Thursday, September 17

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Isaiah 25:1–28:13

Galatians 3:10–22

Psalm 61:1–8

Proverbs 23:17,18

 

 

In Galatians 3:10–22, Paul demonstrates how faith, not the law, leads to righteousness and how each person has an opportunity to respond to God’s offer of grace.  This explanation helped to spark the Protestant Reformation, in which Martin Luther argued that the Church should return to the tenets of “Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone.”  Galatians promises freedom and fruitfulness for those committed to following God through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Having died to sin, we have become alive through Christ. (2:20)  Due to his heavy citations from Galatians, the book became known as “Luther’s book.”

 

Historically, Galatians likely represents the first canonical book in the New Testament, written before 50 AD.  Paul carefully challenges the Judaizers, those who had compelled Christ-followers to return to Jewish ritual practices (the law) to “complete” their faith.  Paul eloquently summarized the singularity of faith in the Gospel life:  “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.  For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (5:4–6)

 

The concepts that Paul presents here in Galatians 3:10–18 give us confidence:  since our relationship with God rests on our faith in the completed work of Christ, we have become free from the “curse” of the law.  The law’s “curse” falls out from the reality that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and that, therefore, we may never obtain perfection under this law.  “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.’” (3:13)  The Lord Jesus Christ became a “curse” or “sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21) on our behalf so that we might receive “righteousness” and “the promise of the Spirit.” (3:14)

 

Echoing the teaching of Romans 4, Paul then highlights how God granted Abraham a promise regarding the blessing to come through His seed, namely Christ.  So often, we fail to appreciate and experience the promises of God because we simply do not trust Him, perhaps relying on our own efforts.  Extending Paul’s reasoning, if one of God’s promises has yet to reach its fulfillment, we may still trust Him for that promise, just as Abraham did.

 

The law therefore helps to draw us to new life through faith in Christ.  Once we recognize that “the whole word is a prisoner to sin,” we then seek out the One Who may provide freedom from this prison.  God “imparts life” not through the law, but through the One Who fulfilled the law.  Our hunger for righteousness will never find satisfaction in what we may find through the law, but only in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Having experienced freedom from this prison, we may then live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16–26).

 

Are you hungry for freedom?  Have you sought it through the One Who fulfilled the law?

 

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for securing our freedom by becoming a curse for us.  You are before and over all Creation, and yet, in Your humility, You surrendered to the place that we deserved.  Thank You for Your amazing love and sacrifice for us.  Empower us and direct us to experience life through the Spirit so that we may bring honor and glory to Your Name.  Keep our hearts from wandering and treating the freedom that You have given us as a license to distraction and sin.  We love You and are hungry to know You more.  In Your Name, we pray.  Amen.

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