QT 9/22/2022 Gal 3:10-14, Realizing our sinfulness

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.

 

NOTE: I am quite amazed in T. George's commentary how many opinions there are on this passage. People really want to believe in faith plus works, and so have come up with quite a few interpretations of what Paul 'really meant.' But the language is clear and the only proper way to interpret the passage is a common sense reading, in this case literal unless the passage dictates otherwise. One is cursed by one single failure in obeying the law as James makes clear:

 

James 2:10 (ESV) — For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

 

Why is it so hard to understand that we fail to attain perfection by an immeasurable degree? The best man is not 99 percent perfect compared to God's standard of holiness. The best man does not even register at 1 percent. When Isaiah, a godly man, stood in the throne room of God, he said:

 

Isaiah 6:4–5 (ESV) — 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

 

I think we really do not understand the holiness of God. The longer Paul walked in the faith, the more convinced he became of his own unholiness and sin. It is only the spiritually immature and the unbeliever who think they are nearly without sin. Those who walk with God know their sinfulness.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I think I am pretty good? Then I am fooling myself.
2. Do I think I am pretty good? Then I don't understand God's holiness

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for revealing to me my utter sinfulness. I am so unworthy of your love. I deserve nothing. And yet, I am loved; I am your beloved. Jesus did what I could never do because you chose to love me.