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GALATIANS - I Have Been Crucified With Christ
Studies in the Letter of Paul to the Galatians
PART 3: THE LAW OF MOSES AND THE GOSPEL, THEIR INTENTION AND THEIR RESULTS (Galatians 3:1 – 4:31)
4. The law educated us for Christ and Christ carried us to adoption (Galatians3:19-29)
GALATIANS 3:23-29
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
The law in the old time condemned the godly to death, and gave them no hope. It took man away from God that he might recognize that he was sinful, without any hope in his own efforts, and that he might be broken, and expect salvation by grace.
The service of the law, as a guard, preparer, and educator was, and is still, of great importance.
Whenever we suppose that we are minor gods, in our proud selves, the law has to condemn us and show our abominations that we may recognize that Christ is the only one who lived in holiness and righteousness. You have no hope in your own abilities. You have to be broken if you were true.
Now, we are not slaves of the law, for the faith in Christ has shined as the sun of righteousness on our dark world, and the light of the gospel shines in the darkness, giving hope to hopeless hearts.
Whoever accepts Jesus as his protector, shield, and Savior escapes the complaint of the law, and becomes truly free, for he who believes in Christ will no more be chastened by the law, since God has become his Father in joy, service, and willful submission. Mature children are not under control of educator. They are free and directly answerable before their heavenly Father. What a great grace it is that Jesus Christ has made of the slaves of the law free people in the Holy Spirit, and from the mortal children of God! Nobody is worthy to call God his Father, except he who joins himself to his holy Son, who loves us and changes us to the image of his glory.
Paul explains this principle change in the life of the believer as changing the clothes. By faith, we clothe ourselves with the righteousness, holiness, kindness, joy, and peace of Christ. Our faith in him is neither supposition, nor thinking, nor teaching, but new life and power. He who accepts Christ believing in the symbol of baptism becomes a new man, and even a son of the living God.
He second wonder in our freedom in Christ is the spiritual union, and equality among all his followers. In Christ, there are no rich and poor, for they are all inheritors of God. There is no difference between the educated and the uneducated, for they have all known the truth of God. The masters will not be higher than the laborers, for they are altogether children of one Father. In Christ, there will be no difference between man and woman, for there will be no marriage after resurrection, but their bodies will be pure and shining as angels of God. This radical change begins today in those who were born again of the Holy Spirit. They are one in Christ, and he gives them the fullness of his love.
Thus, Paul proved to his church in Galatia that the promise of God to Abraham could not be fulfilled by keeping the law, but only by faith in Christ. How great is the gift in the believers!
PRAYER: We praise you O heavenly Father, because you made us, who are perishing, your children by faith in Christ. Help us not to despise any man, but to testify, with all love, the hope of our inheritance that he may be delivered from himself, clothed with your Christ, and completely changed, to participate in the regeneration, which began in those who believed in Christ.
QUESTION:
- How are we carried from the bondage of the law to the freedom and union of the children of God?