47 The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you?
48 “No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he?
49 “But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.”
50 Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them,
51 “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?”
52 They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.”
53 [Everyone went to his home.” John 7:45-53.
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I was intrigued by the Pharisees’ statement: “But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.”
There are 81 verses with either the word “accursed” or “cursed” in it.
In a review of these verses, I did not see any verses which base such a curse on lack of knowledge of the law. Rather, the curses were based on “doing“, either doing something forbidden by the Law or based on not doing something commanded by the Law.
Deuteronomy 27:26
” ‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ ”
So, we take the step from knowledge to “doing”.
But, we are not saved by the “doing”.
“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.” Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” Galatians 3:10-12.
So, we take the next step from the “doing” to “faith”.
But, even though faith is the means by which we are saved, we are not saved by faith as if we generated our own faith or were wise enough to believe.
“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:15-16.
“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.” 1 Corinthians 1-26-29.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
Grace comes to us: “it is the gift of God.”
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” Ephesians 2:4-5.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 