“I'm a good person.” “I go to church and live how the Bible says.” “God's pleased with how I live, so I’m fine with Him.” It's so easy to think like that, consciously or subconsciously. But Paul identifies the huge problem with finding our confidence in what we do.
The problem
Read Galatians 3:10
• What does Paul say about a person who seeks to earn God's acceptance (v 10)?
• What does relying on the law have to do with faith (v 12)?
The crucial word in verse 12 is “does”. Observing the law perfectly would lead to acceptance of someone by God on the basis of what he or she does.
• So why is this method of seeking to be justified doomed to failure (end of v 10)?
The solution
Since the beginning of verse 10 is true, how can God credit any of us as righteous but not be unjust? If I have disobeyed God's law, I am under God's curse, facing life now and eternally without His loving presence. God will not simply set His curse aside; and nothing I can do will remove that curse.
Read Galatians 3:13
• How did God remove the curse from us (v 13)?
• Why is it significant that Jesus did not simply take our curse for us, but that He became a curse for us (v 13)?
Christ was not a sinner: but on the cross He was treated legally as if he were a sinner. He became sin: and if Jesus became the sinner you are, then you have become perfect and flawless as He is.
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TIME OUT… Read 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:21; 1 Peter 3:18.
• How do these words, written by both Paul and Peter, add to your appreciation of Galatians 3 v 13?
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• What is the great achievement of Jesus buying us out of slavery, or “redeeming us” (v 14)?
• What does Paul remind us in v 14 is the way that these achievements come to us?
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PRAY THRU
Father, Thank You that You did not leave me under a curse as an imperfect lawkeeper.
Thank You that Christ Jesus became cursed instead of me, and died the death of a human under Your punishment in my place.
Thank You that by faith I am acceptable to You, and have Your Spirit.
Thank You for doing all this for a lawbreaker like me, Father.
Amen.
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This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from the good book company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
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