Daily Bread - NOV/24/07

Galatians 3:13 - Christ set us free from the curse of the law being made a curse for us; for it is written cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree.

The curse of the Law was that it had no remedy for sin. The Law was glorious in that it described the will of God and by means of the covenant separated a people unto God, but it was a ministry of death and condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:7-15). The Law could reveal God's holiness and purity but did not empower those who trusted in it to change (Galatians 3:21). Those who trusted in the Law to make them acceptable to God only became conscious sinners through it (Romans 3:20; 7:7; Galatians 3:10).

When Jesus hung upon the tree He bore our sins in His body so that we could be dead to sin and alive to righteousness (1 Peter 2:24; Romans 6:2,18; 1 John 3:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21). In the very instant of His death Jesus destroyed the power of the devil that held us in slavery (Hebrews 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:10; 1 John 3:8). Through Christ Jesus we were set free from the Law because we were set free from the sin it condemned (Romans 5:12-21; 6:14-15). The life of the Spirit of God was imparted into us and the law of sin and death was destroyed (Romans 8:2; Galatians 3:21). Yet at the same time we are warned that anyone who sins transgresses the Law and the judgement that it brings (1 John 3:4; Hebrews 10:26-27; Galatians 5:18). Jesus took away our sin and supplies to us a means of cleansing and forgiveness for any sin that we may commit (1 John 1:7,9; 2:1-2; Revelation 2:5, 21-22; 3:3,19; Matthew 6:14; 18:22-35). He has also given to us a new nature and filled us with the Holy Spirit to supply us with a desire for all of His ways. He sent the Holy Spirit to train us and to equip us so that we may grow up into all of the fullness of God that has been made available to us (John 16:13-15; Ephesians 3:16,19; 4:13).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org