Daily Bread 2010 - Galatians 3
19What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. 26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
As Paul digs deeper into teaching the distinction between the Law and Gospel, he makes several key points which are just as relevant for us today as back then. 1.) Note the Law was not originally given to Abraham, but given 430 years later through Moses. Since the Law was a direct revelation from God to Moses and the people of Israel, it is holy and good. But importantly God’s relationship with the people of Israel started with a Promise, not the Law. Why is this important? God did not accept the people based on their ability to keep the Law, but that they had received and believed in the Promise. This was further revealed in the new covenant or Promise which we have been given in Jesus Christ.
2.) The main purpose of the Law was to show us our need for a Savior. Since we all sin and fall short of the glory of God and His Law. We could never be justified or be made right by the Law, because we could never keep it, because we are not perfect and frequently fall short of it by what we do and by what we don’t do. The term for falling short of God’s standards is “sin”, a word that is not received well in our society. It simply means to “miss the mark”. In this case, the mark of perfection demanded by God because He is perfectly just as well, as being perfectly loving.
3.) This is a most important point please don’t miss it. Many Christians still misunderstand this point! V.25 “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the Law.” What does this mean? As God’s covenant children, we have everything God has. We don’t need to do anything to earn his approval or love. We are free! We don’t have to live in fear of God or retribution for the things we have done wrong. Just as our parents still love us and yet are sad when we don’t become what we are intended for, God loves us with an even deeper love and desires the best for us but will never forsake us.
Do you live in this reality? Is this your view of God? Do you believe you are a son or daughter of God? What prevents you from believing it? Your past? Your shortcomings? Bad teaching from a pastor or priest? Bible passages taken out of context? If you are relying on how good you, are you will never experience freedom or peace, because you will always come up short. Believe in the Promise today that God has for you through His Son, Jesus Christ. As you come to faith, God’s law will be written on your heart and you will learn to obey it through the gift of the Spirit who He gives to all who come to Him by faith!
Heavenly Father thank you for calling us to be your sons and daughters. Help us to let go of the baggage of our past and accept Your promises that are all “yes” in Jesus Christ. As we receive and believe in Your Promises, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts and minds so we can live out our new calling in freedom, joy and peace, Amen.
21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. 26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
As Paul digs deeper into teaching the distinction between the Law and Gospel, he makes several key points which are just as relevant for us today as back then. 1.) Note the Law was not originally given to Abraham, but given 430 years later through Moses. Since the Law was a direct revelation from God to Moses and the people of Israel, it is holy and good. But importantly God’s relationship with the people of Israel started with a Promise, not the Law. Why is this important? God did not accept the people based on their ability to keep the Law, but that they had received and believed in the Promise. This was further revealed in the new covenant or Promise which we have been given in Jesus Christ.
2.) The main purpose of the Law was to show us our need for a Savior. Since we all sin and fall short of the glory of God and His Law. We could never be justified or be made right by the Law, because we could never keep it, because we are not perfect and frequently fall short of it by what we do and by what we don’t do. The term for falling short of God’s standards is “sin”, a word that is not received well in our society. It simply means to “miss the mark”. In this case, the mark of perfection demanded by God because He is perfectly just as well, as being perfectly loving.
3.) This is a most important point please don’t miss it. Many Christians still misunderstand this point! V.25 “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the Law.” What does this mean? As God’s covenant children, we have everything God has. We don’t need to do anything to earn his approval or love. We are free! We don’t have to live in fear of God or retribution for the things we have done wrong. Just as our parents still love us and yet are sad when we don’t become what we are intended for, God loves us with an even deeper love and desires the best for us but will never forsake us.
Do you live in this reality? Is this your view of God? Do you believe you are a son or daughter of God? What prevents you from believing it? Your past? Your shortcomings? Bad teaching from a pastor or priest? Bible passages taken out of context? If you are relying on how good you, are you will never experience freedom or peace, because you will always come up short. Believe in the Promise today that God has for you through His Son, Jesus Christ. As you come to faith, God’s law will be written on your heart and you will learn to obey it through the gift of the Spirit who He gives to all who come to Him by faith!
Heavenly Father thank you for calling us to be your sons and daughters. Help us to let go of the baggage of our past and accept Your promises that are all “yes” in Jesus Christ. As we receive and believe in Your Promises, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts and minds so we can live out our new calling in freedom, joy and peace, Amen.
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