Galatians 3:13-29. If we are of Christ, we are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

1. Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, which is Mosaic Law.

"Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" There are two points in this verse. One is, he was made a curse for us. The second is, Jesus has redeemed us from the curse. Let us see the first. In Israel, evil people that are sinners are stoned to death. But if a person is cursed of God, they will kill him by hanging on a tree. Romans made a cross from a tree, and nailed them on the cross, to inflict more pain. It is also mentioned as hanging on the tree, since the cross is made of a tree. Deuteronomy 21:23 also says that the cursed of God is hanged. So, Jesus was considered cursed. There is one more point in the verse that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law." Now we saw that Jesus is cursed. What was the curse of the law, and how did Jesus Christ redeem us from the curse? "Galatians 3:10 says, For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." So, if we do not do any part of the law or ceremony, we are cursed, and we will be punished in hell for that. So, cursed is, if we do not do any part of the ceremony of the law. Now look at Colossians 2:14-16. "14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" That is, when Jesus was crucified on the cross, he took all the ceremonies of the law, and nailed them to his cross, and took all of them out of the way. So, nobody is expected to do any ceremony, and not it is not sin anymore, after Jesus was crucified. So, the curse of the law was removed for us, and that is how Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law. So, church ceremonies are no longer needed for eternal life, because Jesus Christ voided the ceremonial laws, nailed them to his cross, and threw them out of the way.

2. Blessing of Abraham come to the Gentiles through Jesus Christ by the promise.

"14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." So, if we obey the Lord Jesus Christ, we will receive the blessing of Abraham. Now, what is the blessing of Abraham? In the previous study, we found from Hebrews 11:8-9 that Abraham "looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." So, the promise to Abraham was not of the world, but it is Zion, which is in heaven, so, it is to live in the house of God, and so, Abraham will live with God in heaven. Reference is: "Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." We will receive this blessing through Jesus Christ, if we have faith, by which we will obey the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, the promise is made to Abraham and to his seed, seed is singular, and it is in Galatians 3:16. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." The one single seed refers to Jesus Christ. So, the promise is made to Abraham, and it skipped all the way to Jesus Christ, since he is the seed of Abraham. "15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto." Disannuleth means to make it void. So, the law of Moses cannot make the covenant made to Abraham void. Or, it cannot add anything either. "17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect." So, the law that came by Moses, which came 430 years after the promise, cannot void the promise that was made to Abraham. So, the law of Moses is void in this context. "18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise." So, we cannot receive heavenly inheritance by observing the law; for us, it is by observing the traditions of our churches. So, eternal life will not come by attending churches, even though it will give a better life on the earth. "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. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one." There are two things in this verse. Mosaic law was added because of transgression. So, Mosaic law is given to sinners, but not to the righteous. 1 Timothy 1:9 also says, "the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless." One more thing, who is the mediator? Usually, preachers will say that he is Jesus Christ. Yes, in 1 Timothy and in Hebrews, it is Jesus Christ. But in this context, it is not Jesus Christ. Verse 19 says, "till the seed should come to whom the promise was made;" Here, Jesus Christ is referred to as the Seed, but not as mediator. Mediator could be the angels with the law, that took care of Israel between Abraham and Jesus Christ, until Jesus Christ came. In the context of this chapter, the law will still be even over us if we are sin, that is, we are under the schoolmaster, until we grow out of them and come to the faith in Jesus Christ.

3. Our schoolmaster is the law that brings us to Jesus Christ, to be justified by faith.

"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." Promise and the law, both are given by God; but law is not designed to bring righteousness and to give eternal life. The law can only punish the defaulters, but it cannot give life. Genesis 17:1 says, "the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. God says in 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." That is, God told Abraham to be perfect, and Abraham obeyed God by doing all God has told him to do. Abraham fulfilled the covenant, and so, he and his seed will receive the promise. "22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." Now, it will be given only to those who will believe, that is, have faith or do the works of faith. "23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Everybody begins by doing our own thing and not by obeying God, that is, we begin by sinning. Then we will be put under the law to learn the lesson. Then we learn grace, be converted, and come to the faith of Jesus Christ. "25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." When we obey, or in the faith of Jesus Christ; we will be under the Spirit, but not under the flesh; we will do no more sins, and so, the Mosaic law is void to us.

4. If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In the last study, we have learned the transplant surgery of the crucified Jesus into the flesh body of apostle Paul. So, when apostle Paul was among Galatians, the crucified Jesus Christ was also among Galatians since both are in one body. Apostle Paul gives the same analogy in a different example here. "27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." The one difference is, before Jesus Christ was inside, but now he in on the outside. People will not see us, but they see him. "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." It will not be us anymore, but it will be him. Since we are inside, we are in the body of Christ, and so, we belong to him."29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Then we will inherit the promise of Abraham, through Jesus Christ, and then we will live with God, in his kingdom, in heaven.