Christ became a Curse

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." (Galatians 3:10)

The law brings a curse.

Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident.

All have failed to keep the law of the Lord.

The just shall live by faith.

The law is not of faith.

Those who does the works of the law shall live by them.

The Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.

He has become a curse for us.

The Lord Jesus Christ has died for us.

He has bore the curse by His death on a tree.

It is all of grace.

Finally the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus.

Finally we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

All of grace, and through faith alone!

Glory be to God for Paul

But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me. (Galatians 1:23-24)

The apostle Paul did not confer with flesh and blood after he had received the revelation of Christ and his mission to preach among the Gentiles. Also, he did not go up to Jerusalam to meet with the 12 apostles. Instead, he went to Arabia. After some time there, he returned again to Damascus.

It was 3 years later that he went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and James, the Lord's brother.

After that, he went into the region of Syria and Cilicia.

The apostle Paul insisted that he was telling the truth; he did not lie when he made all these statements.

The apostle Paul was unknown by face to the Christians in Judea. But they had heard of him:  “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in him.

The apostle Paul needed no introduction. He was in full view. His life was in the open.

We have here Paul's full submission to the lordship of Christ.

We have here Paul's total dependence on the sufficiency of God.

We have here Paul's continued faithfulness to God's mission that was revealed to him.

Paul was fully committed to the Gospel.

Even the Jewish Christians in Judea heard about him, though they had never seen him face to face.

They knew him once as an enemy of Christ, bent on destroying Christians.

Then, they heard about him again. This time as a fervent preacher of the faith, preaching Christ and planting churches everywhere he went.

God has done a great work in the life of Paul.

He had chosen him before the beginning of time.

He had called him and revealed His Son to him. 

He had saved him from His wrath and eternal death.

He had called him to be an apostle to the Gentiles. 

He had called him to preach to kings and rulers. 

He had put a heavy burden on him for the salvation of his fellow Jews.

The apostle Paul was committed and faithful to God. 

He preached and labored more for Christ everywhere he went.

People everywhere were talking about him. 

He needed no introduction. He needed no publicity.

Once they looked down on him because he persecuted the Christian.

Then they looked up to him as hero of faith.

Glory be to God for Paul!

May God use us also for His Glory! Amen and Amen!

Spiritual Warfare

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. (2 Corinthians 10:3)

As Christians, we have our spiritual walk with God on earth. We still have to walk through life and face its many happenings. We have both our earthly affairs and spiritual affairs.

But, because of our remaining sins, the lust of the world, and the evil forces around us, our pilgrimage on earth is made more difficult. We have to fight against sins and guilt. We have to bear trials and temptation, and there is the terrible fear of death. All these are very real, so are the spiritual forces behind them.

Christian warfare is never about against flesh and blood. Christian warfare is spiritual in essense. It is fighting against Satan's strongholds.

Since the Fall, Satan has a strong grip of the world. He had captivated the world and brought it into darkness, sufferings, and death. He is determined to bring the world down together with him!

The Lord Jesus Christ had come to give us the LIght. He had come to die and took the punishment for all our sins. He had turned the wrath of God away from us. He had brought us to His Father's Kingdom. And He had promised us eternal life, and rest from our labors.

But we still have our pilgrimage on earth. 

We are to war against Satan and his strongholds.

We still have to fight with our indwelling sins. 

We still have to fight against the temptation of the world around us.

We still have to  deal with the attacks of Satan and his evil forces.

Christian life is never at ease. It is always a spiritual warfare with spiritual weapons against spiritual forces.

We need the Word of God.

We need the Presence of the Holy Spirit.

As Christians, we are God's vessels against Satan's strongholds.

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to work in us and will us against Satan's strongholds.

Every high thought and argument will be brought down.

Every idol and demonic idea will be thrown down and burnt.

Every rebellion will be crashed.

Every disobedience will be punished before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Christ will have the supremacy, and God our Father will rule all.