Bible Study on Galatians 3:10-14

I led Bible Study for the College Group last Wednesday on Galatians 3:10-14, in preparation for Josh Moody resuming our study of Galatians in the main services at College Church. First, here is the passage (ESV):

"For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.' Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.' But the law is not of faith, rather 'The one who does them shall live by them.' 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."

Here are the preparation notes that I used to lead our discussion:

What's the basis of Paul's argument? Can you follow his train of thought? Look at his Scripture passages in context (Deuteronomy 27:26; Habakkuk 2:4; Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 23:21). How does the argument follow from these quotations?

-Initial look at the argument made in the passage, point by point.

-Go through how the quotations, in context, build up the argument.

-What are the big themes that coalesce in this passage?

-Contrasts: Cursed is contrasted with "justified before God" and "the blessing of Abraham"

Works of the law, abiding by the Book of the Law and living by doing the laws are contrasted with "living by faith"

-What gets us over the chasm of these contrasts, what gets us from curse to blessing, works to faith?

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us"

-What comes about as a result of Christ redeeming us from the curse of the law, or what does the blessing of Abraham include?

"we receive the promised Spirit through faith"