Sermon Guide: Galatians 3:7-14 "Redeemed from the Curse"

Key Passage(s)

Galatians 3:7–14 ESV

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

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.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 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”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Sermon Overview

Justification with God comes not by law-keeping or moral performance but by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Paul shows that all who rely on works are under a curse because no one perfectly keeps God's law. But God gave Abraham righteousness through faith before the law or circumcision, and that same blessing—peace with God and his abiding presence—is extended to Jew and Gentile alike. Christ redeems sinners from the curse by becoming a curse for them, bearing God’s wrath on the cross so that they might receive the promised Spirit through faith and become true children of Abraham.

Sermon Structure

#1 The Curse: All Who Rely on the Law Are Condemned

• The law demands total obedience—failing once brings condemnation (v.10)

• The curse includes enmity with God and the painful experience of his wrath

• Even Gentiles without the Mosaic Law are under the curse, judging others and failing their own standards (Rom 2)

#2 The Blessing: Righteousness Comes by Faith

• Abraham was justified before circumcision or law (Gen 15:6 vs. Gen 17)

• True children of Abraham are those who believe, not those who are ethnically Jewish (v.7–9)

• The blessing includes peace with God and his pleasurable presence

#3. The Cross: Christ Redeemed Us by Becoming a Curse

• Jesus perfectly kept the law and deserved no curse

• At the cross, our sin was imputed to Christ, and his righteousness to us (2 Cor 5:21)

• He endured the full wrath of God so we could receive the promised Spirit by faith (v.13–14)

Definitions

Justification: “An act of God’s free grace, wherein He pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q. 33)

It is a legal declaration whereby our sins are forgiven and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us — to be received by faith alone.

Imputation: A reckoning or crediting of something to another’s account; a transfer. Our sin, with its guilt and punishment, is imputed to Christ; his righteousness, with its blessing and reward, is imputed to us. This is often called “The Great Exchange.”

Questions for Discussion & Reflection

1. How does Abraham’s story show that righteousness comes by faith, not works?

   
   

2. How would you describe the “curse” and the “blessing” in your own words?

   
   

3. What role does the law play if it can’t justify us?