Galatians 3:10-14
What causes mental stress in humanity, especially, of those who are religious? Could it be things or matters in your life that seem to be leading to a doomed future?
In this world’s history of humanity performance ethics and partiality of many kinds are practiced to the excelling of some people and to the detriment of others in society. The way that this world system is set up by mankind apart from God and His Christ, seems to bless some and curse others on the basis of practicing “respect for persons” in accordance with who or what is popular, powerful, wealthy, scholarly, or influential in business or philosophy. From the Old Testament covenant a potential for operating one’s life in accordance with a curse is presented on the basis of religious law and the performance of law abiding. As the Apostle Paul addresses the matter of Judaism, he refutes the influencer’s main argument in favor of ceremonial and cultic rituals to justify themselves religiously. Paul responds to his listeners as well as his opponents with his arguments for faith. His first point is that to attempt to obtain justification by the Mosaic Law leads to being under a curse instead because the law is given to make us aware of desires and behaviors that violate God’s righteous commands. The law condemns us because our flesh is too weak to carry out the whole law. Secondly, the “law does not originate from faith in Christ,” (Galatians 3:12). Some who are teaching that the law originated from faith have created a conflicted statement. In Romans 4:4-5, Paul teaches that in the works that are done in conformity to mere human power, has to obey the whole Mosaic law perfectly. Since the flesh is weak, attempting this brings the curse of condemnation on those who don’t fulfill the duties entirely. Because of this, no one has accomplished keeping the law, but Christ. It is an impossibility for any person besides Christ to perform 613 statutes and ordinances of the law every day, let alone two of them. This is a recipe for mental distress of many kinds. On the one hand, trying to perform religiously can erroneously deceive some into thinking that they have reached a certain status religiously while on the other hand, some could feel completely doomed by their awareness of continued moral violations before God. The unfortunate thing about performance-based relationships and tasks can emphasize unrealistic expectations in the process of achieving certain results. Think about it in real life, have a parent ever laid heavy expectations (rules) on their children that they never trained them to keep? What about a jealous or fearful spouse putting limitations on their own spouse to control their freedom and interaction with others? What about a manager on the job site who assigns increased responsibilities without any training or very little, expecting everything to be done by the end of the day? The problem with all of this is that the debt is out of our range of control without grace. If the expectations have to be immediately perfect in performance then, the mind is being made subject to a law or expectation that will expose or condemn the person that does not fulfill the requirements. This is a person whose thoughts are subject to a curse whether divine or human-related, because of independent yet weak performance due to the flesh, (Romans 8:3).
In Galatians 3:13, Paul gives the good news to those who are being enticed to revert back to law-abiding worship life, that Christ’s blood purchased them out of slavery from the curse that their (our) sins result in. He fulfilled the keeping of the law for us who would trust in Him and became our sin-offering Substitute, Who sinned not. Jesus became the Cursed One over us, that is, the Manifested Curse, the Curse offering, meaning in the eyes of all Christ was born to be cursed. Jesus received divine judgment and the ruin that belonged to us who sinned. So, it needs to be understood that the Lord Himself and the curse He bore are not to be separated from each other in thought. He hung on a tree for you and me, so that everyone who is identified as a descendant of Abraham by their faith, would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith, (Galatians 3:14). The redemption of Christ would provide the benefit of eternal salvation to the Gentiles in Christ and the Holy Spirit, and not by merit. It is through a welcome conviction that Jesus is the Messiah and Author of eternal salvation and the receiving of the Spirit, that this freedom from curse can be obtained by anyone. The redemption of Christ served as the reason God’s promise to Abraham concerning his descendants would come to pass. This promise is the basis of the new covenant which was ratified and made valid through the death of Christ. This covenant is eternal (Galatians 3:15-18). The problem with religious performance is that in it one can become conditioned to think that they can earn a certain standing with God or men based on carnal efforts. In this effort, competitiveness, class, partiality, party, and cliques, can develop to elevate one’s self in some way. Comparing one person’s performance to another is pointless if either violates the law, it still results in a curse for both parties. As it is stated clearly by Paul in Galatians 3:11, “no one is justified by the law in the sight of God but, the just shall live by faith.” Them that are “approved or acceptable to God, are actively living by conviction of the truth in His Name and acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah through whom eternal salvation is given.
In other words, confidence is in Christ’s full obedience to God and His completed works for the benefit of anyone who would believe in Him. Through Him, I could begin and continue to regard my life in Him according to the working of His grace in me. I am a constant work in progress according to His grace. His works in me should supersede my works in me, that is, my carnal opinions, desires, intellect, and philosophies. I find myself in many situations allowing my understanding, and my performances, to supersede what Christ has accomplished and said for my full life. Because of Christ as Redeemer offering His sinless life, sin was deprived of its power to injure or to do harm to me or the soul of anyone eternally, who believes on Him, (Romans 8:3-4). As a matter of truth, Paul points out that by faith in Christ Jesus, we are all adopted children and that we have put on Christ, (Galatians 3:26-28). Since faith justifies each of us in Christ, our bond between nationalities and genders is on the basis of “promise, redemption, justification, adoption, being heirs, we are one in Him. The reason that this message is so important especially, to the Christian is because our conscience will rule the direction of our will in regards to law or grace, in terms of how we perceive our own lives as well as others around us. The law invites guilt and shame to our hearts, while grace invites peace and confidence in the mind. The working of the law leads one to erroneously think that they can meet God’s righteous requirements without Christ. This mentality leads one to exalt themselves above others in any unhealthy manner in relationships, in home life, business, or influence some part of society in general. Exalting self is at the heart of many problems in family and society. It has caused many divorces, broken friendships, family strife, business problems and church splits, etc. As a result of faith in Christ our character and way of life is being transformed to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, the incarnate Word, the Messiah and Savior, and the Head of the true Church, and in putting on Christ we enter into fellowship with Him and receive His spirit in us to express His characteristic attitude and behavior that defies the laws reigning influences over our souls. Man’s laws of nationality, gender, or socioeconomic status, are no longer a ruling identity for them who have received the spirit of adoption in Christ. We must operate beyond these boundaries to demonstrate the grace ruling life by faith. We are now heirs according to God’s promise to Abraham which means those promises covers our lives in this world now if we continue in Christ, (Galatians 3:26-29). So, what does it mean to “Let mental grace rule over mental law?” We are to begin and continue to meditate on the reality that “we and others in Christ are recipients of promises, redemption, justification, forgiveness, adoption. If all of this is our true new status then, we in Christ are identified as Abraham’s seed and heirs together. We need not to assume or respond to any other status or classification that this fallen generation provides. Don’t let your performance define your identity, let your new identity in Christ by faith lead you to live and see yourselves in Him.
Summary comments:
Mental Illness is a real condition on the clinical, medical, and psychological level but, I am convinced that it is a condition of carnality. This is a spiritual matter that I am convinced is derived from the result of Adam’s disobedience and Eve’s sin. Since death is a reality from man’s sin choice, mental stress of many kinds affects the soul of man in his life. The law of Moses reminds us of God’s moral standards for covenant living. Trying to keep 613 statutes daily is too difficult for fleshly souls. Christ alone accomplished it for us. Christ Who is the Cursed Redeemer over us offered Himself to God, bearing our sins and receiving our condemnation so that we may receive forgiving favor from the Father. Through this covenant we must recondition our hearts in Christ to see our lives and one another through God’s promises as heirs, redeemed, justified, sanctified, and adopted. This state should allow us to work through and work out any problems we have according to faith in Christ. This is what Mental Grace looks like. God’s favor allows freedom in our choices and decisions and in making mistakes working through trial and error as we strive to adhere to His gospel direction for our lives. His truth can realign us to His path of peace and prosperity in this world as well as the next.
Questions:
What issues in your life have caused you to suffer mentally?
From a clinical standpoint, what kind of mental illness do you experience?
What kind of role does partiality play on your mental state when it negates benefits that you or your family could have to address needs?
In what ways has social status taken away from the focus of your faith in what Christ accomplished for you?
In what ways has social status ruled over your covenant relationship with your brother or sister in fellowship growth?
If Christ is the Cursed Redeemer over you and your brother or sister in covenant life, what kind of consideration should be available for each beyond nationality, status, gender, etc.? (Look at Galatians 3:28)
What kind of benefits can grace lead to in marital, parental, church, work, or business relationships, versus law influence?
Since the will of the New Covenant is based on the ancient promise made to Abraham and Christ the Seed Who also ratified it being the Testator, making the promise unchangeable for them in Christ whose lives are transformed by their trust in Him, what benefit is left for them that devote themselves to the works of the law? (Look at Galatians 3:17; Romans 4:9-16)
Since all people start their relationship with God as uncovenanted in what way is God’s promise important to the children who believe as their forefather Abraham? How can we live in the promises of God?
Since we all start out our relationship with God as uncircumcised what attitude should we have in outreach missions towards others who are lost?
Since we in Christ started out our relationship with God as uncircumcised sinners how should receiving God’s grace transform our attitude towards one another in fellowship?
Since the giving of God’s law cannot change His promise of eternal salvation but rather, supports it by revealing what is holy and ultimately, guiding us the to the Messiah, who has come and now sits at God’s right hand, how should the law be regarded in faith living? ( look at Romans 8:4; Galatians 3:19-25)
Since the works of the law produce an attitude and faith in Christ produces an attitude from that state, which attitude is more beneficial to relationships, ministry, and personal destiny? Why?
Now that the law has been accomplished by Christ for us who are in Christ, do we hold the violation of a performance or religious custom against anyone whether, a spouse, parent, children, friend, neighbor, or church member, while we have received grace?
Shepherding comments:
What is the purpose and direction for which this subject is written? “To encourage those of the Faith to live by faith.” What this looks like is that we lead our daily walk in Christ by the principles and disposition that come from our reception of God’s grace through Christ. Since we have received His grace for our redeemed destiny let us enter into and maintain our relationships with others on the basis of faith that produces an attitude of grace that allows others to be themselves wherever they are in their stage of life and performance and be treated according to New Covenant favor that allows them to experience and discover the benefits that the grace of God working in us can lead them to in life.
