How to Be Free From the Curse of the Law
Posted: Wednesday, July 08, 2009
by Jeanine Mathis
Have you ever received tutoring from someone on a subject that was difficult to understand? Some tutors have a talent for helping their students understand concepts and material. If you've ever taken a difficult class and received tutoring, you will understand the relief that comes from finally "getting it". A good tutor knows how to convey concepts in an easy to understand method.
This may seem a little confusing at first glance, but it is really quite simple. Just as someone may need a tutor to teach him math, the law in the bible teaches us as well. Yes, it teaches us not to lie or steal or murder....but that is not the lesson here. The law points out our sin, and shows us that we need help. Galatians 3:10 says that we are under a curse. It says, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the law to perform them". This verse quotes an old testament verse in Deuteronomy which states that anyone who can't keep the whole law is cursed. No matter how much someone tries, they could never perfectly obey every part of the law....it is impossible.
The good news is that Jesus freed us from the curse. Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'." When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, he took our curse upon himself so that we could be free. If you believe and have faith that Jesus died for your sins and you put your trust in Him, then you will be justified by faith.
Some people make the mistake of thinking that being justified means that they have to try to be a "better person". They mistakingly think that if their good deeds outweigh their bad deeds they will somehow find favor with God. This is an all or nothing situation. Either we obey everything in the law perfectly, or we are subject to the curse. There is no in between. Since it is impossible to live a perfect life and never sin, the only way to escape punishment from sin is to have faith in Jesus, who already took our punishment for us.
What is faith? Is it simply just believing? No. The bible says that the demons also believe and shutter (Mark 16:17). Faith is a conviction that drives you to act. True faith is followed by repenting of sin. True faith believes and is followed by a desire to obey.
To summarize;
1. The law tutors us by pointing out our sin. It shows us that we haven't been perfectly obedient.
2. We are under a curse because we can't abide by all things written in the law...it's impossible.
3. Jesus took our curse upon Himself by dieing for us on the cross. He took our punishment.
4. We can be justified before God, not by trying to be a better person, but by putting our faith in Jesus.
5. True faith is followed by repenting of sin. This doesn't mean that a new Christian never sins again. It simply means that he/she strives to be more obedient. There will be changes in his/her life.
Galatians 2:16 says, "nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law; since by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Jeanine loves God and desires to share God's word with all who are interested. Her blog, Walk in Light can be found at http://www.walk-in-light.com
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More commentsHi Rabbi,I think I will end our discussion here. You are right that you sound harsh and sarcastic and that is not the way a believer in Christ should behave. We could go back and forth on this but since you have responded to me in a condescending manner I think it is time to stop. I figured that you were a Messianic Jew. I had an ex-boyfriend who was a Messianic Jew and he refused to attend these assemblies because of wrong views of scripture. So...we are at an impasse. I wish you the best.If you care to continue the discussion I am open to that, but not if you continue to make accusatory statements.
Believers in Christ should not be harsh? I wonder how you would've felt had you seen Yeshua whipping the money changers? Or perhaps when He cursed the fig tree? What about when He called others "vipers" and snakes". Would you have said He wasn't being Christ-like? A Believer in Christ should be straight-forward and not mix words and be as direct as possible. It's difficult to NOT be condescending when someone says that we shouldn't follow G-d's Laws or presumes they understand Jesus' qualities when they don't.You should've listened to your Messianic boyfriend, you'd be much further ahead then you are now. What was your major issue with his beliefs?So tell me, if you say I have a wrong view of Scripture, is that accusatory to you? I don't see much difference if I say you are a sinner.Just curious.Rabbi Stanley
When Jesus took out a whip and cleared the money changers He did so because of their behavior. When he called the pharisees vipers, He did so because they tied burdens on the people and were hypocrites themselves. I haven't done any of the above. I simply presented what the bible has to say. If you disagree you can gently give a correction, but there is no need for accusations. You continue to state that I don't believe we should follow the commandments, which is not what I have said. No matter how many times I try to clear that up, you continue to see what you want to see.But if you mean that I don't follow the Sabbath and every single Jewish law such as not mixing fibers, then you are correct. And since you are clean cut in your picture, it seems as if you don't follow all of the laws either, since Lev. 19 says not to trim your beard.
So you're saying that Yeshua called people names when they did something wrong. That's exactly what I'm doing here, but with much more gentleness then Yeshua did at times.If your talking about vs 27 of Leviticus 19, what it says in Hebrew is not to "gelech" your beard. I happen to speak, read and write Hebrew (we think that's important in studying Scripture) and gelech means to shave (make close) the beard. I do follow that law, I do not shave.The reason I say you don't follow the commandments is because you said yourself that you don't keep them. Yes, you said you keep them but right after you said you don't keep Shabbath and you also mix fibers. If you don't keep Sabbath, you're not only breaking His Law, you aren't even keeping the Ten Commandments correct?So even though you say you are keeping them, you turn right around and say the exact opposite with your next breath. I call that Christian double speak. It's no wonder that many non Believers think that Christianity is a bunch of garbage, you can't blame them really either. Christian double speak doesn't make any sense and it never will. I know Christians will then "spiritualize" these gross errors in theology and think they are just being a very spiritual individual as if G-d had somehow given then a "deeper" understanding of Scripture. But G-d doesn't give a false interpretation to His Word or encourage any ignorant errors from those who say these doctrines are revelation.Let's just face it, you don't know Hebrew... so you misunderstood what it was saying in Hebrew concerning ones beard. It's a linguistic error on your part. This is a good example of why it's important to understand the Jewish culture when practicing Biblical hermenutics. Because if you don't, your entire theology slowly starts to crumble, just like this doctrine about the beard did right before your very eyes.Now if you can produce something legitimate in Scripture that says otherwise, I'd be more then happy to apologize and take back my words. I love it when I'm proved wrong because that means I've learned something. Are you that willing to learn or is it you who only wishes to see what you want to see?
BTW I just looked at the picture I have on this site and that photo is about 6 years old. Since then I have been keeping the law not to shave.Rabbi Stanley
Just to follow up, do you believe that keeping every aspect of the law saves you? I am trying to understand better where you are coming from.
What about where Paul says in Galatians 2: 2, " Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you." And then later he says, in verse 6, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love."What of Colossians 2:16,17 which says:Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day--things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.Apparently some laws were downplayed when Christ came into the picture. I have been taught that the law can be divided into moral law, priestly or levitical law, and civic law....and we are only responsible for the moral law. We are no longer held to the priestly or civic laws, which were just a shadow of the coming Christ. Those laws pointed to what only Christ could accomplish.I assume you don't sacrifice animals.....right?
Ok, I'll answer these one by one, I'm limited in time so I'll go as fast as I can.If we're to understand that we shouldn't be, or get, circumcised then why did Paul have Timothy circumcised? Certainly Paul wouldn't have done something so drastic that was against G-d!Also in Genesis circumcision is also an "everlasting covenant". Not "just till the Messiah comes". See, we can't just ignore Scriptures and only see the ones we want. ALL Scripture has to be reconciled. You and I can go back and forth till we're blue in the face but if you or I can't answer the other Scriptures we each post, then it's futile right?Next one. He's talking to Jews here who eat Kosher, Jesus ate kosher, so did all the Disciples and the entire first Church. otherwise they couldn't be Jews. They're even called a "sect" here Acts 24:5... "For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." They were a sect just like the sect of the Pharisees... Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. They couldn't be a sect of the Jews if they weren't Jewish. Same with circumcision. If they weren't circumcised they weren't Jews. Paul made very sure that the people knew they were Jews and even rushed to the Temple to prove it. I'll give you that Scripture if you're not familiar already with it. So he was talking to Jews saying, "Don't let the Gentiles judge you because of how you eat or the new moons or festivals". He wasn't talking to Gentiles saying, "Do whatever you want".I know what I'm saying may be be making you angry, it usually does because it means that if it's true, you have to do something. That is Hebraic thought. Greek thought is "To hear and contemplate". Hebraic thought is "to hear and do".Last one. Yeshua didn't downplay any of the Laws, how could He? He wrote them. There is no such thing as the Law of Moses. Moses simply delivered it, Jesus wrote it. Think about the festivals too. They are always called the festivals of the Jews in Church. Find that ANYWHERE in the Bible. It's not there. Do you know what they're called each and every time? "The festivals of the L-rd" or "MY Festivals" NEVER the festivals of the Jews. They're not their festivals is why. These are G-D's Festivals (I don't cap because I'm yelling or soemthing, it's just for emphasis of that particular word). So if they're G-d's Festivals, then everyone should be celebrating them. And you know what? It's happening. Check out how many CHurches today are now celebrating G-d's feasts. You can even check it out online. I'm asked daily to come to people's churches to show them how to celebrate the Feasts of G-d. Next week I'm speaking at a Presbyterian Church lol. Baptist, Methodist, every denomination you can think of.Yes there are different laws and that's not a bad division that you've suggested here. There's more division then that though even. Anyway, we can't do the levitical laws simply because there is no Temple right? We can't do the impossible and G-d doesn't require that of us. But lets look at keeping the Sabbath. It's one of the TEN COMMANDMENTS for pity sake. And yes it's another one G-d said to keep forever. Yeshua never changed it, He kept it. over 100 years later it was changed by a group of men that you probably never even heard of. Man changed it. G-d said keep it forever. Matter of fact, G-d was so serious about it, He said if you break it, you're to be taken out and killed. Now I'm not saying we should go killin people now but I do think it shows the seriousness of the matter. Sabbath isn't a Jew thing either. G-d kept it at creation and Jews didn't even exist then did they? Not a Jew in the world. It's G-d's Laws and He bringing all His Children back to them. Yes, many are screaming and fighting it, tryin to use Scripture to get out of it. I don't blame a lot of them, that's what they've been taught. But so what, we need to put it behind us now and do what G-d has commanded.hope that helps,R. Stanley
Hi Stanley,There is a lot to respond to here, so I will keep it simple. First, let me assure you that what you said did not anger me. The reason for this is that I don't think you have a solid argument. You stated, "See, we can't just ignore Scriptures and only see the ones we want. ALL Scripture has to be reconciled."1. Paul made it clear that circumcision is no longer necessary (not to say that it isn't medically beneficial). He goes even farther by saying that anyone who seeks to be justified by circumcision has fallen from grace.Galatians 5:1-61It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.2Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.3And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.4You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.5For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.6For in (K)Christ Jesus (L)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but (M)faith working through love.2. Paul brings up an interesting point. He shows that circumcision is not equal to following the law.Romans 2:26So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?3. God is looking at the heart, not the letter of the law.Romans 2:27-2927The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.28A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.4. Paul actually opposed Peter to his face for being a hypocrite and siding with the party of the circumcision when he was teaching that circumcision was not necessary.Galatians 2:11-1611But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.12For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.13The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.14But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?15"We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;16nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.5. Last, the elders of the church in the book of Acts made it clear that circumcision was not necessary.Acts 151Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon[a] has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:16" 'After this I will returnand rebuild David's fallen tent.Its ruins I will rebuild,and I will restore it,17that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,and all the Gentiles who bear my name,says the Lord, who does these things'[b]18that have been known for ages.[c]19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."v. 19-21 gave specific instructions, and did not include circumcision.
I do need some advice from the Rabbi and anyone who maybe be able to help me,regarding some elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1.. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female,
provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine
claims that this applies to New Zealanders, but not Hawaiians . Can you clarify?
Why can't I own Hawaiian?
2.. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus
21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3.. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev15: 19-24. The problem is how do I
tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4.. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbours. They
claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5.. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2
clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill
him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6.. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I
don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7.. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a
defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my
vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27.
How should they die?
9.. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two different
crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two
different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse
and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble
of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we
just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people
who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy
considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
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