WHY PAUL CALLED IT A "CURSE"

Newsletter 313 September 23, 2012 _______________________________________________________________ Galatians 3:13, 19-29 The very first portion of the opening verse of our study uses two words that just stand out. The first one is that Christ redeemed us. The word in the original text that has been translated “redeemed” is the same word used to describe the purchase of a slave. When I was a child, I remember that many stores gave green stamps as a sort of bonus for purchases. Those stamps were placed in a book, which you could use to purchase items from a catalog. You “redeemed” them. Jesus gave his own life to “redeem” his followers. In so doing, we, who had been bond servants of Satan, became servants of the Lord Jesus. He bought us back. The other word is the word “curse.” He willingly, because of his love, died upon a cross, to save us from eternal death in Hell. Because he had no sin of his own, he could do that, and only he. Death by crucifixion was not only the worst that the Romans could do, but it was also called a curse. Before this time there was no identification of what sin was. The Children of Israel needed it to be made clear what was sin in God’s sight. We speak of a naughty child when a small child does things that we would react much more negatively to when he is a teen age youth. The difference is that the teen age youth has a lot more knowledge and understanding. Thus, the law of Moses is sometimes called a school-master. I remember vividly how, as I was finishing high school, I would be free from the class room, not realizing I still had another five years, in classrooms and two in the military ahead of me., and even after that there was still much to be learned. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: .. .. .. .. (Galatians 4:5, Deuteronomy 21:23, Acts 5:30) WHAT WAS ITS PURPOSE? Its purpose then was to define sin, to make us realize that we have all sinner, but that there is hope. The wages of sin is death, but there is a redeemer, if we will just let him help us. In the Navy, our worship hymns used a lot of the time centered upon nautical themes. “Let the Lower Lights be Burning,”, “Throw out the Lifeline” and similar. We were still learning. There is a redeemer, and only a fool would not grab hold of the life line when he realizes that is the only hope. The law was given because of transgressions, sin. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Romans 5:20, Acts 7:53, Exodus 20:19, Deuteronomy 5:5, Galatians 3:16) WHO IS THE MEDIATOR? 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 8:6, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 12:24) 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (Luke 20:16, Galatians 2:17, Galatians 2:21) VIOLATING A LAW REVEALS GUILT 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Cain Killed his brother Abel. The law had not been given, but I am sure that he knew this was a sin. When Eve took her first bite of the forbidden fruit, she was aware that she had been told not to do that, but when God gave the law to Moses, there was no more excuse. God had engraved it upon stone. But Jesus Christ paid the price for the guilty, all of us, and we are now saved because of his grace. His grace is totally undeserved. We all deserve the death penalty, under the law, but because of Jesus Christ, we can have that sin removed and not receive that punishment. Proverbs tells us, “The fool hath said in his heart ‘there is no God’.” We would prove this, if we saw and rejected the lifeline, the Messiah. ’ (Romans 11:32) 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (Romans 11:32) HOW THE LAW IS A SCHOOLMASTER 24 Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (1 Corinthians 4:15, Galatians 2:16) Now, we have finished with that formal education, the law is fulfilled. It has served its purpose, The courtrooms of the land used to have the ten commandments written on the wall, but really, because, of Christ, we are not under the law. It no longer a written decree, it is now written in our hearts. We have matured, and we know right from wrong. THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW IS COMPLETED IN CHRIST JESUS 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (1 Corinthians 4:15) NOT CHILDREN OF LAW, BUT OF FAITH 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:14, Galatians 4:5, Romans 8:1, Galatians 3:28, Galatians 4:14, Galatians 5:6, Galatians 5:24, Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Colossians 1:4, 1 Timothy 1:12, 2 Timothy 1:1, Titus 1:4) Unfortunately knowing, and doing are different things. Knowing the speed limits, and staying within them, are two different things. Where is the driver who can honestly say he has never broken a traffic law? Just once, makes us guilty. I can honestly say, I can only remember four traffic tickets in my lifetime, two of those were parking offenses. But, I have to admit more that weren’t seen. God sees all. FAITH RESULTS IN OBEDIENCE 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Catch that lifeline! (Matthew 26:19, Romans 6:3, 1 Corinthians 10:2, Romans 13:14) IN GOD’S SIGHT, ONE 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Colossians 3:11, John 17:11, Ephesians 2:15, Romans 8:1, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:14, Galatians 5:24, Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Colossians 1:4, 1 Timothy 1:12, 2 Timothy 1:1, Titus 1:4) HIS HEIRS 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Romans 4:13, 1 Corinthians 3:23, Romans 9:8, Galatians 3:18, Galatians 4:28) __________ READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR SEPTEMBER 23rd Sunday - Isaiah 57, 58, 59, Ephesians 1, Psalm 110 24th Monday - Isaiah 60, 61, 62, Ephesians 2, Psalm 111 25th Tuesday - Isaiah 63, 64, Ephesians 3, Proverbs 23:19-27 26th Wednesday - Isaiah 65, 66, Ephesians 4:1-16, Psalm 112 27th Thursday - Micah 1, 2, Ephesians 4:17-32, Psalm 113 28th Friday - Micah 3, 4, 5, Ephesians 5:1-16, Psalm 114 29th Saturday - Micah 6, 7, Ephesians 5:17-33, Proverbs 23:28-35 __________ LINKS TO OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG SITES http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com Biographical, with photos http://ebooksbybob.blogsport.com They can be read directly on your computer http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com This weekly newsletter in a different format http://whatdosthebiblesayaboutthis.blogspot.com Answers to your questions http://scripturegems.blogspot.com Favorite Scripture Quotations http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com These represent 70 of the world’s languages http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com Short Bible studies http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com Several pages in length http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com The opening chapters to her nine books in print __________ THE MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” - John 15:12 (Remember, He Died for our Sins) WHAT DO YOU HAVE ON THIS MORNING? Our of the mouths of babes we often hear a strictly non-adult point of view. For instance, a mother took her little daughter to her very first wedding, and the little girl was filled with curiosity about everything she saw. When she saw the bride, she asked her mother why the bride was dressed in white. Her mother said, “That’s because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.” Quick as a flash the curious little girl asked, “So why is the groom wearing black?” Church Bulletin - Waterview Church of Christ