Salvation Basics - Curse of the Law

[NewLifeInChrist]

Paul wrote...

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”​

13 Christ has 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 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Ga 3:10–14)​

What is the curse of the law?
The law, which is anchored by the ten commandments, contains a blessing for obeying the law and a curse for disobeying it (Deut 11:26-28).

Does obeying the law keep us safe from the curse?
Yes, theoretically. But no in practice. As Paul wrote in Galatians 3:12, if a person satisfies the requirements of the law, then he earns eternal life thorough his obedience. Jesus also confirmed this is the case when He told people that they could gain eternal life through obeying the commandments (e.g., Luke 10:25-28). Unfortunately, however, that pathway to eternal life is closed to man because of his sinfulness. Scripture (both OT and NT) make it obvious that God will not declare any person righteous on the basis of his obedience to the law. As a result, anyone who wants to be under the law places themselves under the curse.

How may we escape the curse of the law?
Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and became a curse for us, so that through faith in Him we might receive the Spirit and His eternal life. Note in Galatians 3:12 that obedience to the law is not an act of faith because a person who obeys the law earns what he gets. But the free gift of eternal life that Christ gives those who trust in Him is not earned. It is a blessing that comes from Him through faith.

 

[for_his_glory]

To all those who think that all the laws have been fulfilled in Christ you are very wrong as below are the laws that are written upon our heart and can only be fulfilled when Christ returns and makes an end to sin by throwing it into the lake of fire with that of the beast and the false prophets. The only laws that Christ has fulfilled so far are that of the Temple and its sacrifices. Someone please show me in scripture where Jesus has fulfilled all the laws, because in Matthew 22:35-40 and Matthew 5:17, 18 Jesus does not say that he has already fulfilled all of them, but that love was the greatest of them all.

There are laws (commandments) of God that were especially written just for the Hebrews pertaining to the rituals of the Temple, sacrifices, festivals, Torah, Kohanim and Levites, the King and the Nazarite. Then there are the existing moral laws (commandments) for all of us to still follow as in prayers and blessings, love and brotherhood. The poor and unfortunate, treatment of the Gentiles, Marriage, divorce and family. Forbidden sexual relations, business practices, employees and servants. Vows, oaths, swearing, Court and Judicial procedures. Injuries and damages, property and property rights, criminal laws. Prophecy, idolatry and all its practices as the moral laws (commandments) keep us in line with the will of God.

We need to present ourselves a vessel of honor that God delights in as we allow the light of Christ shine in us and through us. This is a testimony of Gods grace and mercy as it is not ourselves that do any good thing, but Gods Spirit working in us and through us as we surrender our will to that of Gods will to be done.

Morality in God is His greatest commandment of love as we treat others as we want others to treat us. God is love and wants us to love and treat others as He loves and treats us.

Matthew 22:
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

 

[JLB]

Paul wrote...

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”​

13 Christ has 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 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Ga 3:10–14)​

What is the curse of the law?
The law, which is anchored by the ten commandments, contains a blessing for obeying the law and a curse for disobeying it (Deut 11:26-28).

Does obeying the law keep us safe from the curse?
Yes, theoretically. But no in practice. As Paul wrote in Galatians 3:12, if a person satisfies the requirements of the law, then he earns eternal life thorough his obedience. Jesus also confirmed this is the case when He told people that they could gain eternal life through obeying the commandments (e.g., Luke 10:25-28). Unfortunately, however, that pathway to eternal life is closed to man because of his sinfulness. Scripture (both OT and NT) make it obvious that God will not declare any person righteous on the basis of his obedience to the law. As a result, anyone who wants to be under the law places themselves under the curse.

How may we escape the curse of the law?
Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and became a curse for us, so that through faith in Him we might receive the Spirit and His eternal life. Note in Galatians 3:12 that obedience to the law is not an act of faith because a person who obeys the law earns what he gets. But the free gift of eternal life that Christ gives those who trust in Him is not earned. It is a blessing that comes from Him through faith.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:18

 

[NewLifeInChrist]

First of all, thank you for the renewed interest in my Soteriology posts.

To all those who think that all the laws have been fulfilled in Christ you are very wrong as below are the laws that are written upon our heart and can only be fulfilled when Christ returns and makes an end to sin by throwing it into the lake of fire with that of the beast and the false prophets. The only laws that Christ has fulfilled so far are that of the Temple and its sacrifices. Someone please show me in scripture where Jesus has fulfilled all the laws, because in Matthew 22:35-40 and Matthew 5:17, 18 Jesus does not say that he has already fulfilled all of them, but that love was the greatest of them all.

There are laws (commandments) of God that were especially written just for the Hebrews pertaining to the rituals of the Temple, sacrifices, festivals, Torah, Kohanim and Levites, the King and the Nazarite. Then there are the existing moral laws (commandments) for all of us to still follow as in prayers and blessings, love and brotherhood. The poor and unfortunate, treatment of the Gentiles, Marriage, divorce and family. Forbidden sexual relations, business practices, employees and servants. Vows, oaths, swearing, Court and Judicial procedures. Injuries and damages, property and property rights, criminal laws. Prophecy, idolatry and all its practices as the moral laws (commandments) keep us in line with the will of God.

We need to present ourselves a vessel of honor that God delights in as we allow the light of Christ shine in us and through us. This is a testimony of Gods grace and mercy as it is not ourselves that do any good thing, but Gods Spirit working in us and through us as we surrender our will to that of Gods will to be done.

Morality in God is His greatest commandment of love as we treat others as we want others to treat us. God is love and wants us to love and treat others as He loves and treats us.

Matthew 22:
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

I'm not sure how any of this applies to what I wrote about the curse of the law. Perhaps you can explain it.

The only thing I can think of that may have caused your reaction is the obvious warning that placing oneself under the law is tantamount to placing oneself under the curse of the law (Ga 3:10-14). But I would say the point of the warning is not to castigate the law or the goodness of the law, but to warn people that it is impossible to please God through obedience to the law, not because the law itself is weak, but because their own flesh is too weak to obey it to the extent that the law requires.

The purpose of the law is to convict people of their sins and to drive them to Christ for forgiveness. And now, having found Christ and having received the forgiveness He offers, we don't need the law for that purpose any more (Ga 3:21-25). Well, except that when we start to depart from Christ and His grace and turn again to the law, the law does its job, convicts us of our sins, and sends us back to Jesus for His forgiveness. It is better to stand fast in our liberty and avoid the yoke of bondage that submitting to the law brings because submitting to one law obligates us to obey every law (Ga 5:1-4).

 

[NewLifeInChrist]

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:18

You are right!!! We are no longer under law, but we are under grace (Ro 6:14). As a result, we are not under the curse of the law because His grace shields us from the damnation that our failures to obey the law earned us.

 

[for_his_glory]

First of all, thank you for the renewed interest in my Soteriology posts.

I'm not sure how any of this applies to what I wrote about the curse of the law. Perhaps you can explain it.

The only thing I can think of that may have caused your reaction is the obvious warning that placing oneself under the law is tantamount to placing oneself under the curse of the law (Ga 3:10-14). But I would say the point of the warning is not to castigate the law or the goodness of the law, but to warn people that it is impossible to please God through obedience to the law, not because the law itself is weak, but because their own flesh is too weak to obey it to the extent that the law requires.

The purpose of the law is to convict people of their sins and to drive them to Christ for forgiveness. And now, having found Christ and having received the forgiveness He offers, we don't need the law for that purpose any more (Ga 3:21-25). Well, except that when we start to depart from Christ and His grace and turn again to the law, the law does its job, convicts us of our sins, and sends us back to Jesus for His forgiveness. It is better to stand fast in our liberty and avoid the yoke of bondage that submitting to the law brings because submitting to one law obligates us to obey every law (Ga 5:1-4).

Just showing the laws we are still yet under as we follow God's greatest commandment of love towards others.