Galatians 3:10-14 reads, “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.’ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’ 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” (NKJV).

The apostle Paul was writing to those who had professed faith in the Lord Jesus but who were being told (by false teachers) that they had to keep the Law of Moses to be justified before God. In this simple passage he completely refutes the teaching that one can be justified by “the works of the law.” In fact, the Law doesn’t JUSTIFY the sinner; it CURSES him! The sinner is “under the curse” because “cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are in the book of the law.” I often ask people who believe they can keep the Law, “Have you always obeyed the Ten Commandments?” Most will reply, “I try my best to keep the Law, but no one is perfect so I have failed at times.” I then point them to verse 10 to show them they are “under the curse” because if they fail just once, they are “cursed.” I also like to show them James 2:10 which says, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” The Law has been likened unto a “ten-linked chain”; if one link breaks, the whole chain is broken. So, just one sin brings one under the curse of the Law! Is my reader one who believes they can keep the Law and be justified before God? If so, may this passage convince you that “no one (and that includes YOU) is justified by the law in the sight of God.”

Paul also wrote to confirm true believers in their faith by reminding them that, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.” Satan loves to take the believer’s eye off of Christ and His finished work on the cross and make them think there’s still something they must do to save themselves. Paul loves to turn the believer’s eye back to Calvary where Christ took our place in death and judgment for us. The Law does indeed curse the sinner, for the Bible says, “The wages of sin is DEATH” (Romans 6:23) and “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the JUDGMENT” (Hebrews 9:26). But in love for the sinner Christ went to the cross and bore the CURSE (DEATH and JUDGMENT). Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 5:21, “For He (God the Father) made Him (the Lord Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” This means that Christ took our sins upon Himself and then bore the judgment due to those sins. Because of this the believer can say, “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1st Peter 2:24). Can my reader say this? If so, you are “redeemed from the curse of the law.” You are also “justified…in the sight of God,” which means He sees you as RIGHTEOUS in His Son! Think again of 2nd Corinthians 5:21; at the cross God treated the Lord Jesus as if He were the sinner, so that through His death the sinner could be treated as Him! We have become “the righteousness of God in Him.” Amazing grace!! (231.7) (DO)