The Promise
Galatians 3:13 (NLT), “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took the curse for our wrongdoing upon himself. It is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
I am writing about this because of an eschatology class I am currently teaching.
This is a prophetic statement that originates from Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (NLT), “If someone has committed a crime worthy of death and is executed and hung on a tree, his body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God. In this way, you will prevent the defilement of the land the LORD your God is giving you as your special possession.”
At first glance, I read over this significant part of Paul’s writing to Galatia. The Galatians verse 13 has a single meaning for those who are redeemed, and it is not Gentiles (heathens). These redeemed are the Jewish people.
Verse 13 does not apply to us gentiles (heathens), but it can! Why do I say this? I’m glad you asked! You see, those not of the Jewish nation were not under the law that was given to Moses by God, and it is that law Paul is speaking about. Abraham did not receive a law, but he kept the way of the Lord. In my understanding, Gentiles or heathens are redeemed once we believe and follow Christ. At that point, we have been adopted into the spiritual lineage of the Jewish people, as stated in Ephesians 1:5-7.
Furthermore, Romans 11:24 (NLT) says: “You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So, if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.” Of course, that verse is for further eschatological study.
Then, in Galatians 3:14 (NLT), we are told something interesting: “Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.”
The bottom line is that Gentiles, i.e., were offered salvation because Jesus fulfilled the law handed down from God to Moses. As a result, we got the same blessing and promise given to Abraham and the apostles. Why do I say apostles? Because in verse 14, we receive the Holy Spirit through faith. Now, get this thought: Those Jewish folk believed they were redeemed from the curse of the law and received the Holy Spirit because they, through faith, believed.
Note: Were there any laws handed down by God before Moses? Let’s examine the scriptures.
Romans 2:14-15 tells us that we Gentiles know God’s law even if we never received it as Moses did. Verse 14 states: “Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without hearing it. Verse 15 states: They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.”
Romans 5:13 (NLT): “Yes, people sinned before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was no law to break.” The King James version puts it this way: “For until the law sin was in the world: but it was not imputed when there is no law.”
So, in essence, we all have the law embedded but not written, as the Israelites did after God gave Moses the written law. Knowing this, Galatians 3:13 does not concern the Gentiles but the Israelites.
Galatians 3:14, however, speak directly to the Gentiles, telling us that through Christ Jesus, God has blessed us with the same blessing he promised to Abraham so that those who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
What are your opinions? Write me at thechristianundergroundjournal@gmail.com with your thoughts.
Mike Kovach
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