This week, we started a slightly new series piggybacking on what we have been studying. We are studying what it was that Abraham believed that made him right before God. That righteousness was the source of blessing in his life.
In Galatians 3:9-10, Paul points out a contrasting viewpoint that believers can have that determines a life of blessing or a life under curse. Understand that, as a child of God we cannot BE cursed, but we can continue to live UNDER curse. Paul says that those who live by faith will be blessed with Abraham, the father of faith. Then he goes on to say that those who rely upon observing the law are under a curse. He did not say that observing the law is a curse, but relying on its observance brings curses to us. What we rely on the law for is righteousness. That brings curse. We are to rely on Jesus for righteousness. I don’t even think Abraham “thought” he was righteous, but instead just relied on God and that that reliance was then “credited to him AS righteousness.” We can’t un-see law, but we can look at ourselves differently and not define ourselves by law. We have something Abraham doesn’t have. We have the Holy Spirit to reveal truths to us and lead us. The Holy Spirit can reveal more and more about grace to us in order that we can walk in God’s power more and more. Notice also that God never rebukes Abraham for his mistake. He just focuses on him receiving the promise later and how that happened.
Understanding
this contrast helps us understand how we can be a believer but still live
under curse. We may believe in God’s mercy. Mercy is what keeps us from getting
what we deserve. His mercy pays the penalty for our sin. Our eternity is
changed, praise God! We must also believe in His grace that empowers us to also
get the blessing that we do NOT deserve.
In the blessing professed in Deuteronomy 28 we find that experiencing it
is dependent on keeping the entire law – which cannot be done. So, we are
disqualified from that very blessing. But then Jesus completed the law for us.
If we are IN HIM, we are qualified for that blessing that we did not deserve.
As
believers, we are supposed to be qualified to “boldly go before the throne of
God.” We may, on the surface, believe we do, but, if there is any law thinking
inside of us, we put ourselves back into our own righteousness that is NOT
qualified to boldly go. We must know that we are clothed in Jesus’
righteousness, and in no way of our own, to be that bold. Then we truly can boldly go. If we are in HIS righteousness, it is as if it
is Jesus before that throne. Then we make our requests known, based on the
promises made in the Word, and it will be as if Jesus is making the request. What rules are we relying on that may break
our boldness in coming before God? God’s
promises are yes and amen to us because we come as Jesus and His righteousness and
not in our own selves.
The
word of faith movement in general has in the past put our faith in our faith,
in our giving, in what we say or do, rather than in God and the righteousness
of Christ. All of this is like our
train, but grace is the locomotive that makes it all move. Otherwise, we are doing everything right, but
it’s not coming to fruition. Christ’s
righteousness is what makes the promises available to us. What is important is to completely remove our
worthiness, or lack thereof, from the equation (instead of I did therefore I
get, it is He did therefore I get). The enemy likes to remind you that you sin
and fall short and to try to disqualify you from any of God’s promises, especially
when we desperately need one.
All
of the curse that was part of justification by law was taken with Jesus to the
cross. Galatians 3:13-14 talks about this. It quotes Deuteronomy 21:22-23 in
stating that “cursed is every man who hangs on a tree.” Paul knows what this
will mean to his audience, early believers in Galatia
The
image becomes bigger when we realize the symbolism of the crown of thorns on
His head when He hung on that tree. Thorns are a symbol of the curse. Thorns
did not exist until after the fall of man. In Genesis 3:18, God tells Adam that
the land will now be cursed and produce thorns and thistles. In Matthew 13,
Jesus shows us that thorns and thistles are symbolic of the cares and worries
of life. That was a major part of the curse that entered the earth at the fall. In Hebrews 6:8 we find that law living causes
our soil to produce thorns and thistles. Again, law living will produce cares
and worry.
For
this reason, even when Paul talks about the thorn in his side, I believe he is
talking about sin, curse, and law. Many believe his thorn was a sickness,
disease or ailment; however, God’s answer helps us understand a little bit
about what the thorn could be. You see, God’s answer was that His grace was
sufficient. Grace is the answer to sin,
law and curse. The answer for sickness
is healing, not grace. Jesus never gives
grace to those needing healing, so why would God do this here? Paul was a Pharisee who lived his life, prior
to meeting Jesus, not only by Mosaic law but by oral law and ordinances. He is
the most profound teacher on grace we have ever seen, but I believe he still
had to struggle to overcome law like any of us do. He also had to battle with
other prominent believers who felt his teaching on grace was giving believers a
license to sin (the same argument that gets used today), and that even Gentile
believers should be required to keep some of the law.
He
asked God to remove this “thorn” and God said that His grace was sufficient. His
grace is also sufficient for you to overcome sin and law as well. God doesn’t
simply take away law mentality, though. We must renew our minds (Romans 12:2)
with the Word on grace. Finally, Jesus
went to the cross with a crown of thorns on His head – literally hanging on the
cross “under” the curse for us!
To
listen to the entire sermon go to http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php. To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit http://ahwatukeechurch.com/.
