Christ Redeemed Us

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Christ Redeemed Us

Date: Jun. 23, 2016

Passage

Galatians 3:1-14 (ESV)

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

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.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 3:14

so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

First, don't be foolish (1-9). The Galatians had foolishly accepted the teaching of the false teachers. Paul pleaded with them to remember how they originally believed. Paul had preached Jesus' crucifixion. When they believed Jesus, by faith, God gave them the Holy Spirit. God even worked miracles among them. None of this had anything to do with the law. Abraham himself was credited with righteousness when he believed God's promise. Abraham's children are those who live by faith, not by works.

Second, Jesus became a curse for us (10-14).

We cannot live by both faith and the works of the law. It is one or the other. Those who rely on keeping the law can never be justified before God. They are cursed when they break the law. The Bible says that the righteous will live by faith. (Ro 1:17b) Jesus died on the cross to take up the curse of the law that we deserve. He did this to bring Abraham's blessing of faith and righteousness to the Gentiles.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to rely on myself and works but only on Jesus who died for sinners like me.

One Word: The righteous will live by faith

Fallen Babylon

Revelation 18:1-24

Key Verse: 18:4

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

  “Come out of her, my people,
    lest you take part in her sins,
  lest you share in her plagues;

Today's Question

What does the third commandment require?

See answer and references