Salvation by Faith: Embracing the Core Truths of Galatians
Key Takeaways
The essential doctrine of salvation is grounded in faith, not in works or observance of the law.
Misunderstanding this principle can lead to the curse of relying on self-righteousness rather than Christ’s righteousness.
Christ's redemptive act on the cross is the ultimate fulfillment of the law's requirements, allowing believers to attain righteousness through His sacrifice.
The Curse of the Law and Righteousness by Faith
In a profound exegesis of Galatians 3:10-14, Pastor Sam Kraemer's sermon at Harvest Liberty Lake Church explicitly tackles the quintessential Christian doctrine: salvation by faith, not by works. His sermon offers a comprehensive look into Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians, reiterating the recurring biblical theme that humanity's right standing before God is independent of law-keeping and entirely reliant on faith in Christ.
Understanding the Curse of the Law
Paul's message in Galatians is crystal clear: "All who rely on works of the law are under a curse" (Gal. 3:10). Pastor Sam underscores that this curse is the result of humanity’s inability to keep God's law perfectly. As the scriptures say, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them" (Deuteronomy 27:26). This condemnation is not a new concept but is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. Kraemer astutely points out, "If we can't live by them, then we will indeed die by them," emphasizing the law's power to condemn rather than save (transcript).
The pervasive error, both historic and contemporary, is the belief that one can achieve righteousness through legalistic observance. Pastor Sam provides an insightful illustration from Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22, a vivid example that even zealous adherence to the law exposes human insufficiency and the inevitable need for divine grace. Paul's personal testimony, "I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him" (Phil. 3:8-9) encapsulates this transformation from self-reliance to faith-driven salvation.
True Righteousness and Faith
The theological pivot from self-righteousness to faith is aptly summarized in Paul’s assertion, "The righteous shall live by faith" (Habakkuk 2:4), a recurring motif in both the Old and New Testaments. Pastor Sam urges believers to recognize that “the law was never meant to save but to point us to a Savior” (transcript). The law, while holy and righteous, serves as a mirror reflecting our sinfulness, compelling us to seek redemption beyond our flawed adherence.
Faith in Christ provides the only escape from the curse. As Pastor Sam eloquently states, embodying the heart of Paul's gospel, “The law doesn’t have power to save, but it does have power to condemn…The law was always designed to do…to point us to a savior” (transcript). This paradigm is further validated in Romans 1:16-17, where the gospel is portrayed as the "power of God for salvation to everyone who believes," reinforcing that righteousness from God is revealed through faith.
The Redemptive Work of Christ
Central to this sermon is the redemptive work of Christ, who "redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). The term redeemed signifies a complete purchase or liberation from bondage, a notion vividly explained by Pastor Sam through 1 Peter 1:18-19: "You were ransomed…with the precious blood of Christ." This ultimate sacrifice paid our insurmountable debt, a debt likened to the hopelessness of human financial ruin but infinitely more severe in its spiritual consequence.
Pastor Sam's illustration of debt consolidation resonates with everyday struggles, making the abstract theology tangible. He contrasts modern debt relief schemes with Christ’s redemption, highlighting that while worldly solutions only manage debt, Christ’s sacrifice removes it entirely. This analogy brings clarity to the profound truth that Christ doesn’t merely offer a better moral score; He imputes His perfect righteousness to believers.
The redemption narrative culminates in the imagery of Christ bearing the curse by hanging on a tree, a symbol drawn from Deuteronomy 21:22-23. Pastor Sam poignantly describes, “When Christ hung on that cross and our sins were accounted to him…Christ became the worst of sinners” (transcript), revealing the depth of His atoning work. This ultimate act of substitutionary atonement fulfills the law’s curse, ensuring that believers receive the blessing and inheritance initially promised to Abraham (Gal. 3:14).
The doctrine of salvation by faith stands not only as a foundational Christian truth but also as a transformative power dynamically at work in the believer's life. Acknowledging our complete dependency on Christ for righteousness dispels both self-reliance and despair, fostering a reliance on His grace that births true spiritual vitality. As Pastor Sam Kraemer illuminates through his insightful exposition of Galatians 3:10-14, the righteousness of Christ, accessible only through faith, overturns the curse of the law and inaugurates a life of blessing and divine relationship.
Believers are thus called to embrace and proclaim this gospel truth, living not under the old paradigm of works but in the liberating reality of grace. The challenge remains to daily reorient our lives around this cornerstone of faith, resisting the temptation to revert to self-justification, and instead, continually celebrating the wondrous victory Christ has secured on our behalf. Through vibrant faith in His finished work, the believer experiences the full measure of God's redemptive promise: life transformed, debt paid, curse removed, and blessings eternally secured.
