Galatians 3

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24

Paul now gives us another explicit purpose for the law; it “was our tutor to bring us to Christ.” The word translated as “tutor” is paidagógos, a word meaning a “pedagogue.” In the New Testament, it is only used in 1 Corinthians 4:15 and then again here and in the next verse. Some older translations use the word “schoolmaster.” This is incorrect. The word was originally used when speaking of a slave that had been placed in charge of a child.

It was his responsibility take the child to school. He was responsible for the care and moral discipline of the child, not as one who provides the intellectual discipline which school provides. Albert Barnes notes that, “It is true, that when the “paedagogus” was properly qualified, he assisted the children committed to his care in preparing their lessons. But still his main duty was not instruction, but it was to watch over the boys; to restrain them from evil and temptation; and to conduct them to the schools, where they might receive instruction.”

For this reason, the word “tutor” is preferable simply because of its etymology. It comes from the word tueri, which means “to look upon, to guard.” Some translations use the word “guardian,” and Young’s ingeniously translates this as “child conductor.” This “child conductor” then is used metaphorically for the law which was given to lead us to Christ.

The moral upbringing of the law showed that no one is justified by the law. Its demands were too heavy, and it led to bondage, not to freedom. The giving of the law was intended to show this. Abraham was justified by faith, but man is inwardly inclined to want to “do” something in order to be pleasing to God. And so the law was given to show what man must “do” in order to be found perfect in His sight. Only in perfectly fulfilling every precept of the law could one be considered fully pleasing to Him in regards to “doing.”

In the giving of the law, and its high expectations, the history of the Jews showed a continuous failure to meet the law’s demands. We were being given our moral instruction by our pedagogue. When enough time under the law had been spent to show how utterly impossible it was for fallen man to meet its demands, Christ came. He was able to fulfill its demands, and He did fulfill them – on our behalf. Now by faith in His work, we are “justified by faith.” The law had met its purpose; it had led us to understand that it is not by our works, but by the work of the Lord, that we can be saved.

Life application: We can only have it one way. Either we will work our way to heaven by deeds of the law – an impossible mountain to climb; or we will trust in Christ to reconcile us to God through His finished work – a difficult path because it is contrary to our nature to set self aside and trust in another’s “doing” for us. In the end, we must come to the end of ourselves and simply trust Christ alone for our salvation.

Heavenly Father, were I to work my way back to You through deeds of the law, it would be an infinitely high hill to climb. The record of Israel shows that no person was able to meet its demands, and so in the fullness of time, Christ came and fulfilled them for me. Now, You ask us to set aside our futile attempts at meriting Your favor and to simply trust that what You have done through Him is sufficient. Me… I’m all in for faith in Christ! He did the work; I receive Your favor. It is the sweetest deal of all. Hallelujah to Christ my Lord. Amen.

Tuesday, 5 April 2016

But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Galatians 3:23

To ensure context, the previous verse needs to be included as a point of reference –

“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.”

Paul’s beginning word of verse 23, translated as “but,” is not the same as verse 22. It is probably better to say something like “and,” “now,” or “moreover” in order to show the original is a continuation and expansion on the thought, not merely another contrast. The word “faith” here relates to the dispensation of grace through faith. In other words, it is speaking of the new aspect of God’s progressive revelation of how He deals with, and reveals Himself to, mankind.

The law was given, and it “confined all under sin.” Using another term to indicate this same idea, he now says that “we were kept under guard by the law.” It is as if those under the law were continuously monitored in the prison of sin. The verb for “kept under guard” is in the imperfect tense. The law held, and continuously held, those under its domain, just as a jailer would do for any prisoner under his control.

The law was given as a means of preventing escape, not as a means of protecting the people. As it says in 1 Corinthians 15:56 –

“The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.”

The law then is what bound those under its constraints, holding them fast. It was the guard “by whom those who belong to sin are kept under lock and key – under moral captivity, without possibility of liberation except through faith” (Vincent’s Word Studies). However, the law was not intended as a permanent dispensation, or outcropping, of how God would deal with man. It was intended to last only until a certain point and then end. It was meant that those under it would be “kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.”

Paul’s words may seem distant to us now that we have been in the church age for 2000 years, but they are actually as relevant today as they were when written to the Galatians. Those in Galatia were being told they needed to adhere to the law in order to be pleasing to God. People are still told this today, and the heresy continues on as if Paul’s words have no meaning at all. And even if the entire law isn’t demanded, people are told that if they simply followed certain precepts of the law they would be “more pleasing to God.” This sounds appealing, but it is untrue. The way to be pleasing to the Father is to trust in the work of the Son.

Life application: Why would anyone want to go back to the bondage of the law when we have been freed from it by faith in Christ? Can we please God more than Jesus did? Stand fast on Christ’s finished work and remember the words of the Bible – “Salvation is of the Lord.” Trust in Him and Him alone for your righteousness.

Lord God, I am ever so grateful for each and every blessing that You send my way. And yet, I know I spend more time questioning why the difficult times come. Help me not to gauge Your love for me from the trials and difficulties that I temporarily face. Instead, help me to remember the long-term promises You have in store for us, and to be grateful for what they hold, despite any temporary setbacks. This I pray as I walk through this world of many woes. Amen.

Monday, 4 April 2016

But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Galatians 3:22

Paul just stated that “if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.” However, such is not the case. This is indicated by the word alla, or “but.” The law cannot grant life (meaning righteousness) which is proved by “the Scripture.” Here Paul stands on the absolute authority of Scripture itself. He could not make his arguments concerning the reliability of Scripture, if it wasn’t 100% reliable.

However, as if almost personifying it, because it is the expressed word of God, he notes that the Scripture itself “has confined all under sin.” The word “confined” is appropriate. It comes from the Greek word sugkleió which gives the sense of “shutting up” something. It is as if a sentence of guilt from the law is passed on to all, imprisoning them through the sin which proceeds from the issuing of the law. In other words, it is the same argument that he made in Romans 7:9-12. There he said –

“But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. ⁹ I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.” Romans 7:8, 9

The law can only bring death, and the law can only bring a sentence of guilt. This is true for “all,” meaning every person without exception. The word in Greek is in the neuter gender signifying that it is all-encompassing. Male and female, Jew and Gentile, young and old, etc. are included. The intent then is that “all humanity” is confined under sin.

Thus, another purpose for the law is revealed. It is so “that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” This brings us back the promise of the Seed mentioned in verse 19. Jesus Christ is that Seed. Now, by faith in Him, and in Him alone, the confining restraint of sin is removed.

The contrasts are clear – where there was confinement in the law, there is freedom in Christ. Where the law brought bondage, faith brings freedom. In the law there is death, but in Christ there is life. The two wholly contrast one another. Only in Christ are the promises realized. In the law, there can never be relief from the chains of sin which bind our souls.

Life application: Even those who have received Christ can be duped into believing that doing the things of the law can make one “more pleasing” to God. “Yes, I trust in Christ, but I have given up pork because it will make God happy.” This is a trap. If one gives up pork because it makes them break out in hives, that makes sense; but if one gives up pork because it will “make God happy,” then it is implying that God is “happier” with what you are doing than what His Son did. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. One cannot make God more pleased than to accept what Jesus did – in its entirety.

Lord God, now that I have received Christ – who is the end of the law for all who believe – will you be happier with me if I observe the Sabbath? Will you be happier with me if I give up pork? Will you be happier with me if I do anything from the law that only pointed to Christ? If so, then what I do makes you “happier” than what Jesus did. As I know that this isn’t possible, then I will make you happiest of all by simply trusting what He did and resting in that! I place my complete faith in His finished work, plus nothing. Amen.

Sunday, 3 April 2016

 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. Galatians 3:21

Paul now enters into an obvious question for those who have misunderstood the purpose of the law. Well, if God gave us the law, and the law “was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made,” the question may be, “Is the law then against the promises of God?” Paul has already shown that the law cannot annul “the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect” (verse 17). Therefore, Paul’s use of the word “against” is not insinuating some type of negative action of the law against the promises of God. Instead, the word is being used in a contrary sense; as if the purpose of the law was contrary to the promises. His answer is, “Certainly not!”

The law was given, but unlike the promises, it was not intended as a means of giving life (meaning declaring a person “righteous” or “justified” before God). The reason this is true is then clearly given in the words, “For if there had been a law which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.” If a sinful man could be justified by the law (supposing this were possible), then the law would, in fact, be contrary to the promise. There would then be two different means of obtaining righteousness. It would show fickleness in the plans of God.

But the law could not bring a sinful man to a state of righteousness. Therefore, “…the spirit and purpose of the Law were not contrary to the promises, inasmuch as the Law did not offer to interfere with the work which the promises were to do, but was designed, to be auxiliary to their function by preparing the way for its discharge” (Pulpit Commentary).

What again needs to be remembered is that Christ has come. The Galatians, who never had the law, had called on Christ and been declared righteous. The proof of this was the sealing of the Spirit. The same is true with the Jews who did have the law. None of them were granted the Spirit until they repented of trying to be justified by the law and instead believed in what Christ had done in fulfillment of the law.

This shows that righteousness was not of the law, and thus the law was not contrary to the promises of God. Instead, it was introduced as a means of leading sinful man to Christ who had no sin and thus was qualified and capable of fulfilling the law. If one is to trust in the law, it is only to be insofar as Christ fulfilled it for him. He is the embodiment of it. Therefore, He is the fulfillment of the promises.

Life application: If you encounter those who claim you must observe the law in order to be saved, you should be familiar with the arguments they will submit for their incorrect stand. Further, you should be able to come to Galatians and defend why their stand is both incorrect and nuts. Paul’s words are precise and lead to only one conclusion; the law (meaning attempting to be declared righteous by deeds of the law) cannot save sinful man. Only faith in Christ can do so.

Lord, even when I’m at my best, I find myself making the most horrendous mistakes in my life. The things I think, the secret actions which only You can see (and yes, I know that You can see them), show how desperately I need Your grace. Is it not true with all people? Surely if You were to count our sins against us, there would be no hope. But in Christ, our sins are forgiven. Thank You for the grace and mercy that freely flows from Him. How good You are to us, O God. Amen.

Saturday, 2 April 2016

Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Galatians 3:20

We arrive at one of the most widely interpreted verses in the entire Bible. At the time of Charles Ellicott, the 19th century Bible scholar, there were at least 430 different interpretations of what is thought to have been on Paul’s mind. Therefore, it is without a doubt a verse which has a great deal of meaning contained within itself.

However, context needs to be ascertained for any verse. This one comes during a discussion about the covenant with Abraham which is followed by the giving of the Law of Moses. Vincent’s Word Studies notes that the Greek term translated here as “now” is explanatory, not antithetic. Therefore, what has been previously said is now further explained.

Abraham was given a promise; Abraham believed that promised; and Abraham was declared righteous. After this, the Lord made a covenant with him, and He alone passed through the divided animals. The covenant was made and settled.

However, because the covenant was made, and despite it only being made by One, meaning God, to change it would still require both party’s approval (verse 15). As Abraham was not alive 430 years later (verse 17), the institution of the Law of Moses could not have had any bearing on the promise.

Another note concerning the Greek is that there is an article attached to “mediator,” and thus it is “the mediator.” It is therefore marked as a class noun, thus “giving it the sense, ‘a mediator as such'” (Pulpit Commentary). Understanding this, we can then look at what has brought about the annulling of the Law of Moses, which is the New Covenant. This is made explicit based on the words of Hebrews which states with all certainty that it is 1) annulled; 2) set aside; and 3) obsolete.

The New Covenant came through Christ. He is called in both Hebrews 9:15 and Hebrews 12:24 “the Mediator of the New Covenant.” If He is the Mediator, and the covenant is based on grace in accord with the promise made to Abraham, not on works of the law, then Christ is God. The “fullness of the Godhead” bodily subsists in Him. It is certain that Paul is referring to Christ in this verse because He was mentioned in verse 3:19, He will be referred to throughout the rest of the chapter, and He will again be referred to in verse 4:4 – all in the context of this issue.

As we are counted in the “seed of Abraham” (verse 16) because of Christ, we become one with Christ – we are “in Christ,” and we have “put on Christ,” meaning we are clothed in Him (verse 3:27). This is why we are again called “Abraham’s seed” in verse 3:29. Logically, this means that as God is One, and because we are “in Christ,” we are fully reconciled to God through His work. This is made explicit in Colossians 1:20, 21 –

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰ and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

In anticipation of that marvelous position in which we stand by faith, Jesus made His intercessory prayer for His people just prior to the act that would make it possible –

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” John 17:20-23

Life application: There is a ton of theology tied up in this verse. To fully explore it requires fully exploring the entire Bible. Suffice it to say that if you have accepted Jesus, you are fully reconciled to God and are clothed in Christ. We could no more lose our standing with God than Christ could. And as God is One, and yet Jesus is called our Mediator, then Jesus must be God. The principle tenets of the faith are all wrapped up in understanding the marvel of what God did for us in Christ. However, being in Christ requires that we live by faith in Him and not by works of the law. This is the entire point of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. The law is opposed to faith. To insert the law into one’s attempt to be justified before God thus excludes one from being “in Christ.”

Heavenly Father, everything is tied up in the question of whether Jesus Christ is fully God or not. If He is, then You have ordained that He is the focal point for all worship from all people. If He is not, then there is no hope of ever being reconciled to You. The faith of Abraham, coming before the law, shows us this. And so I trust Christ, and Him alone, to bring me back to You. I bow my knee to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. I receive Jesus! Amen.