Galatians 3:6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, 7 so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. 10 For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.” 11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. 12 But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. NET
We are out of the narrative area and moving into the doctrinal area which is more along the line of what we expect from Paul. Starting in Galatians 3:6, Paul establishes the fact that anyone who has faith is included in the blessings of Abraham. The real inheritance of Abraham is not identity but rather, what has been called a circumcision of the heart i.e., an inward spiritual reality. (See Genesis 12:3 and 15:6).
Paul has been talking about two systems – one involving the law and the other being faith. Faith is trusting in God. Law, by definition, isn’t a faith system but rather a works system. Cursed is the opposite of blessing so in these two systems, faith gets the blessing of Abraham while law is cursed.
Deuteronomy 27:9 Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: “Be quiet and pay attention, Israel. Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 You must obey him and keep his commandments and statutes that I am giving you today.” 11 Moreover, Moses commanded the people that day: 12“The following tribes must stand to bless the people on Mount Gerizim when you cross the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these other tribes must stand for the curse on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14“The Levites will call out to every Israelite with a loud voice: 15‘Cursed is the one who makes a carved or metal image – something abhorrent to the Lord, the work of the craftsman – and sets it up in a secret place.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 16 ‘Cursed is the one who disrespects his father and mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 17 ‘Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s boundary marker.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 18 ‘Cursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 19 ‘Cursed is the one who perverts justice for the resident foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 20 ‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his father’s former wife, for he dishonors his father.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 21 ‘Cursed is the one who commits bestiality.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 22 ‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his sister, the daughter of either his father or mother.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 23 ‘Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his mother-in-law.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 24‘Cursed is the one who kills his neighbor in private.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 25‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ 26 ‘Cursed is the one who refuses to keep the words of this law.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ NET
Luke 6:17 Then he came down with them and stood on a level place. And a large number of his disciples had gathered along with a vast multitude from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. They came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, 18 and those who suffered from unclean spirits were cured. 19 The whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all. 20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you. 21 “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors did the same things to the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already. 25 “Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets. NET
Jesus frequently quotes Deuteronomy (second only to Psalms). Here we see the Sermon on the Mount beginning with blessings and shifting to curses at verse 24.
Paul’s primary audience was the God-fearers who were people familiar with Jewish beliefs and teachings along with the Old Testament. He is reflecting on the Jewish system of blessings and curses and turns it around – the cause of the curse is the Law. This is not a reflection on the law itself. Paul tells us in Romans 7:12 that the law is holy, just and good. God is holy and the law represents the patterns of behavior that are consistent with God’s holiness. The problem is us. (The temptation in Eden wasn’t so much knowing the difference between good and evil but assuming the authority to determine for ourselves what we think is good and what is evil. Like the people in Judges, we want autonomy in our lives and the authority to determine for ourselves what we see as right).
Those who “rely on” the law must follow the law to get the blessing but with this reliance, you are under a curse because you cannot completely follow the law. Jews will debate just what perfection means. There were two schools of thought in Jesus’ time – one was that you need to be 99% in compliance with the law while the other was that you needed to be 51% in compliance. Yet in context, there is no wiggle room – it is 100%.
Leviticus 3:4 You must observe my regulations and you must be sure to walk in my statutes. I am the Lord your God. 5 So you must keep my statutes and my regulations; anyone who does so will live by keeping them. I am the Lord. NET
Paul is quoting Leviticus 3:5 in Galatians 3:12
Numbers 27:27 Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering. 28 And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven. 29 You shall have the same law for the one who acts in error, whether he is a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you. 30 But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from his people. 31 He shall certainly be cut off, because he has despised the word of the LORD and broken His commandment; his guilt remains on him.” BSB
Hebrews 9:7 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people. 8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing; 9 which is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect; WEB
Not every sin is covered by the atonement of the Jewish High Priest. It is only the unintentional sin. The people who commit intentional sins are cut off. The problem for us is that the sins we typically commit are not a matter of ignorance – we know what is wrong but we do it anyway (See Romans 7). Notwithstanding the warning against blasphemy against the Spirit (Matthew 12:32 Mark 3:29, or Luke 12:10), the difficult passage to interpret in 1John 5:16 regarding sin that leads to death and the discussion of apostasy in Hebrews 6, the New Testament promises forgiveness of all sins. As some have pointed out, the problem with these unforgivable sins may not be that God cannot forgive the sin but rather the person committing the sin is no longer able (or willing) to ask for forgiveness or they have reached the point where they have fallen so far away from God and their hearts have hardened to such an extent that they are now past the point of no return making prayers for them useless.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”) 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith. NET
Atonement shows up in verse 13 as someone is taking the hit for us (substitutionary atonement). Paul is framing it not only in terms of what Jesus is doing for us but also as a Spirit event. Christ redeems us from the curse by becoming a curse.
There are three broad ways in which Christ’s atonement is understood today. First is that Jesus has borne the penalty for our sins through his sacrifice on the cross (Penal or Substitution theory). The second is that in His resurrection, Jesus defeated evil, darkness and death thereby freeing us from our slavery to sin (the Christus Victor theory). The third is that the death of Jesus on the cross is evidence that God loves us (Moral Influence Theory). For more, click on the following link: https://www.theopedia.com/atonement-of-christ