Galatians 3:10 and the Curse of the Law: Why You Can’t Pick and Choose?

"But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” Galatians 3:10(NLT)


If you grew up in a Sabbatarian or Adventist setting, you’ve probably heard this line over and over: “The ceremonial law was nailed to the cross, but the moral law, the Ten Commandments, still binds us as our rule of life.”

Sounds neat and tidy, right? But once you crack open Galatians, Apostle Paul blows that artificial split to pieces.

So let’s dig into Galatians 3:10, unpack what Paul really meant by the “curse of the Law,” revisit a surprising chapter in Adventist history, and uncover the real freedom we’re given under the New Covenant.

The Historical Irony: Even Ellen G. White Had to Admit It

Back in the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference, the Adventist Church went through a full‑blown theological showdown. Uriah Smith and other leaders pushed the idea that the “law” in Galatians was only the ceremonial law. Why? Because if Paul meant the moral law, their whole Sabbath doctrine would collapse.

But E.J. Waggoner and A.T. Jones fired back, arguing that Paul’s “law” included the moral law too. And here’s the twist: even Ellen G. White eventually had to concede. She wrote that the law in Galatians covers both ceremonial and moral, pointing out that the law which drives us to Christ includes commands like “Thou shalt not covet.”

Why does this matter? Because if Adventist history itself admits that the moral law is wrapped up in Paul’s argument, then you can’t just carve out the Ten Commandments from Galatians 3:10.

All or Nothing: The Law’s Total Demand

Check out Paul’s words in Galatians 3:10:

“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things written in the book of the law, to do them.”

Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 27:26, and he stresses two key words: continue and all.

• Continue → nonstop, lifelong, 24/7 obedience.

• All → every single detail. Not 9 out of 10. Not 90%. It’s 100% or nothing.

Here’s the blunt truth: the Law is one package deal. You can’t cherry‑pick the parts you like (Sabbath, dietary law, tithing, etc.) and ignore the rest.

If you choose the Law, whether moral or ceremonial, as your standard for righteousness before God, then you’re bound to keep every single command perfectly. Has anyone ever kept the Ten Commandments flawlessly in thought, word, and deed every second of their life? Not one.

That’s why Paul says: if you put yourself under the Law, you don’t get partial blessing; you fall under its full curse.

What Does “Schoolmaster” (Paidagōgos) Really Mean?

In Galatians 3:24, Paul says the Law was our “schoolmaster” or “tutor.” A lot of people take that to mean, “Oh, so the Ten Commandments are our daily teacher, showing us how to live!”

But that’s not what Paul meant. The Greek word he used, paidagōgos, had a very specific meaning in ancient culture.

A paidagōgos wasn’t the classroom teacher or principal. It was a strict household servant, basically a tough guardian or “babysitter.” Their job was to:

• Keep the child in line and disciplined.

• Escort the child safely to the real teacher.

• Watch over the child until they mature.

Once the child grew up and reached the teacher, the guardian’s job was done. The child was free.

That’s exactly Paul’s point in Galatians 3:25: “After faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”

The Sinai Covenant, with all its moral and ceremonial rules, acted like a temporary guardian for Israel. Its purpose was to expose sin, humble us, and lead us straight to Jesus. But once faith in Christ came, the guardian’s season ended.

Does “No Longer Under the Law” Mean We Can Sin?

Every time you talk about freedom in Christ, someone always asks, “Wait, if we’re no longer under the Ten Commandments, does that mean we can lie, steal, or commit adultery?”

Of course not! That’s one of the biggest misunderstandings about New Covenant theology.

Think of it like growing up: When you were a kid, your nanny would yell, “Don’t cross the street or you’ll get hit by a car!” You obeyed because you were scared and needed strict rules.

But when you become an adult, you don’t need someone shouting behind you anymore. Does that mean you’ll just run into traffic? No, you’ve matured. You understand the danger and act wisely.

That’s how it works under the New Covenant. Christ didn’t just free us halfway; He completely redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13).

We don’t avoid sin today because we fear thunder and lightning from Mount Sinai. We obey because the Holy Spirit lives in us. God’s Law is now written on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10).

"But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the LORD.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear." Hebrews 8:10-13(NLT)

And under the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2), the standard is actually higher:

• Old Covenant (Letter): Don’t murder.

• New Covenant (Heart): Don’t even hate.

Our obedience isn’t driven by fear; it’s powered by love and gratitude for what Jesus already finished. We don’t look to stone tablets for identity or salvation; we look to the living Christ Himself.

Call to Action: Step Out of Legalism

Stop letting legalistic systems trap you in a “pick‑and‑choose” relationship with the Law. The Law is holy and good, but it was never meant to save you. Its real job was to show you how much you need a Savior.

If you’re still relying on rule‑keeping, Sabbath observance, or your own moral effort to stay right with God, you’re carrying a burden you were never meant to bear.

It’s time to step out from under that old guardian and rest fully in Jesus Christ. He took the full curse of your law‑breaking so you could receive the full blessing of Abraham, by faith, not by works.

So walk in that freedom today. Stop striving. Start resting. Christ has already finished the work.

“Christ Carried the Curse, You Carry the Blessing”

FORMER ADVENTISTS PHILIPPINES

​“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”

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