Lesson 10
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we lay down at Your feet to listen to Your word of instruction. Help us to listen, hear, feel, touch, apply, and obey Your instructions, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Galatians 3:19- 22, the law, part 1.
VV 19-20, 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
Paul asked rhetorical questions. What is the purpose of the law? Paul explained that the purpose of the law is to be a mirror to show that everyone all had sinned until Christ, the Seed comes. Greek for transgression is “parabasis”, which means intentional violation of the Mosaic law. The law revealed our sinful nature, Romans 7:7. Only Christ had obeyed the law perfectly, Matthew 5:17-18.
Romans 7:7, What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet”
Matthew 5:17-18, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished”.
VV 21-22, 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Is the law contrary to God’s promises? Certainly not! The law cannot save or justify sinners. The law proved that everyone is a sinner and needs a Saviour, Romans 3:23. God’s promise of the Saviour was fulfilled in Christ to those who believe, Romans 6:23.
Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
VV 23-25, 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterwards 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.
The law revealed God’s perfect standards to show people’s poor record. The law is a tutor to point us to Christ. Once we know Christ, we are under grace and not law. We are slaves to Christ, our new master, who operates by grace. Grace is not a license to sin but freedom to serve Christ out of gratitude of love.
VV 26-29, 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.
Since Christians are sons of God, baptized into Christ, there is no discrimination between Jews and Gentiles, slaves and freedmen, and males and females. Christians are Abraham’s spiritual descendants and heirs of the kingdom.
John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God”.
Ephesians 2:14-15, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace”.
Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him,that we may also be glorified together”.
Application:
The law is a mirror to convict you of sins. The law is a tutor to bring you to Christ. If you confess your sins to Christ and believe that He died for your sins, you will be saved. If you want to receive salvation and forgiveness of sin, say this prayer with me:
“Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner. Please forgive me. I believe that You died on the cross to pay the punishment of my sins for me. I surrender my life to You, in Jesus’ name, Amen”.
If you have prayed the above prayer, you are born again as a Christian. Please find a Christian church where you lived and let the church pastor know about your decision.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You have done for us in our life. We pray for those who do not know You as Lord and Saviour to come in You by faith, in Jesus’ name, Amen.