The Book Of Galatians Chapter 3 Part 6 God's Law Points Sinners To Christ Our Savior

The law of God is not at odds with the promise of God.

Galatians 3:21  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 

Paul raises questions that might be asked by the Jews. In this case he asked if the law is contradictory to the promise of God.

His answer to the question is emphatic. "God forbid" means that the law of God is not in conflict with the holy law of God.

The law is not inconsistent with the promise, but subservient to it. 

The law is designed is expose our transgressions, and to show all mankind the need of a better righteousness than that of the law.

The law is established through faith in Christ and we are enabled to live holy.

Romans 3:31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. 

By law here we mean the whole Mosaic law, of which Jesus Christ was the subject and the end. 

All that law had respect to Him and the doctrine of faith in Christ Jesus the gospel proclaims, establishes the very claims and demands of that law. 

The gospel of Christ shows that all demands of the law were accomplished in Christ's sufferings and death for us.

The law stipulates without shedding of blood there is no remission. 

Jesus is the Lamb of God which was slain from the foundation of the world. 

Through Christ's blood we have redemption, even the remission of sins (See Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:12-14; 1 Peter 1:18-25).

This law was established in the doctrine of salvation by faith because faith works by love, and love is the principle of obedience. 

Whosoever receives salvation through faith in Christ, receives power to live in holy obedience to every moral precept. 

This is why we are new creations in Christ, enabled to walk in newness of life. 

Each born again believer in Christ is God’s workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus, unto good works (See Ephesians 2:8-10).

This is why God speaking through His apostle, makes it clear that if there was a law given that could grant spiritual life to sinners, then righteousness would have been given by it.

All people sin because all inherit a sin nature from Adam.

Galatians 3:22  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 

All the Old Testament scriptures from the law to the prophets conclude that all people are sinners, condemned before a righteous God.

This agrees with what Paul wrote to the church at Rome. 

All mankind is guilty of sin but the gospel of Christ tells us salvation is freely offered to all who will believe the gospel.

All mankind stands condemned by the law because it exposes our sins.

Romans 3:9-20  What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10)  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11)  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12)  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13)  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14)  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15)  Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16)  Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17)  And the way of peace have they not known: 18)  There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19)  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20)  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

All Jews are condemned by the law because God gave it to them. 

All Gentiles are condemned because God wrote His law on their hearts and gave us a conscience to prick us when we sin.

Each sinner's body and soul, all their thoughts and intentions, all their works are declared to be sinful and polluted. 

The whole world is guilty before God, and liable to punishment; from whence there can be no escape by the law of works. 

We are all born shut up in a prison with no apparent likelihood of deliverance.

Preaching the gospel of Christ drives home this point about the total depravity of all people.

The good news of the gospel is preceded by the bad news of mankind's condemnation for sin.

All are guilty of committing sin so that the salvation of God is offered to all.

Galatians 3:22  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 

Gospel preaching first must show our state of sin and condemnation, before it shows us our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

We are imprisoned by the law but can be freed and delivered by repentant faith in Christ (See Romans 5:1-21; 6:1-23). 

One man's sin (Adam) made all humanity into a race of sinners. 

One man's obedience (Christ) extends salvation to all who will call upon the name of the Lord. 

The law condemns our sin and prepares us for salvation by faith.

Galatians 3:23-25  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24)  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25)  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 

The law was our schoolmaster (pedagogue) unto Christ. 

The Greek word referred to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys from wealthy families. 

The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without the schoolmaster accompanying them until they reached the age of manhood.

The schoolmaster is a trusted servant who had care of the children to lead them to and bring them back from school. 

He also had the care of them outside of school hours. 

Thus the law did not teach us about the living or saving knowledge of faith. 

Its rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices pointed us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith in His suffering, death and resurrection for us. 

Old Testament saints had the same Spirit of faith, and the same grace of faith as New Testament saints have. 

Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and so on, believed in Christ, and were justified by faith in His righteousness, as we are. 

Remember the promise that the seed of the woman would deliver a death blow to the Devil and save us from our sins. 

This seed was also known as the "Messiah" or anointed one, the future hope of redemption for all those who believed the Old Testament scriptures. 

This is why faithful Jews offered sacrifices by faith believing that God would cover their sins until Messiah came to permanently remove them. 

They saw that each sacrifice offered for their sins was pointing to the ultimate Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (See John 1:29-36).

Jesus appeared to Abraham and shows He is God manifest in the flesh. 

John 8:56-59  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57)  Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58)  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59)  Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. 

The title "Christ" means anointed one, referring specifically to the Messiah, the Son of God. 

This is why Jesus said that Abraham rejoiced to see His day.

Jesus made it clear that he appeared to Abraham before He was born.

Jesus' name means "Jehovah saves" and Jehovah is the name of God that is intimately connected with our redemption.

When Jesus said "Before Abraham was, I am" He revealed Himself as God manifest in the flesh.

Jesus said He existed before Abraham was born and Jehovah refers to the self existent God, the "I Am" who spoke to Moses at the burning bush (See Exodus 3).

A sinner can be made a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:26-27  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27)  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 

A sinner can be made into a child of God through repentant faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The baptism Paul speaks of is not a water baptism. 

He is referring to the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which is poured out on us abundantly through faith in Christ (See Titus 3:4-6).

It is the regenerating work of God's Spirit that imparts a new heart and a new spirit in us when we repent of our sins and turn to Christ (See also Ezekiel 11:17-20; 18:30-32; 36:24-29).

God does not regard status, race, nationality, or ethnicity. He will save all who repent and believe on Christ.

Galatians 3:28-29  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29)  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

One of the beautiful truths of the gospel of Christ is that God is no respecter of persons. 

Race, gender, nationality, status or ethnicity do not matter to God. He will save anyone who hears the gospel and turns to Christ with repentant faith.

Many suggest half the population in the Roman empire were slaves. This does not matter to God. 

The other half were free men either born to or who purchased their freedom. This does not matter to God.

Each believer in Christ is given the same rights, blessings and privileges as children of God.

Paul concludes that if we are in Christ, we are also part of Abraham's seed through the promise of God by faith in Christ.

May these profound gospel truths encourage us and draw us closer to our Lord.

Bob