO: The GOOD news = ONE Man!
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”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon
the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of
the Spirit through faith – Galatians
3:13-14
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 – Deuteronomy
21:23
The
“curse of the Law” is the VIOLATION of
the “law of God” in which encompasses ALL of
His perfect ATTRIBURTES within His Holy CHARACTER and NATURE. However,
“God” has “redeemed”
and “bought us back” from that corrupt “curse” through “Jesus
Christ” of Whom became a “curse for us”
in our stead!
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 – 2 Corinthians 5:21
Wherefore in all
things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a
merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people – Hebrews 2:17
And he is the
propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the
whole world – 1 John 2:2
Herein is love,
not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the
propitiation for our sins – 1 John 4:10
The
“blessing of Abraham” can now “come” to the “Gentiles”
of all “nations” of the world. WHY? Because it is COMPLETELY attained
ONLY by “faith” from “God”
and NOT by
being a descendant of the “Jewish”
people and the “nation” of “Israel” or understanding
their “Mosaic”
litany. Therefore, “salvation”
is by “faith” found ALONE in
the PERSON and
WORK of “Jesus Christ” so the “blessing”
from “God” that came to “Abraham” could ALSO come to the “whole
world” of them who “believe God”
rightly regardless of what they may or may not know
about – Moses OR the Law!
Although
NO single
“sin” will EVER
go unpunished,
our “Holy God” completely “justifies
the ungodly” and through the “grace
of God” all “believers”
are NOT permanently
punished
for their “sin” debt. WHY? Because “Jesus
Christ” has “paid”
the “price” in FULL and that’s His great purposeful “gospel” promise! And this “good news” via the “blessing of Abraham” only has REAL value
when set against the backdrop of the horrendous REALITY of
the ENTIRE luminously
“lost” human race being ETERNALLY crushingly
“cursed” completely – BY God!
Next,
Paul says that even if you’re making a “covenant”
with “men” in general, it is “confirmed”
and thus stands as such and can NOT be altered:
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 – Galatians 3:15
Notice
that Paul refers to these folks as “Brethren”
here. However, they HAVE blatantly been “bewitched” with a “foolish”
lie. And although they DID indeed “believe”
the TRUE message
of the “gospel” and were thus SAVED by
it, they had begun to consider the “Judaizers” fickle “false teaching” and thus were FOOLISHLY opening the DEMONIC door to accept and promote
this evil – FALSE
and FATAL gospel!
”Abraham” had boldly “believed
God” and it was “accounted to him”
for “righteousness” from “God”
the Almighty. However, the “Jewish”
people did NOT truly “believe
God” and they were thus pronounced
to be doomed under the divine “wrath
of God” Himself. Their attitude
was that “righteousness” was by a debt
that “God” owed THEM simply because they were
the “children of Abraham” per se’…
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. 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. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but
God gave it to
Abraham by promise – Galatians 3:16-18
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: From the days of “Abraham”
the “law” would have been “given”
over six
hundred years later. So, WHY does Paul say only “four
hundred and thirty” years later? Because he’s quoting DIRECTLY from
the Old Testament book of Exodus of
which says:
Now the
sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and
thirty years – Exodus 12:40
It
was “four hundred and thirty” years AFTER the reiteration of the “Abrahamic” eternal “promise”
to “Jacob” who then migrated into
Egypt. Therefore, the timing is EXACTLY correct and this “four
hundred and thirty” years is EXACTLY what – Moses WROTE
in Exodus!
Furthermore,
Paul says that “Abraham” was NOT at
all “justified” by KEEPING the “law”
itself. WHY? Because the “law” was “given”
by “God” some “four hundred and thirty”
years AFTER the man “Abraham”
had “believed God”
by faith! Therefore, “Abraham”
could NEVER have had as a component of his “justification” and “salvation”
any adherence
to the “law of Moses” or “circumcision” or the “Sabbath”
or observances
or any external ceremonial or internal moral aspects of
the “law” as being spiritually “right” with “God”
Himself. And it could NOT possibly be TRUE of “Abraham”
nor anyone
from HIS time
nor anyone
from BEFORE his
time nor anyone from AFTER his time. Thus, from “Abraham”
to “Moses” and all throughout human history
until TODAY… The practical “promise of God” mentioned FOUR times
in this passage is “given” to ALL who
are IN the
saving “Seed” of our “Lord Jesus Christ” as WE
Biblically and boldly – BELIEVE God!
And
“Abraham’s” eternal “salvation”
was graciously GRANTED to him BY his “God”
through the “promise”
of “faith” and NOT by “works” and
NOT by “circumcision” and NOT by “law” keeping… It was rightfully “received” from “God”
by THE great eternal “promise”
of HIS great – Grace ALONE!
By faith
Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after
receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he
went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country,
dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same
promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and
maker is God – Hebrews 11:8-10
PRAISE THE LORD!
In closing:
REMNANT REMINDER: It’s not only “Abraham”
of whom was “saved by faith” in the Old Testament. There is ANOTHER marvelous
story about the pagan “Gentile”
man named “Naaman” found in 2 Kings chapter 5…
“Naaman” was a “Syrian”
menace who repeatedly rushed into the land of “Israel”
and massacred
the “Jews” and was constantly found stealing
from them. Thus, the “Lord” struck him with “leprosy” as a result:
Now
Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his
master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in
valour, but he was a leper. And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had
brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on
Naaman's wife – 2 Kings
5:1-2
Then
along comes the “prophet” named “Elisha” of “Israel” sent by “God” to HEAL this WICKED pagan “captain
of the host of the king of Syria” and evil – Unbelieving TERRORIST!
And it
was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent
his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy
clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in
Israel… Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according
to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh
of a little child, and he was clean – 2 Kings
5:8 & 14
But
“Elisha” the “prophet”
doesn’t just physically HEAL this “king
of Syria” at large, he ALSO
caringly COMMUNICATES the eternal TRUTH of “God” to this “man”
of whom so DESPERATELY needed to “hear”
of it! And as a result, this is what “Naaman” had declared of “God” in Heaven:
And he
returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before
him: and he said, Behold,
now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now
therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant – 2 Kings
5:15
Then
“Naaman” actually “believes”
in the TRUE and LIVING great “God”
of ALL creation:
As the Lord lives, before
whom I stand... – 2 Kings 5:16a
And
WHAT happened?
The “prophet Elisha”
had “said” this to “Naaman”
in retrospect:
And he
said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way… – 2 Kings
5:19
Here
we find “Elisha” the “prophet” had poignantly presented
the “message” of SALVATION to a “Syrian”
pagan “Gentile” terrorist of
whom was rightly REGENERATED in his “heart”
and “soul” eternal. HOW?
By rightly “believing” upon the ONLY creator
“God” of ALL.
And that is ALWAYS the absolute ONLY way – TO God!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may God give US the courage and boldness
to “contend earnestly for the faith”
that was signed, sealed and delivered
some – 2000 years ago…
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints – Jude 3
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
With
these thoughts in consideration towards your own personal studies, please read
through verses 10-18 in the third chapter of
the excellent book to the Galatians.
Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah
and Maranatha – Come quickly Lord Jesus!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
