Take a few minutes to catch up and pray that God would bless you through the reading of His word.

Read Galatians 3:10-14

[3:10] 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.

Observation:

• What is the state of all who “rely on works of the law” (v 10)? Why is that the case?
• What is one way that no one can be justified before God (v 11)? Why?
• How shall the righteous live (v 11)?
• What does Paul say about the law in v 12?
• What did Christ do (v 13)?
  • What did he become for us?
  • What evidence does Paul have for this?
• What came to the Gentiles through Christ (v 14)? How do we receive the promised Spirit?

Interpretation:

• What are the “works of the law”? 
  • What does it mean to “rely on” them?
  • For what might someone be tempted to rely on them?
• What does it mean to be cursed? 
  • Look at the quote from Deuteronomy 27:26 in v 10. What does Paul assume about your ability to keep the Law? 
  • How does that explain why no one can be justified by the law (v 11)?
• What does it mean that “the law is not of faith”? How is the quote from Leviticus 18:5 (quoted at the end of v 12) a demonstration of that reality?
• What does it mean that Christ “became a curse” for us? How does that serve to redeem us from the curse of the law? How was Christ “hanged on a tree”?
• What is the blessing of Abraham (v 14)? 
  • How does Christ make it possible for the Gentiles to receive it?
  • What does that have to do with the Holy Spirit?

Application:

• How can you pursue righteousness by faith today rather than through the law?
• Do you ever feel condemned by your sin? How does the fact that Jesus became a curse for you set you free from guilt and condemnation?
• Do you ever stop and thank Jesus for enduring that for you?

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