"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 (NIV)
"The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a classic children's novel that tells the story of Mary Lennox, a spoiled and lonely girl who is sent to live with her reclusive uncle, Archibald Craven, in Yorkshire, England, after her parents die of cholera in India.
Mary stumbles upon a hidden, neglected garden that has been locked and forgotten for years. With the help of a local boy named Dickon and her sickly cousin Colin, she brings the garden back to life. Their combined efforts revive the garden and strengthen their relationships, highlighting the importance of teamwork and relationships in the story.
In our last lesson from Galatians, Paul taught us about a life of faith. When beginning life in the Spirit, how do we expect to mature and grow in Christ by keeping the law given to Israel? In living a life of faith, we are Abraham's children. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (ref. Gal. 3:6). God had promised to bless all nations through Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). "So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith" (Gal. 3:9).
However, Jews and Gentiles understood that believing the gospel would make you a child of Abraham. How is that family identified? This seems to be the question. Abraham's family had very clearly defined identity markers. They kept the Sabbath. They refused certain foods and circumcised their male children. Appealing to Abraham, is Paul just side-stepping the real issue? After all, it ignores the Jewish story and a part of their identity: the law given by God to Moses at Mount Sinai. Paul does not ignore the story or history. However, he is telling the story differently. Paul tells the story of a garden that has been locked, neglected, and almost forgotten: God's promise to Abraham was not simply for the Jews. It was for the nations as well. God's purpose in blessing all nations was to flow through Abraham's family. However, what was meant to be a blessing became a curse. Abraham's physical family had reached the point where it blocked the view of the garden promises.
The Text
Galatians 3:10–14 (NIV)
"For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because "the righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, "The person who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”
Curse
Paul highlights that all who rely on the works of the law for justification and righteousness are under the law's curse. Relying on the law requires a person to keep everything written in the Book of the Law. Paul cites a passage from Deuteronomy 27 and the curses associated with not keeping the law given at Mount Ebal.
Deuteronomy 27:26 (NIV)
"Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!"
Mount Ebal serves as a physical and symbolic representation of the consequences of disobedience to God's commandments (Deut. 27:13). Mount Ebal is paired with Mount Gerizim (Deut. 27:12; 28:1-14), where the blessings for obedience are pronounced. This juxtaposition highlights the choice set before the Israelites between blessing and curse, obedience and disobedience, and ties into a larger theme of blessing and curse found in (Genesis 1-3). Israel had a choice to make. Would they remain faithful to the covenant, or would they serve themselves?
What happened with Abraham's family? Choices of covenant unfaithfulness and idolatry led to curse and blocked the garden view. The law had become gate-locked, secured, and overgrown, so the garden view was lost.
Before we too quickly judge Israel for not keeping the garden tended, how are we doing? How well are we keeping God's word? How are we doing in honoring Him in our lives? Pointing at others' mistakes, sins, and past failures tends to be easy. However, we often extend grace upon grace when examining our lives. Like Israel, I would imagine we are not doing very well.
Paul is paying attention to the story, the past, and the history. However, Paul is telling the story in a different light. He is telling the story in the light of Messiah Jesus. Trying to justify ourselves through our merits is going to fail. Israel is going to need more than justifying themselves through the law. At best, our lives all block the view of the garden.
The Garden Gate Opened
"Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because "the righteous will live by faith" (Gal. 3:11). Paul is telling the story in light of Messiah Jesus. Scriptures themselves tell the story in light of the Messiah. The prophet Habakkuk, speaking to Israel just before the Babylonian invasion of Judah, finds Judah experiencing significant internal corruption and injustice. Despite the earlier reforms of King Josiah, many had reverted to idolatry and moral decay. The religious and social fabric of the nation was in decline.
Habakkuk 2:4 (NIV)
"See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness"
Paul tells the story of faith in light of Messiah Jesus.
Galatians 3:13–14 (NIV)
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."
The curses spoken of in Deuteronomy have been taken on in Christ Jesus. He has redeemed from the curse of the law. He has come to the gate of the garden and cleared the overgrowth that was blocking the view. He has unshackled the chain that held the gate closed. He has opened the view and the way for all to enter just as God intended.
Affirming the promises to Abraham, the Lord declared, "and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me" (Gen. 22:18). From the promise to Abraham, through the family of Israel, Messiah Jesus, Abraham's offspring, has come to fulfill God's promise of blessing to Israel and the nations. By faith, we receive the promise of the Spirit.
Crossing The Context
In this chapter, Paul has built upon faith:
By faith, we are children of Abraham (Gal. 3:7)
Those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham (Gal. 3:9)
"He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." (Gal. 3:14)
Paul is revealing the good news of Messiah Jesus. God's promise and blessing are given to all through the cross. We cannot receive these by our righteousness or through our merits. We are justified through Christ Jesus; the righteous will live by faith (Gal. 3:11).
Often, we try to clear the way or unlock the gate in our wisdom and strength. We get tangled in the briers, thinking we must do more or try harder. The fight to pry open the gate becomes frustrating. Paul's challenge is to rely on Messiah Jesus.
Today, we have a choice:
Will we receive Christ's blessings in faithful response to what He has accomplished, or will we try to open the gate for ourselves?
God promised life to all through His Son Jesus. Today, we can receive this promise. Through the cross, He has opened the way for us all. Paul had remembered the promise and saw the story through Jesus. Now, we are invited to join the story of His covenant family through faith.
Notes:
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from: ”Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Recommended Resources:
BibleProject, Galatians Overview Video
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