Why Then the Law? (Gal. 3:15-22)

I am not a Jew; I was born a Gentile. I did not become a Jew when I was saved; I became a Christian. The Bible divides the world of mankind into three categories: Jews, Gentiles and Christians. "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God" (1 Cor. 10:32). We must remember these distincions when we discuss the matter of the Mosaic Law. Being a Gentile, I have never been obligated to the Law of Moses. However, that does not mean I am lawless and have no obligation to God. Now that I am a Christian, I am under a new law, the laws of Jesus Christ. My rationale for this is that I am now identified with the with Jesus who is called "thy seed" (Gal. 3:16) and to whom the Abrahamic promise was given. But many people still claim that the Mosaic Law is important and must be followed. God's Word states that "as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse" (Gal. 3:10) but "Christ [by his work on the cross] hath redeemed us from the curse of law" (3:13).

Why then the Law? (3:19). God gave it to heighten our understanding of His standard and the seriousness of transgressing that standard (Rom. 4:15). So, when God said, "Thou shalt not bear false witness" (Exo. 20:16), a lie was seen to be what it is: an overstepping or transgression of the law of God. A Gentile does not have the Law but he sometimes instinctively does the things that are in the law (Rom. 2:14-15). The reason for this seems to be that he is made in the image of God (James 3:9). Certain moral duties, imparted by that divine image are written in his heart and are manifest in his moral decisions and judgments. Having a conscience, he is obliged to respond favorably to God's self-revelation in nature and to fulfill certain basic duties that personal creatures owe the Creator, i.e. worship, gratitude, and service. When Paul preached to pagans, he did not use the Mosaic Law to bring them under the conviction of sin (Acts 14:6-18; 17:15-34; 24:25). Rather, he reminded them of their creaturehood (Acts 17:24-26) and their guilt of dishonoring God by neglecting to seek after Him (17:27) and by regarding Him to be less than what He is (17:24-25, 29). He also declared their duty to seek the Lord (17:27), repent and prepare for coming judgment (17:31).

Under New Management (Gal. 3:15-22)

When I was saved on January 4, 1953 several things happened to me that I later discovered as I grew in grace. For example, I learned that salvation was never granted on the basis of Law. I learned also that I had been justified before God on that day and thus any relationship to old Adam and to the law ceased; I was adopted into the Lord’s family; I was enrolled under a new rule, i.e. a new covenant. It became my first duty to obey my heavenly Father, not as a slave but as a child. In fact, I was to obey as a beloved child. It would now be an offense to Him if I intimidated His will in any way. Did He call me to seek fellowship with other Christians? Then it is at my peril if I neglected it, for I would be disobeying my Father. I was to do it, not because the law says, “Love thy neighbor,” but because Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” and this is the commandment that He has given to me, “that ye love one another.” Did He command me to seek to become like Jesus? What a joy it became to do so as I studied His Word and spent time with Him in prayer. Was I told to distribute to the poor? Then I was to do it, not because love is a burden which I dared not shirk, but because Jesus taught, “Give to him that asketh of thee.” Did the Law say, “Love God with all your heart”? Then I could look into the very eyes of that demand and reply, “O commandment, Christ has fulfilled you already. I have no need, therefore, to fulfill you for my salvation.” But I did, and ever since have rejoiced to yield obedience to Him because God is my Father now and He has a claim upon me.

Redeemed from the Curse of the Law

Just what makes people think they are able, by their own efforts, to gain God's approval? While we're at it, let's ask another question and then answer them in the same order. What makes people think that Jesus, by His own effort on the cross, secured their salvation? We have both groups of people all around us. What say you?

First, let's talk about people who are good people and genuinely sincere in their belief that their goodness will earn them God's approval. There is a beautiful church next to our condo. But it doesn't stand alone and empty. Every day early in the morning neighbors flock there for their devotions. They really believe they are going to heaven because they are good people, even though they have rejected the grace way. Sadly they are not aware that God says, "As many as are of the works of the law [relying on rule-keeping to be justified before God] are under the curse." (Gal. 3:10) Unwittingly, they have placed themselves under the wrath of God because they have chosen a legal system that they cannot keep and they have rejected God's plan of gracious salvation through faith alone in Christ alone. In Galatians 3:10-12 Paul states that the Law cannot save.

The other group believes that Christ died for their sins and that His work, not theirs, is sufficient before God. They believe this because God said it was so. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written 'Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree [Christ's cross]. (Gal. 3:13) In this verse I find four very comforting truths: (1) God justifies the sinner by being moved over his hopeless condition, (2) God justifies the sinner by providing Christ as his perfect substitute, (3) God justifies the sinner by removing his curse and, (4) God justifies the sinner through faith alone in Christ.

Salvation is by Believing, not by Achieving

This "justification by faith alone" doctrine that the Apostle Paul believed and preached, does it have any grounds at all in the Torah? Or is this a message that he made up? The Judaizers believed the latter; many of Paul's disciples in Galatia were heading that way too; but Paul is adamant. He sets out in Galatians 3:6-12 to prove that his doctrine is God's. It originates and is deeply rooted in sacred Scripture. It is a central theme, not only in the New Testament message, but of the Old Testament as well. We need to keep stressing this in our day as Paul did in his. Many today believe that Old Testament religion was a religion of law and not gospel. If the false teachers wanted to reach back to Moses, Paul could go back further to Abraham, the esteemed ancester of the Israelites. He lived in a period prior to the law, the temple, and circumcision. In fact, he was even a Gentile before God called him! There, in the first book of the Bible, Paul finds the patriarch simply believing God's promise. What distinguished him as a man of God is that he simply took God at His Word. On that basis God justified him (Gen. 15:6). He did not win right standing with God by his own efforts. It was given to him as a result of his faith. The implication is obvious. Abraham's children are those who, like him, are trusting God to do for them what they have given up trying to do for themselves. Then Paul appeals to Scripture for a further point. Not only was Abraham justified by faith, he is definitely linked to the Gentile peoples. "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 12:3b). Reader, if you have never received Christ as your Savior, then hear this. The truth of justification, which was anticipated so clearly long ago, has now become visible and available in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed, everyone who believes are even now blessed along with Abraham. They are enjoying God's favor because they are believing God just as he did. The only demand God makes on you in connection with salvation is the trusting attitude of faith.