The Logic of Law

Galatians 3: 15-29

• Relationship between promise and law– The law cannot change the promise (3:

15-18)• Promise is mentioned 8 times in v. 15-18• Referred to God’s promise to Abraham• Involved being justified by faith (6-9)• Promise to Abraham @ 2000 BC before the

law of Moses was given• The maker of an original agreement can

change• God made convenantwith Abraham

– No condition– A covenant of grace

• Promise to Christ

– “And to thy seed which is Christ” (3:16)

• Seed back to Genesis 3:15 of the fall of man– Woman’s seed vs Satan’s seed

• Covenant through Christ, therefore, Moses cannot change this covenant

• 430 years (3:17)– Abraham’s call to the giving of the law – 645– Jacob’s reaffirmation of the covenant (Gen 46: 1-4)– Length of the stay in Egypt – 400 years (Gen 15:13,

Acts 7:6)

– The law is not greater than the promise (3:19-20)• The law was temporary (19a)

– “It was added… until the seed should come”– Covenant has no ifs while the law is conditional

– The law was done away when Jesus was resurrected (Rom> 7:4)

– The righteous demands are fulfilled in us through the Spirit (Rom. 8: 1-4)

• The law required a mediator (19b-20)– Israel received the law from God to angels to

Moses» “received the laws by the disposition of

angels” Acts 7:53– Concerning the covenant with Abraham God did it

personally without a mediator» Mediator stands between two groups and help

them to agree

– The law is not contrary to the promise (3: 21-26)• “Is the law against the promise of God?”

• The law cooperates with the promise in fulfilling the purpose of God, not contradicting

• The law was not given to provide life (V. 21)– It regulated the life of the Jewish people– Worship of the law led into self-righteous religion of

works

• The law was given to reveal sin (19a, 22)• The law shows sinner his guilt while grace

shows him the forgiveness in Christ• The law is “holy, and just, and good” (Rom

7:12), but we are unholy, unjust, and bad• The law doesn’t make us sinner, but it reveals

that we are already sinners (Rom. 3:20)• The law “concludes all under sin (3:22)

• The law was given to prepare the way for Christ (v. 23-26, Matt 3:3)

– Illustration of child guardian (schoolmaster) executed by the slaves: teaching, protecting & prohibiting and discipline

» Jews were brought up by the law, not born with it

» Law regulated; it did not give life to the nation» The work of the guardian was to prepare for

child’s maturity; the law was a preparation for Israel until the coming of the Promised Seed

» “before this faith came” (NIV), the nation was “imprisoned by the law” (v. 23)

» The demands of the law reminded the people that they need a Savior

» The types and symbols in the law were pictures of the Messiah (Luke 24:27)

» The story of the rich young ruler (Matt. 19:1ff)

» The law fulfilled its purpose: the Savior has come and the guardian is no longer needed.

– The Law cannot do what the promise can do (3:27-29)• When Jesus came Israel moved out of

childhood into adulthood• The law could never justify the guilty sinner

– “I will not justify the wicked” (Ex. 23:7)– God “justifies the ungodly” (Rom. 4:5 NASB)

• The law could never give oneness with God; it separated man from God, Faith in Jesus baptizes us “into Christ” (3:27, I Cor. 12:12-14)

• “Put on Christ” (v. 27) refers to a change of garments (Isa 64:6, Col 3:8-15)

• “All one in Christ Jesus” (v. 28) – the law showed the differences and distinctions while Jesus came to unite, not divide

• The law could never make us heirs of God (3:29)

– If we are “in Christ” by faith, we are Abraham’s seed

– Christians are enriched spiritually because of God’s promise to Abraham (Rom. 11:13ff)

• In the Old Testament we have preparation for Christ; in the Gospels the presentation of Christ; and in Acts through Revelation we have the appropriations of Christ