There are some Bible passages that wrap it all up, that summarize God's story so beautifully. One of those coming to mind is
John 1:1-5, a favorite text. Like John, Paul does a similar summary in
Galatians 3:10-29, another favorite, and today's text. It's sort of ... "the whole enchilada"!
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.
15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one,“And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
When Adam ate, it sealed his fate, and not only his, but the fate of all his offspring as well. Oh yes, Eve ate of the forbidden fruit first. But, it was Adam's eating that closed the escape hatch. At that moment, their entire spiritual natures were changed. Spiritually, they died. Their newfound knowledge of good and evil, acquired through disobedience to God, imprisoned them in spiritual death, would end in physical death. This was and is sin's curse, the inheritance of every human born since. But, that is only the beginning...
Even then, in
Genesis 3:15 God revealed that He had a plan for redemption.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
(NIV)
Some believe that just gives us permission to kill all snakes. Oh no...it's much more significant than that. This verse is God the Father's first promise of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Theologians in stuffy seminaries call this (from the Greek) "the protoevangelium", which means the first ("proto") proclamation of the gospel ("evangelium"). While this is a wonderful verse for study, we won't digress, but will move on for the moment. Suffice it to be known that God declared His intention/plan to send a Redeemer, way back in the Garden of Eden, on the occasion of the first sins of mankind.
Fast forward to Abram, born in a wicked, wicked world. Abram "believed God" (
Genesis 15:6) and God credited him with righteousness because of his belief/faith. Abram acted on his belief/trust in the One, True God and this increased his faith. Eventually, his name was changed to Abraham, (
Gen. 17:5) by God Himself. Abraham means, "exalted father of many nations". Indeed, Abraham was the father of the Jewish people, but wait! He was so much more!
Paul tells us that the promise God made in the Garden of Eden was confirmed with Abraham. Children of Abraham are children of faith. It has always been faith in God has been which has made men and women right with Him, as opposed to trusting in one's adherence to a set of rules.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
The Law was given for our benefit, to counteract mankind's now-inborn compulsion to live a life of sin. But, it was never intended to redeem. Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of God's promise, made in the Garden. He is "the seed of the woman", God-wrapped-flesh, yet born to a woman. He is the promised Redeemer. It is through faith in Jesus that we "please God".
He bore our sin curse, in His body, as He hung on the cross, the "tree". God laid all the sins of all mankind, both past, present and future, on Christ. He became a curse, for us (
3:13), so that we would have the opportunity to become righteous in God's eyes by accepting His (Jesus') finished sacrifice.
The blood feud that began in the Garden could only be settled by the shedding of blood. From the moment of the first blood sacrifice, made by God Himself, when he shed the blood of the animals to fashion animal skins for Adam and Eve to wear, through the Old and New Testament Jewish blood sacrifices, to the Passover Lamb's sacrifice - - Jesus's blood spilled out on the cross - - - there is no forgiveness of sins, no righteousness attained, without the shedding of blood.
Jesus' blood covers any and all who come to Him by faith, in repentance, and acclaim Him as Savior and Lord. That blood covering never fades or ebbs or changes that fact that those who throw themselves on His mercy, His redemption for salvation will never be disappointed. We are sons and daughters of God the Father Himself, regardless of earthly parentage (
vs. 28).
The word "redeemed" means "bought back again". Think of a pawn shop. People often go there to purchase items they see on display, because previous folks have sold their goods to the shop. But, other times, items are "pawned". That means the pawn shop owner makes a loan to an individual, while he (the owner) holds the precious item as collateral. When the owner returns with the cash, he can "buy back" his precious item. The item cannot get itself out of the pawn shop; only the owner can do that by paying the price.
Satan, by his deception in the Garden, imprisoned all mankind by deceiving Adam and Eve. Yet, mankind was never truly his. We are God's creation, and only He was willing to pay such a price to redeem us from the sin curse. Only He was willing to
John 3:16-18. Many of you can quote it from the version in which you memorized it as a child. Here it is from The Message version:
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
Redeemed! And, not just merely bought back, but fully endowed with all the rights and privileges of a favored child, a favorite son or daughter. Paul goes on to emphasize this in
4:1-7 (ESV)
3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
"Abba", the most personal form of the title "Father". It connotes close, loving relationship, a forever relationship, one that will last, unbroken, for all eternity.
Father God, thank you for redeeming me from the sin curse. I want to pray specifically for those reading this blog who have not made the decision to take You up on Your offer of transformation, of eternal salvation. Some of them think it is nonsense; others think it is too good to be true. I know that Your Spirit has to first open their eyes and their hearts to realize Your offer, to recognize the truth of the gospel, to be able to SEE Jesus as Who He really is. Please do that, Holy Spirit, for those reading these words. Call to them, pursue them in the depths of their hearts, and save them . Make them the Savior's very own offspring, beloved spiritual sons or daughters, forever. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
