- When you think of babysitters you had growing up, who comes to mind? How did you feel about that person?
- In what way is a human covenant –a will– like God's covenant-promise with Abraham and his seed (Galatians 3:15-16)?
- Who is the Seed through whom the promise to Abraham will be fulfilled?
- Since the Law was not to take the place of the promise, what was its purpose? Was it temporary or permanent?
- Can the Law give "life" (Galatians 3:21)? How (Galatians 3:22)?
- How is attempting to be right with God through keeping the Law like being in prison (Galatians 3:23)? Like having a babysitter (Galatians 3:24-25)?
- How would you share this passage with someone who thinks keeping the Ten Commandments or the Golden Rule is enough to be right with God? Or to someone who was brought up believing that keeping rules wins approval?
- How has, and is, your faith liberating you from spiritual bondage?
The Real Function Of The
Law,
3:15-23
Synopsis:
The promise was through Abraham’s
seed that all nations would be blessed. This seed referred to
Christ. This covenant was given four hundred years before the law was
given. The law did not disannul the promise or take the place of it. The
law was given because of sin. The law reveals man’s sinfulness and leads
him to Christ. If the law of Moses could have taken away man’s sin, there
would have been no need for anything else. However, the law served until
faith should come after which men are no longer under the law of Moses.
Christ saves, the law does not save.
15
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man’s covenant,
yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto.
Paul used a human illustration to establish a spiritual
point. In ordinary life when a man’s last will and testament has been
ratified, no one else can set it aside or add a codicil to it. God made
such a promise with Abraham. The coming of the law four hundred and
thirty years later cannot set the promise aside. Nothing can set God’s
promise aside.
16 Now to
Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not,
And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
The term seed may be used in a single sense (Genesis 4:25 -
Seth), or a collective sense (Galatians 3:29). Paul used seed in the
singular sense to mean only the spiritual descendants of Abraham were to be
blessed by one person, that was Jesus Christ. Paul taught the promise to
Abraham was to be fulfilled in its deepest spiritual meaning in one person, the
Christ. Paul wanted to show that only those in Christ would be
saved. If it had been different, he would have so indicated. Since
the spiritual promise was centered in one person Christ, not even the law,
could change it. Therefore, seed referred to Christ; however, it included
salvation for all that believed in Jesus Christ and obeyed him.
17 Now
this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four
hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as
to make the promise of none effect.
If a human testament once ratified cannot be changed, it is
certain the covenant given by God could never be changed. The promise
could not be changed by the law, which came four hundred thirty years after the
covenant was made. The four hundred thirty years comes from Exodus 12:40.
18 For if
the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath
granted it to Abraham by promise.
The inheritance was salvation. The inheritance was
promised to men by God through the seed of Abraham, which was Christ.
Being an inheritance, it cannot be purchased or earned. The inheritance
was a gift due to the promise of God to Abraham through Christ. The gift cannot
be from the law of Moses and the promise, too. Since God had promised the
gift through Abraham, it cannot be through the law of Moses. Salvation
was not in the law of Moses. Salvation was in Christ.
19 What
then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed
should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through
angels by the hand of a mediator.
What was the purpose of the law, if the law of Moses did not
fulfill the promise made to Abraham? The law of Moses was given to show
man his sinfulness. The law of Moses did not save. The law was to
serve in the interim until the Seed should come (Galatians 2:18; Romans
5:13-20; 7:7). The law could point out sin; however, the law of Moses
could not take away sin. The law showed the need for a Savior. The
law was not given directly. The law of Moses was given through angels
(Deuteronomy 33:2; Hebrews 2:2). It was not given personally. The law was given
through Moses, a mediator (Deuteronomy 5:5).
20 Now a
mediator is not a mediator of one; but God is one.
Moses was a great man; however, he was not divine. Moses
acted as God instructed him. Moses stood between God and man. Since Moses was a
man, he was temporary and could not be compared to God. A mediator is
not a mediator of one means Moses was not divine. God is
one. Jesus was God as well as man (I Timothy 2:15; John 1:1,14). The
promise was given in a superior way by God himself.
21 Is the
law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a
law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the
law.
The inheritance was due to promise, not to law. The law of
Moses was inferior to promise. Does this mean the law was in opposition
to the promise? No, both the promise and the law of Moses came from
God. They both had a purpose. The promise and the law of Moses do
not conflict. They work with each other. The law was to point out sin in
man and that man could not save himself. Since man could not save himself, he
needed a Savior. The promise showed men the Savior, the way of salvation
and the right relationship with God. If the law had been another way of
salvation, there would be a conflict; however, the law of Moss did not
save. There was no conflict. Both are a part of God’s plan to redeem
mankind.
22 But
the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus
Christ might be given to them that believe.
The scriptures referred to the Old Testament scriptures of
which the law was a large part. The scriptures or law defined man's
sin. Man was bound as a prisoner because there was no escape. The
forgiveness of sins and freedom from sin are in Jesus Christ. Those who
believe in Jesus, trust in Jesus and obey his commands will be saved from their
sins.
23 But
before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith
which should afterwards be revealed.
This is very similar to verse twenty-two. The faith means
the faith system with Jesus Christ as Savior. Before this, faith came and
man was kept in ward because he had sinned. There was no way of
escape. However, when Jesus came and died upon the cross, there was
salvation through him.
In This Area Of Faith, Christians Are Sons Of
God,
3:24-4:7
Synopsis:
The law was the schoolmaster to
bring men to Christ. Since faith has come, men are no longer under the
schoolmaster. Christians are the spiritual sons of God by faith in Christ
and obedience to his will. Men come into the family of God and the right
relationship with God at baptism. All are one in Christ. There is no
distinction. Being in Christ, Christians are heirs of the promise made to
Abraham. As long as one was a child, he was under guardians and
stewards. When everything was ready according to God’s timetable, God
sent his Son into the world born of a woman, born under the law that he might
redeem those under the law. Men could be adopted as sons of God. Through
Jesus Christ, Christians are now sons of God and heirs of the promise.
24 So
that the law is become our tutor to bring us unto Christ, that we might be
justified by faith.
The tutor was the pedagogue. The
pedagogue was usually a slave who took the child back and forth to
school. He was the child’s attendant and disciplinarian. The tutor was to
watch over the child each day and make sure he grew up right so he would be
ready when his manhood came. In this way the law was to train and bring
men to be ready for the Christ. The law prepared one to be justified by
faith by showing him that he could not justify himself.
25 But
now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.
When the boy grew to age, he did not need the tutor any
longer. He was no longer under the tutor. Therefore, when Christ
came the law was needed no longer. Men are no longer under the law of
Moses. The law of Moses was taken out of the way at the cross (Colossians
2:14-17).
26 For ye
are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
Being a son of God in the Christian age has nothing to do
with race or lineage. Sonship comes by belief in Jesus and obedience to
his will. When one obeys the gospel, he is added to the family of God and
becomes a child of God (Acts 2:41, 46). Sonship is by Jesus Christ, not by the
law of Moses.
27 For as
many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
Paul taught the importance of baptism. When one
believes in Jesus and obeys his command to be baptized, he is added to the
family of God and is in Christ (Mark 16:16; Colossians 1:13; Acts 2:41,
46). It is at baptism that one comes in contact with the saving blood of
Jesus and he receives the forgiveness of his sins (Romans 6:3-4). Faith
is essential to salvation; however, baptism is essential to salvation as well
(Mark 16:15-16). When faith obeys the command to be baptized, one is
baptized into Christ and he puts on Christ. One’s sins have been washed
away by the blood of the Lamb at baptism (Acts 22:16; Revelation
7:13-17). The faith system of which Paul taught necessarily includes
baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Those who speak of being
saved by "faith only" leave off a part of the faith system and
pervert the gospel. The Galatians were being taught that they needed to
be circumcised to be true children of God. Paul reminded the Galatians
that when they believed in Jesus and were baptized into Christ for the
remission of their sins, they became sons of God and nothing else is needed
except to remain faithful to Christ (Revelation 2:10).
28 There
can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be
no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.
The Jews considered themselves better than the
Gentiles. The Gentiles looked down upon the Jews. However, Paul
taught that when one became a Christian, he was equal with other children of
God in the sight of God. The physical distinctions may still remain;
however, in the spiritual sense Christians are equal in the sight of God.
All Christians stand before God on
the same footing when they have obeyed the gospel of Christ. All Christians
are children of Abraham by faith regardless of race. Christians are one in
Christ.
29 And if
ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.
The promise was made to Abraham’s seed. If one is in
Christ by faith and obedience to the gospel, he is Abraham’s seed spiritually
and an heir of the promise. Paul was teaching the Galatians that the
promise to Abraham was received by his spiritual children and the faith
system. The promise was not received by the law of Moses. There was
no need to go back to the law. The law does not bring salvation. If
one goes back to the law, he is separated from Christ.
"A New
Supervisor"
“Now
that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.”
(Galatians 3:25)
This verse of scripture neutralizes one of the main reasons people
struggle with Christianity. Christians are often accused of being legalistic or
endlessly espousing rules that must be followed. Christians are often known for
what they are against instead of our love for God and people.
Before Christ, God’s people were consumed
with laws and
regulations to follow. This verse described that way of life as “under the supervision of the law.” God in His abundant love
and grace sent Christ to not only pay the price for our sins, but to also
provide freedom from sin through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This breathtaking insertion of God’s love into the
lives of all
who submit to Christ as Lord and Savior changed dramatically how we relate to
and follow God.
Your life in Christ is no longer guided by laws and rules, but by your
relationship with Christ and your faith in him. The Bible
still provides God’s written Word—which also depicts what that relationship with Christ looks like—but
the Holy Spirit enlivens its meaning, while you respond by faith out of your
relationship and love for God.
God calls each Christian to die to self while becoming a living
sacrifice for God. As you die to self you allow Christ to flourish in your
heart and the fruit of the Spirit to grow in your life. As you yield your life
to Christ, your thoughts are taken captive for Christ, your words are shaped by
the heart of Christ, your actions are conformed to the ways of Christ, and your
life is transformed into the image of Christ.
Jesus fulfilled the law for you. Your life in Christ is not about doing
everything right, but rather, about being right with God through Christ.
Obedience to God is not a way to be right with God, but rather obedience
becomes a way to respond to God in love.
Jesus
said, in John 14:15, "If you love me, you
will obey what I command.”
What does God’s “supervision” look
like: A growing faith empowered by the Holy Spirit which flows out of an
intimate, passionate relationship with Christ.
It is this walk with Christ that constantly challenges you to respond by faith to God’s callings in your life.
Ephesians
3:20 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”
