December 17
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THE RIGHTEOUS ONE LIVES BY FAITH
10 For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THE THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.” 11 Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.” 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “THE PERSON WHO PERFORMS THEM WILL LIVE BY THEM.” 13 Christ 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 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. – Galatians 3:10-14
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Psalm 119:1 says, Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD! And Psalm 1:1-2 says, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
According to a commentary, the word law is used in two senses in the Bible. Sometimes it means “The Law of Moses, with all its commands, which a man must obey to be approved by God.” Sometimes it means “God’s Word” in a very general sense. Many times when the Old Testament speaks of the law, it speaks of it in the general sense of God’s Word to us. When Psalm 119:97 says Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day, the Psalmist meant more than just the Law of Moses; he meant all of God’s Word. There is an inherent, built-in blessing in living the way God says we should live, in fulfilling the “manufacturer’s recommendation.” When Paul said that as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, he didn’t mean that the law was bad or the Word of God is wrong. He simply meant that God never intended the law to be the way we find our approval before Him.
In this letter to the Galatians, Paul points out to them the importance of the cross of Christ in verse 13. Before Jesus died, it was important for the people of God to follow the Law of Moses or they will be cursed. When Jesus died and hang on a tree, He took on that curse so that all God’s people including the Gentiles could join in the blessing of Abraham. After Jesus made that sacrifice for all believers, they are now supposed to live in the faith that will result in their receipt of the Spirit’s blessings.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think some Christians still live under the law instead of faith after all these years that passed since Jesus died for them on the cross?