Galatians 3, 13-14 and the place of justification

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

Don’t get me wrong, the doctrine of justification by faith alone is of utmost importance and worth defending to the death. It is included in the blessing promised to Abraham. So Paul can apply Genesis 12, 3 to the doctrine of justification of all peoples by faith. But the blessing for the nations promised to the Abraham we also see here includes the gift of the Spirit - again by faith. We must understand the salvation that is found in Christ alone by faith alone within the framework of God’s overarching purposes in Scripture.

Of the promise of the Spirit, Isaiah writes:

“For the palace is forsaken,
the populous city deserted;
the hill and the watchtower
will become dens forever,
a joy of wild donkeys,
a pature of flocks;
until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high
and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.
Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,
and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
and the result of righteousness, quiet and trust forever.
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”

Isaiah 32, 14-18 (ESV)

Again, he says:

“Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit upon your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.”

Isaiah 54, 2-3 (ESV)

The pouring out of the Spirit is associated with the restoration of the earth and the security of God’s people. This is ultimately God’s work of new creation, the climax of God’s work to restore (in greater glory) the prelapsarian world of Genesis 1, 28-31 in which humanity is blessed by God and living in a very good world. That is what God was doing when he made promises to Abraham in Genesis 12; that is what is fulfilled in Christ, inaugurated at his first coming and consummated at his return. Because Jesus bore the curse that is ours by right as lawbreakers for those he came to save, through faith we can be justified, counted righteous in God’s sight. As Christian believers, we are the sons of Abraham (Galatians 3, 7) and so we are heirs of the promises (Galatians 3, 29). We have received the Spirit by faith in Christ Jesus, and so we will be part of the new creation - indeed if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5, 17). We will dwell in security and safety in a world of unending fruitfulness and righteousness and justice.