Gal 3:10 How does Paul
contrast the blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant with the Law?
Explains that those who are
depending on the Law to save them are under a curse. All things written
in the Law would have to be performed perfectly.
Gal 3:11 With the above
requirement in mind, who can be justified by the Law?
No one
Gal 3:11 What is the point
of Paul's quotation of Habakkuk 2:4?
The way to be a righteous man in
the OT was not by Law but by faith
Gal 3:12a
What does Paul mean stating that "the Law is not of faith" (NLT
"How different from this way
of faith is the way of law")?
Justification by faith and
justification by keeping the law are mutually exclusive. They are
diametrically opposed to each other. Faith and law are contrary
principles for salvation and also for living. One cancels out the other.
They are diametrically opposed to each other. If you are going to live
by the Law, then you cannot be saved by faith. You cannot combine them.
They are contrary.
Gal 3:12b
Why does Paul quote Leviticus 18:5 (NLT “If
you wish to find life by obeying the law, you must obey all of its
commands")?
This describes "justification" by
works if such were possible (it is impossible)
Gal 3:13 What is Christ’s
relation to the Law?
He redeemed us from the curse of the
Law (death)
Gal 3:14 Why did Christ
redeem us from the curse of the Law?
So that (1) the blessing of Abraham,
justification by faith and (2) the Holy Spirit, might be given to both
Jew and Gentile ("we" = Paul + Gentiles)
Gal 3:14 Who is the
promise?
The Holy Spirit (He makes us grieve
over sin and desire righteousness)
Gal 3:15 What general
principle is Paul establishing?
(NLT: "Dear friends, here's an example from everyday life. Just as no
one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this
case")
Paul asserts that it is common
knowledge that when men make a contract, and that contract is once
agreed upon, it cannot be modified or changed except by the mutual
consent of both parties to the contract. He will use this logic to show
that the Law given centuries later cannot modify God's irrevocable
covenant with Abraham.
Gal 3:16 Who were the
promises spoken to?
Abraham and His Seed, Christ
Gal 3:17
What effect then can a Law written
430
years
later have on such a covenant?
It does not set aside the covenant
God made with Abraham and thus do away with or nullify the promise.
Paul's point is that if men won't set a covenant aside, God won't set
aside His solemn binding covenant with Abraham even though the Law
followed it by 430 years.
The Judaizers were telling
the Galatian believers to forget the Abrahamic Covenant because the Old
Covenant came after it and wiped it out so you are saved by keeping the
Law rather than by faith.
Gal 3:18 What is Paul's
argument?
The inheritance cannot be based both on God's promise and the keeping of
the Law. They do not co-mingle and cannot be combined. And he states
that it was given as a promise.
Was the
coming of the Old Covenant to nullify the Abe Covenant?
No...the law did not invalidate the AC The promise is still valid The AC
is still in effect on the basis of the promise
Did the LAW
have any promise?
No...the LAW said ''Do this or die.''
The Law only had conditions, ultimately conditions which were impossible
to meet in our own strength
Galatians 3:19-25
The Purpose of the Law
Gal 3:19
Why the
Law?
Because of transgression...
What does
ADD
imply about the Abrahamic Covenant?
OC did not replace the Abrahamic
Covenant
What does ''UNTIL''
imply?
The Law was temporary (while the
Abrahamic Covenant was everlasting)
What does "because
of transgressions" mean from a
practical standpoint? Why was the Law added?
1) To define transgressions for what
they were...sin. The Law made one knowledgeable of the fact that he had
stepped over a line drawn by God (Transgression =
parabasis
= a
stepping over) which
resulted in a sense of guilt.
(NLT v19 "It was given to show people
how guilty they are")
2). Guilt drove the man to
despair and hopefully to seek a Savior.
Plumblines are not meant to
straighten the building but to tell one how crooked it is and where
change is needed. The Law was given as a plumbline to show us our need
for a "divine reconstruction".
In short, one reason for the
Law was to drive men to Christ.
Think about the Tabernacle = the only pieces of "furniture" that were in
open view to all the people were the altar and laver in
front of the Tabernacle. These items were a constant reminder of their need for forgiveness.
Behind
the altar and laver stood the Tabernacle providing a shadow or symbol of the way
one could approach a Holy God, pointing ultimately to Jesus Christ, the way,
the truth, the life!
Kay Arthur adds that
"The Abrahamic Covenant came way
before the Cross and the New Covenant wasn't coming for many years so
what would happen until the New Covenant comes? Israel had a problem.
They were sinners and needed something to keep them in line until the
New Covenant came. Also, what if they didn't see their need to get rid
of their sin? They might have compared themselves with others and
thought they are ok. God wanted to give us a standard of holiness so
that we could see how far we fall short. Sin means to fall short. The
gap between my goodness and God's goodness shows me my sin. The law was
given to define and to reveal that sin. (Our
Covenant God
)
Gal 3:19
How long did God intend for the Law to be a
temporary
measure?
Until the child, the Seed, Jesus, came to Whom God had made the promise
Gal 3:20
Who was the
mediator
Paul was referring to in the previous verse and what is his point that
God is a party of "one"?
In v19 Moses was the mediator of the Law but
God acted on His own (as "One") when He made His promise to Abraham
Gal 3:21
What is the conflict between
God's Law
and God's promises
-- was the Law ever intended to make man righteous?
There is absolutely no conflict because the ‘’Law was not intended to
make man righteous". It was not meant to be the source of new life but
as clearly shown in the surrounding passages to herd us like sheep (cf
Isaiah 53:6)
toward the one and only Door (John
10:9
Christ) of sheepfold which Alone could
provide eternal Life, in this life and the one to come.
The law and the promises are not in conflict because each has a distinct
function. The Law has a ministry of condemnation (2Cor
3:9) whereas the promises are
a ministry of righteousness.
MacArthur adds that
"Since God gave them both (Abrahamic and Old Covenants) and does not
work against Himself, law and promise work in harmony; the law reveals
man’s sinfulness and need for the salvation freely offered in the
promise. If the law could have provided righteousness and eternal life,
there would be no gracious promise." (MacArthur,
J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word Pub)
Gal 3:22
What is the function
of the Law
in this verse?
The Law has "shut up (sugkleio)
all men under sin". The Law securely locks one up on all
sides with no way of escape from sin (and also no way of access into
the presence of God), so that the person realizes that the only way to receive
God's promise of a New Covenant is to believe in the promised Seed, that
is, Christ.
Practical
Application:
The law shows the world to be under sin so that people
will realize that works cannot save, only Christ can. How
does it feel to be closed in a tight space w/ no escape? Maybe that's
where God has allowed us as we continue in some seemingly inescapable
sin...to bring us to the end of our self-strength, of trying to be good
enough to please Him and in our state of utter despair to cause us to
see the Promised Power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ as our only
Source of release from bondage as we simply learn to trust in His
Promise walking out in obedience.
MacArthur comments on
"shut up" writing that this verb
"sunkleio, a strong term meaning to lock up securely,
to enclose on all sides with no way of escape. “I was once alive apart
from the Law,” Paul said; “but when the commandment came, sin became
alive, and I died” (Ro 7:9), because the covenant with Moses brought
“the law of sin and of death” (8:2). Not until a person smashes
himself against the demands of the law and the accusations of conscience
does he recognize his helplessness and see his need for a Savior.
Not until the law has arrested and imprisoned him and sentenced him to
death will he be driven to despair in himself and turn to Jesus Christ.
(MacArthur,
J. Galatians. Chicago: Moody Press)
(Bolding added)
Gal 3:23 Before faith
in Christ was shown to you as the way of becoming right with God, what
function did the Law carry out?
The Law was like a garrison of
soldiers standing around us as a sentinel to protect us from hostile
invasion, so to speak. The Law functioned as a guard to prevent (or at
least to impede) the
people from escaping into unrighteous living. It also protected Israel
from outsiders coming in to pollute them with heathen vices.
Unfortunately, Israel did not keep God's law but intermarried with
outsiders and became contaminated and then led astray into idolatry.
Gal 3:24-25 What other
reason does Paul give for the Law and how does this show the
relationship of the three covenants?
The law functioned as a guardian and teacher to lead one to Christ and
justification by faith (either via the Abrahamic Covenant looking
forward in faith to Christ or the New Covenant after He came). Once we
believe in Christ we no longer need the Law as our guardian.
Wuest comments that "tutor"
(KJV "schoolmaster")
"designated a slave employed in Greek
and Roman families who had general charge over a boy in the years from
about 6-16. He watched over his outward behavior, and took charge over
him whenever he went from home, as for instance, to school. This slave
was entrusted with the moral supervision of the child. His duties were
therefore quite distinct from those of a schoolmaster."
(Wuest,
K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans)
Summary:
Effect of Law
(Gal
3:19-25) (See
note)
Galatians 3:19 Why the Law
then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained
through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come
to whom the promise had been made.
20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For
if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then
righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
22 But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by
faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being
shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we
may be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
THE LAW...
1). Reveals sin for what
it was...until the
Seed (Christ) should come (19)
2). Shuts up all men under sin...(until they enter) "by faith
(into) Christ Jesus" (22)
3). Keeps men in custody under the Law (23)
"until we could put our faith in the coming
Savior"
(NLT)
4). Tutors and leads us to Christ (24)
"until Christ
came" (NLT)
As you contemplate the
purpose of the Law as outlined by Paul in the preceding verses, what
fact is inescapable? What was the consummate purpose of the Law?
To lead all men and women to see
their desperate need for the Savior, Christ Jesus. Every "effect" of the
Law (in the list above) points to and ends in Christ! This helps
understand Jesus' declaration
"Do
not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come
to abolish, but to fulfill." (See note on
Matthew 5:17)
Practically
what does all this mean?
Paul shows us that under the 3
covenants of salvation, the Abrahamic has not been invalidated
(everlasting & unconditional) and it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
The Old has been taken away because
we don’t need to approach God through the Tabernacle, the priesthood or
the sacrifices of bulls and goats...this is taken care of by the
sacrifice of Jesus.
The Law is no longer written on stone but is written on the tables of
our heart.
In short, the Judaizers are "dead
wrong"!
Paul explains that "the law
(principle) of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from
the law (principle not the Mosaic Law) of sin and of death. 3 For what
the Law (the Mosaic Law, the Old Covenant) could not do, weak as it was
through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in
us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4)
Dr. M R De Haan writes that...
"The RIGHTEOUSNESS of the law is
fulfilled in us. Not the LAW, but the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the law. That is,
the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ is imputed to, and fulfilled
in those who, looking away from the law, turn to Calvary for salvation.
Jesus did two things. First, HE KEPT THE LAW PERFECTLY during His
thirty-three years on earth. Second, HE PAID THE PENALTY of the law when
He took its curse, death, upon Himself. By His life He provided the
righteousness of the law, and by His death He paid the penalty of the
law. And now the sinner turning to Christ receives two things, both in
Christ. First, he is freed from the curse and the penalty of the law the
moment he believes, and God reckons the death of Christ as full payment
for the sinner’s guilt and condemnation.
… He that heareth my
word, and Believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and
shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life
(John 5:24).
Then, secondly, God
imputes to that forgiven sinner the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ’s sinless
life, and by that act the pardoned sinner becomes a justified saint.
That means that God now looks upon him IN CHRIST, clothed in the perfect
righteousness of His Son, Jesus. In Christ he is as perfect as the Son
of God Himself. In Christ he is JUSTIFIED from all things from which he
could not be justified by the Law of Moses. In Christ he is safe, for he
is clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and God cannot ever turn that
down." (De Haan, M. R. Studies in Galatians. Kregel Publications)
