Deuteronomy 27: Saving Faith Comes By Hearing God's Word About Christ

Deuteronomy 27 contrasts the curse of self-reliance with the blessing of salvation in Christ, the true altar of atonement and stone cut without hands.

Introduction

Deuteronomy 27 records God’s command for Israel to renew the covenant upon entering the land. They were to set up large stones, coat them with plaster, and write all the words of the law on them. At Mount Ebal, they were to build an altar of stones not cut by human hands. This altar pointed forward to Christ, the true altar of atonement, the stone cut without hands whose kingdom will never be destroyed (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45). The Levites proclaimed curses upon those who violated God’s commands, and all the people affirmed them with “Amen.” This chapter confronts us with the unchanging standard of God’s law, the curse it pronounces on all who fall short, and the only way of blessing—faith in Jesus Christ.

Doctrine

Deuteronomy 27 teaches that God’s law is clear, public, and permanent. It condemns every sinner, for no one keeps it perfectly (Romans 3:20). The altar of uncut stones symbolized salvation apart from human effort. Just as the altar was not shaped by human hands, salvation does not come through human works but through Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). He is the stone cut without hands who establishes the everlasting kingdom (Daniel 2:44-45). The curses declared from Mount Ebal show that those who seek to be justified by the law are under a curse (Galatians 3:10), but Christ redeemed us from the curse by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). Those who come to God through faith in Christ receive every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3).

Reproof

This passage rebukes the false hope of earning heaven by personal merit. The altar’s uncut stones reject human craftsmanship as a basis for approaching God. Yet many still try to offer their “cut stones” of good works, moral effort, or religious ritual to earn favor. The law written plainly on stones testified against all such attempts. Anyone who relies on his own obedience will face the curse of the law and eternal condemnation (Romans 2:12; John 3:18). To refuse Christ’s work and cling to one’s own is to remain under God’s wrath.

Correction

The only way to escape the curse is to come to God through the altar He has provided—Jesus Christ. He is our atonement, our peace, our righteousness. His death satisfied God’s justice, His resurrection secured eternal life, and His ascension guarantees our inheritance. Those who believe in Him are freed from condemnation (Romans 8:1), redeemed by His blood (Ephesians 1:7), forgiven of all sins (Colossians 1:14), adopted into God’s family (Ephesians 1:5), sealed with the Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14), promised a home in glory (John 14:2-3), a resurrected body (Philippians 3:20-21), crowns and eternal rewards (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4). Faith in Christ alone brings these blessings.

Instruction

Since saving faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17), believers must proclaim God’s truth clearly so all may hear and believe. Just as Israel wrote the law plainly on stones, we should make the gospel plain to all, without obscuring it with human additions or alterations. We should rest in Christ’s finished work and daily live in the blessings that are already ours in Him. We should also warn others that self-reliance leads to the curse, while faith in Christ leads to blessing and eternal life.

Encouragement and Hope

For those in Christ, the curses no longer apply. The law that once condemned now drives us to rejoice in our Redeemer, who bore its penalty for us. Every spiritual blessing is already ours in Him (Ephesians 1:3). Our salvation is secure, our future is certain, and our hope is unshakable because it rests in the unchanging promises of God. We look forward to the day when faith becomes sight, when we enter the eternal kingdom of the stone cut without hands.

Invitation

Deuteronomy 27 shows that the law exposes sin and pronounces a curse on all who try to approach God on their own merits. The altar of uncut stones points to Jesus Christ, the altar and sacrifice provided by God Himself. We all stand guilty before God’s perfect law, deserving the curse and eternal death (Romans 6:23). But Christ took that curse for us. On the cross, He bore our sins in His body, paying the penalty we owed, satisfying God’s wrath, and making full atonement (Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Peter 3:18). He died, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), proving His victory over sin and death. If you will turn from trusting in your own works and call on the name of the Lord, trusting in His death and resurrection for your salvation (Romans 10:9-13), you will be saved. In Christ, you will be freed from the curse and welcomed into every blessing of God’s eternal kingdom.