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Commentary on "The Road to Faith"
Day 4: Tuesday, November 8, 2011 - The Law as Our "Guard"
The Sabbath School Lesson today is about Galatians 3:19-24.
15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.
16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.
17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
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 would 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 everyone under sin, so 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, so that we may be justified by faith. Galatians 3:15-24 (NASB)
What does this passage teach us?
- The Law is temporary (it came 430 years later [after Abraham] until the seed [Christ] should come) verse 17
- The Law was added because of transgressions "until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made." (verse 19)
- The promise by faith is given to those who believe in Him. (verse 22)
- The Law was a guardian or tutor to lead to Christ. (verse 24)
In other words, the Law was good because it pointed to Jesus. The Law brings condemnation and Jesus brings life. Because God is holy and we are sinful, it is a good thing, indeed imperative, to be aware of our need for Jesus. This was the purpose of the Law; to make us aware of our sin and therefore need for Jesus.
The Law was added to give conclusive evidence that we are sinners in need of a Savior. We cannot achieve or accomplish righteousness by our performance under the Law. Only Jesus Christ provides the salvation we desperately need. God provides Life through the resurrection and life of Jesus.
In contrast, the Law gives sin it's power and produces death. How?
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 1 Corinthians 15:56 (NASB)
The payment for not accepting Jesus as Savior is death. However, the Good News is that the gift of God, eternal life, is free. There is no cost.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NASB)
So, what do we gain through the Law? Nothing.
In summary, the Law was temporary, added to give conclusive evidence that mankind is sinful and in need of a Savior. If we choose the Law, we choose our just wage: death. If we choose Jesus, we receive the free gift: eternal life.
24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24 (NASB)
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