In the third chapter of his letter to Galatians from verses 19 - 25 , the Apostle Paul rhetorically asks the question of what purpose the law served if faith is all that was required to be admitted into the family of God. He then explains that the function of the law was to govern (or to benchmark) transgressions until the Seed (Christ) arrived among those to whom the promise was made.
The law was introduced after the promises were given to demonstrate how contrary to the standards of God we actually were. The law, enforced through angels, was delivered by a mediator (Moses) who was to mediate between God and man. Mediation is typically conducted between two parties who are at an impass but in this case, God is the singular party who is undertaking the liabilities of all sides and thus everything is encompassed in Him.
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.
The law does not contradict the promises of God and is not in competition with faith as the means by which righteousness is attained.
Paul explains that if the law could provide righteousness, then the law would have been reserved as the single the gateway by which men could enter the family of God. However, the law only imprisons men and confines them to their conviction of sin so that when the promise of God is presented, they would be able to believe and react in faith to the good news of the salvation provided by God. This reaction of faith is what confers the righteousness of Christ upon us.
The law, as a tutor, educated us to our true condition of needing salvation but when the promised Salvation arrived, we were no longer in need of the tutor.
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. 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 apostle then reveals one of the implications of the universality of the law and
promise. Because we are all (without exception) saved by the same mechanism of faith, in the family of God, there is no distinction between the Jews or the Gentiles, slaves or free, male nor female.
Amen.
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