Pod cast : 2-22-19
What Does It Mean To Be Under The Curse Of The Law ?
PAUL OF ALL THE APOSTLES, IS SO MISUNDERSTOOD
Many have read Paul's letter to the Galatians and with current thinking, misunderstood him. As many other passages, especially in Galatians, it is twisted without clearly knowing the context. A much quoted scripture attempting to disprove commandment keeping is Gal 3:10-12.
Galatians 3:10-12 NKJV 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."
Paul is not saying the law is now done away. He is saying that it cannot save us. Why? No man can boast before God that he is so righteous that God owes him salvation. The law was given by God to define righteousness. The law is like a speedometer that tells us when we are over the speed limit ( breaking the speeding law). The law draws the lines between good and bad behavior.
Romans 3:20 NKJV 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The law gives us knowledge of what is good and what is evil and harmful. Therefore the next question is who is under the curse of the law and what is it? Many of the Jews were better off knowing God's Laws than the pagan gentiles, but they still were also guilty of sin. Paul spends much of Chapter Two and Three of the Book of Romans explaining this misunderstanding. The Apostle Paul explains that the Jews should not boast in that they have superior knowledge of the true God than their pagan neighbors. All people need grace, even the Jews.
Romans 3:27-28 NKJV 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Paul helps them all, Jews and proselytes to Judaism, realize that they cannot boast. All are saved by faith and grace. All are included in God's plan in same manner.
Romans 3:29-30 NKJV 29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Gentiles being saved, just as Jews are saved, was a shock and deep revelation to many in Paul's day. Paul who is so often misunderstood, details the connection between law, grace and faith and that all three work together.
Romans 3:31 NKJV 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
Romans 6:1-2 NKJV 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
It is obvious that if there is no law, one needs no pardon or grace. Therefore grace and law work together. Paul being under attack for his wonderful work, because of the depth of his thinking, his words were often taken out of context and misapplied. The Apostle Peter warned of this danger.
2 Peter 3:15-16 NKJV 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
Unfortunately many are still unlearned with regards to the Bible and the Law.
ARE THOSE WHO KEEP THE LAW UNDER A CURSE ?
Many believe that law keeping puts a person under a curse. They do not understand Paul's robust resistance to the Judaizing party. Paul resisted the over regulation of the Jewish leaders such as the Pharisees. Check our previous articles for further details. Paul is not contradicting himself. So what does he mean when he says the 'curse of the law'? Let us look further into the Galatian statement that is so misunderstood.
Galatians 3:13 NKJV 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"),
Does this verse really declare that law keeping puts one under a curse? That is unbelievable! The question is best put this way, from what did Jesus redeem us, the law itself or the 'curse of the law'? The curse of the law is the death penalty. Note Romans 6:23. The laws in our society against rape, murder, and kidnapping are not curses. But everyone would agree that the penalties for breaking these laws are a curse. The law breaker faces execution or long jail sentences. These are certainly curses.
Jesus of Nazareth was made a curse for us, not because he kept the law perfectly which he did ,but because he suffered the death penalty for us. This understanding is at the core of real Christianity.
John 3:16-17 NKJV 16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
We should note that Christ died so people would not PERISH, it does not mention being alive in a scary underworld if we do not follow Jesus. People are saved from perishing by the blood of the Messiah. Law keeping is clearly not a curse but the penalties for sin are a curse.
Hebrews 2:8-10 NKJV 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
How much God the Father loves us that he would sacrifice His Son to pay the penalty for our law breaking which is the curse.
What love for us !
CHRISTIANS DEMONSTRATE THEIR FAITH IN GOD BY KEEPING HIS LAWS
We show faith in God by doing His will and trusting that it is the best thing for us. We further show faith in Jesus when we obey and know that somehow He will bless us for so obeying God's Will. For instance, if you know that keeping pagan compromise holidays violate God's Laws and ways you will obey God rather than man. Note Deut. 2:30-31 and Jeremiah 10:3-4. You will assume that somehow it will be a blessing. This is an example of faith and trust in God. If we do not eat a lot of unclean meats such as tasty ham or lobster we are showing trust that God knows what is best for our health. If a true believer decides to worship on God's Sabbaths weekly and annually they are trusting in faith that this behavior will lead to better relationship with God.
Galatians 2:16-18 NKJV 16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 17 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 "For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.''
Jesus in no manner would be the minister of sin or encouraging people to sin. Just because we cannot earn our salvation by works and obedience does not mean one should be a law breaking sinner. The definition of sin is breaking the law. See I John 3:4. A true believer must repent and then be baptized. The process of repentance includes regretting all of our law breaking. The true believer then asks Jesus for help in turning our life around from disobedience to obedience.
1 Timothy 1:7-9 NKJV 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers...
Paul prepares Timothy to oppose false teachers who do not appreciate or understand God's Laws. The Law steers us from evil. We face similar threats in today's society. A true believer must develop a conscience based on God's definition of right and wrong not our society or modern theology.
James 2:18-20 NKJV 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
We should be thankful that we know these basic core doctrines of Christianity because the world does not understand them.
