Faith Receives Due To The Promise.

Paul has just reminded the reader that to fail to obey the Law is to stand cursed before God.  "He therefore that will avoid the curse, must lay hold upon the promise of blessing, or upon the faith of Abraham, or else he shall remain under the curse." [1]

Galatians 3:11–14 (NIV),

¹¹ Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” ¹² The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will 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 hung on a pole.” ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Paul now appeals to another prophet, Habakkuk. If one is called to live by faith, then obviously it cannot be that we are live by the Law.  The two things are different.  "It is impossible therefore that faith should be of the law. For faith only resteth in the promise, it only apprehendeth and knoweth God, and standeth only in receiving good things of God. Contrariwise the law and works consist in doing, and in giving unto God . . . But faith requireth no works of us, or that we should give anything unto God, but that we believing the promise of God, should receive of him. Therefore the office of the law is to work, as the office of faith is to assent unto the promises. For faith is the faith of the promise, and the work is the work of the law." [1]

To seek to follow the Law, one must follow it fully.  "This expresses the principle of the law. Men are not commanded to believe the Old Testament law, but to do it. Failure to render absolute obedience is fatal."[2]  And now the Apostle reminds us that Christ took that curse of disobedience for us.  "For he saith not that Christ was made a curse for Himself, but for us. Therefore all the weight of the matter standeth in this word 'for us' . . . But Christ took our sins upon Him, and for them died upon the Cross; therefore it behoveth that He should become a transgressor, and (as Isaiah saith, chapter liii.) “be reckoned among the transgressors.” [3]

We note that all the blessings of the Gospel, the substitutionary life and death of Christ Jesus, come to us through Christ -- not Abraham, not of ethnic origin -- but Christ.  And this is so  “we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith . . . and this liberty and gift of the Spirit we receive not by any other merit than by faith alone. [3] "Paul began his argument in this section (vv. 2–3) by asking the Galatians how they received the Spirit. It was through faith. Given this, the Galatians have already experienced the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham." [4]

This promise of the Spirit (Acts 2:33; [Isa. 32:15; 44:3; Joel 2:28; John 7:39; Eph. 1:13]) is that work of the Spirit baptizing believers into Christ.

Without faith, Father, it is impossible to please You.  Faith is required from beginning to end. Faith is that which receives with an open hand from You.  Faith never gives. You give. I will forever be the beneficiary of Your grace.  Faith loves the words "for us."  Christ came for us.  Christ lived for us. Christ died for us.  Christ ever lives for us.  Apart from the "for us" there is nothing for us.  The promise of the Spirit is the promise of sovereign and free grace.  It is the promise of the New Covenant bought for and paid for by the Lamb of God and applied by the Spirit of God.  It's a promise of security and a promise of assurance.  This is my rock today, Father.  There is no other word that brings hope and security.  Thanks be unto God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:10). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2385). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
3. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 3:13). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
4. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 3:14). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.