July 2, 2024

Galatians 3:10-18 (HCSB)
Law and Promise
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: Everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed. 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.
14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith. 15 Brothers, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to even a human covenant that has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ. 17 And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God and cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

Sherry Dorris
Righteousness is not achieved through the law but by faith. We are told in Deuteronomy that anyone who does not do everything written in the book of law is cursed. Here Paul is reminding the Galatians that blessings do not come through keeping the law. Justification comes through faith in Christ. In the book of Habakkuk, we read that the righteous will live by faith. Jesus is the true seed of Abraham. Jesus took upon the sins of the whole world when He hung on the cross. Jesus was a perfect substitute for us so that scripture would be fulfilled so we could have eternal life.