Sermon: Two Ways to Live: by Works or by Faith Galatians 3:10-14
Truth Taught- We are taught that there are two ways to live by works and receive God’s just wrath or by faith and receive free justification.
Introduction
Today we are going to see two ways to live and the results of both. One way leads to death and eternal punishment, the other leads to great blessings earned for us by Christ’s finished work on our behalf and eternal life.
We are going to see that Jesus is the Substitute for all who believe.
There will be a very pointed Luther quote that should wake us all up to what Jesus did for us on the cross.
Please Stand
Galatians 3:10–14 (ESV)
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
1. All Who Rely on Works for Justification Are Cursed (3:10)
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
The first thing we should notice about this verse is its all-inclusiveness. 10 For all and everyone. Without exception, all and everyone who works to achieve justification are all cursed by God.
Deuteronomy 27:26 (ESV)
26 “ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
This is the last curse stated in Deut. 27 and the people said amen. There is no grace in the Law. No forgiveness. No way possible for a fallen human to obey it perfectly. That’s what God requires.
If you think your goodness and your obedience can be good enough for justification then you are greatly deceived. You are living under a curse. To think this way is to greatly overexaggerate your goodness and to greatly lessen the seriousness of sin.
Those who see sin for what it really is, a sin against God, first and foremost stand cursed by God. What a sad life to live under a curse when free salvation awaits all and everyone who comes to Jesus Christ by faith. The world of legalism and great burdens is a very hard place to live, come to Jesus today for justification.
Why? Why are all who live under the law cursed. Why such unreachable goals? This is a matter of God’s very nature. He cannot let sin go unpunished or unatoned. Because God is infinitely righteous and holy, He cannot be the God of sinners whose sin is still unpunished. It’s God’s very perfect nature that requires either the sinner to pay for his sin or for Jesus to pay for the sinner’s sin.
2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV)
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
God cannot dwell with sin that has not been atoned for, since that would deny His holy nature. So, because our works are sinful that places us under God’s curse and judgement. On our best day we are still sinners and we cannot make up for it, change our status, or do anything to relieve our curse.
Paul wants us to make sure that if we think we can be good enough we actually know what’s real. The reality is we are and will continue under God’s curse because sin must be punished by a just and fair God.
Romans 3:9–12 (ESV)
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
Romans 3:21–26 (ESV)
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
So, the Law of God demands absolute perfect righteousness, literally, the righteousness of God Himself and all who cannot supply that kind of righteousness are all and everyone under the curse of God.
Remember James 2:10 from last week?
James 2:10 (ESV)
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
Here’s how we as fallen sinners seek to justify ourselves. We lessen the Law’s demands and lessen our sin and we build up our strong points and forget our weaknesses. We think this way: I may use bad language when I’m around people I work with but I’ve never murdered anyone. I may watch things on TV I shouldn’t but I’ve never committed adultery. I fail a little but I’m way better than that person who claims to be a Christian and gets drunk every Saturday night.
The reality is that all sin must be punished and to obey the Law at every point but fail at one even small point is to become a lawbreaker and to have God’s curse remain on you. That’s what the Law does for sinners.
There is a much better way that God achieved for us. He will give us Justification as a free gift if we will love Jesus and turn to Him by faith and rest on His merits of perfect Law-keeping…
2. Justification by Gift or by Works: Receive or Achieve (3:11-12)
11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”
We see here, there are two ways to live. First, you can live by some set of morals and ethics. Lost people live by some code of conduct. Either right from wrong or some code of loyalty to a group there is some code. Paul tells us that people who choose to live by the Law of God live under the shadow of a curse. No one, he writes, is justified before God by the Law.
There is a second way to live. The righteous shall live by faith. The way Paul words this may seem that a person is righteous then he has faith. The reality is that faith is what makes one righteous because it is what God views as the requirement to receive His justification.
Martin Luther- the promise is not apprehended by works but received by faith. Another reformed wrote faith is the empty beggar’s hand that receives God’s justification and salvation.
Both options promise life. Live the Law perfectly and you will have life. Live by faith and you will have life. Only one works. Faith in Christ is life to all who believe.
Which most completely pictures your life? Works or Faith?
3. Christ Became a Curse to Redeem Us from the Curse (3:13)
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
Here is the verse of substitution. Christ became a curse for us. He bore our sin on the cross.
What does it mean that Jesus became a curse for us to redeem us? It means that He made things right between us and God. We sinned repeatedly without ceasing against God all our lives. Every day we have sinned. We were cursed. We were going to receive our just punishment. Jesus lived a sinless life; no curse on Him. Then He went to the cross and became a curse for us. He paid our debt to God. Now for all who believe we have been released from the curse. Beloved breath the fresh air of God’s grace. Breath the fresh air of free justification given to us by faith. Beloved, breathe the fresh air of no condemnation for all who believe.
Christ became sin for us and He was forsaken by the Father because of our complete and wretched sin. He is our Substitute. God’s curse and punishment were not repealed or turned away but Jesus bore it. Complete wrath was poured out on Jesus. In that moment Jesus became the worst sinner who ever lived…
Martin Luther wrote, Jesus Christ in that moment became the greatest transgressor, murderer, adulterer, thief, rebel, and blasphemer, that there ever was or ever could be in the world. So great was our sin He bore for us.
John Duncan writing about the cross said that the cross is damnation taken lovingly.
He bore the wrath of God for all who would believe. This includes not only the Jews but also Gentiles.
John 1:29 (ESV)
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Jesus satisfying the Justice of God is at the very heart of the Gospel.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Remember, God’s justice for your sin either fell on Christ or it will fall on you. Either Christ bore the curse of the law for you or you will bear it for all eternity.
Trust Christ and receive God’s free gift of salvation.
Timothy George in his commentary gives prayer of thanksgiving…You, Lord Jesus are my righteousness and I am Your sin; You have taken on Yourself what You were not, and have given to me what I am not.
4. Now, the Holy Spirit is Given to All Who Share Abraham’s Faith (3:14)
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Let’s look together to see what the Blessing of Abraham is…
Genesis 12:1–3 (ESV)
12 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Abraham is blessed, and that blessing includes the promise that he will have a great name (reputation) and that he would become a great nation (have many descendants). God will bless those who bless him; furthermore, Abraham will be a blessing. Through Abraham all nations on earth will be blessed. The blessing of Abraham finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the “Seed” of Abraham (Galatians 3:16) and the Redeemer of the world.
The rest of the Bible records how these promises were fulfilled and the blessing of Abraham advanced.
Galatians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
In Christ, we receive the spiritual blessing of justification, just as Abraham did
Galatians 3:29 (ESV)
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Conclusion
So which way will you live? By Faith and receive salvation as a free gift or By works and remain under the curse?
Benediction
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
As you live a life of faith in all Christ’s merits for us.
Resources Used:
https://www.gotquestions.org/blessing-of-Abraham.html
Galatians by Peter Barnes
Galatians by Timothy George
Galatians by John Brown
