Galatians Study Part Nine: 3:21-25
NLT: “Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.
“23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.”
NASB: “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. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”
Remember what we have discovered so far – that the law was not of faith and because of this, no one will be justified by obeying the law. It ONLY comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ redeemed us from the law so that we may live by faith.
Paul now poses the question of whether the law opposes the promises of God and his answer is no. If a law could have been given that would impart life and make us right, or righteous with God, then it would have been done. It did not happen.
What God promises is given through faith in Jesus to those who believe. Before this, the law held people as prisoners. They were constantly offering sacrifices and being reminded of their sinful ways. No matter how many rules they perfectly followed, it never changed them on the inside. No matter how many rules they were able to keep, if they messed up on one issue, they failed. The law was a continual reminder to them that they did not measure up. A sacrifice for their sin had to be made.
Do you remember back in chapter two, where Paul spoke of the false brothers who had infiltrated their ranks, spying on them? What did he proclaim about these cunning men? They were spying on the freedom the believers had in Christ Jesus and wanted to make them slaves. That is what returning to the law does. It makes you a prisoner, robs you of your joy, takes your focus off of God, places you under a curse and you become a slave.
The law was never meant to accomplish what was accomplished by Jesus. It demonstrated that all had sinned. The law was supposed to lead people to Christ. Then he came and fulfilled the law and redeemed us. Once this happened, the law was supposed to pass away and die as its purpose had been accomplished, so that faith in Jesus for our justification would take its place. It was a temporary guardian to lead people to Christ.
Consider also how that earlier in chapter three, Paul shares how the law was given to them through a mediator. God didn’t speak directly to all the people and share with them these laws. He spoke to them through Moses and he passed them on to the people. Yet with God’s promise to Abraham, he spoke to him directly and no mediator was involved. Contrast this with the issue of following the law/rules or allowing God himself to speak to us directly through the Spirit.
In addition, the law was conditional and pronounced blessings and cursing. It was up to each individual to work hard to learn and remember all the rules, and diligently follow them to the letter. Yet the promise to Abraham didn’t require him to perform any tasks, nor to keep any rules.
Think about how this applies to any rules set up by ministers, churches and anyone who would add to the gospel and distort it. “And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.” Let the truth of this passage sink in. Do we choose to live by a list of rules or do we choose to walk by faith, allowing God’s Spirit to lead, guide and teach us? If we are walking by faith, we no longer need the list of rules to be our tutor as we learn directly from God. Is the importance of this message becoming clear?
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