J Philip Bible Readings

It is impressive to see how Paul 'rings the changes' on the words 'blessing' and 'curse' in this chapter. One is reminded of the famous words of Moses in Deuteronomy 30:19, 20, 'I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life'. This is really what the Apostle is doing in this epistle. 'Faithful Abraham' are the last words in 9. The word 'faithful' is emphatic. As Calvin says, 'It is as if he had said that they are blessed, not with Abraham as circumcised, nor as endowed with the works of the law, nor as a Hebrew, nor as relying on his own work, but with Abraham who by faith alone obtained the blessing'. We should note also that the words 'blessing' and 'curse' are both used in a twofold way: the 'curse' is spoken of both in relation to man, whose it is, and in relation to Christ, Who takes it upon Himself. The 'blessing' is spoken of as God's, and Abraham's, and also as ours, to whom it is made over, so that there is a double divine transaction, in which both the curse and the blessing are exchanged, transferred. This is the force of the great word in 13, 14 about the redemption that is in Christ: He is made a curse for us, that the blessing might be ours, through the Spirit.

What many people do not seem to realise is that if justification is by works, then Christ died for nothing. His death is an irrelevance. The Scriptures make it plain that His death and resurrection were for our justification; but if justification is by the law, it can- not be by Christ, and therefore His dying was a mistake, and beside the point. It is hardly without significance, that those who do trust in good works for salvation tend to neglect Christ. He does not really come into their scheme of things, except perhaps as a Teacher and Example. They speak of God (sometimes) or of Providence (more often, perhaps) or of their Maker. But the name of Christ is seldom on their lips as it is on the lips of a true Christian. This may be a more searching test than many realise. There is something in the way a true Christian speaks the name of Christ that immediately marks him as His, and something in the way one who is a stranger to justification speaks of Him that raises a disturbing query in a true believer's heart. There is some indefinable note missing. He cannot be sure what it is, but - he wonders.