argument from the law | truthandlove

THE ARGUMENT FROM THE LAW (GAL. 3:10-4:11)

(Gal. 3:10) Says-" All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written : " cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the book of the law ". Man cannot possibly keep all the laws. James said in (James 2:10)- " For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it". Meaning- one sin , small or great, makes a man sinner and brings him under condemnation. Then (Gal. 3:11) Says- " Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, " The righteous will live by faith". Man can become justified in God's sight only by faith. He who is righteous by faith ( rather than works ) shall live. A person who has been made righteous by God lives and ( survives the coming ordeal ) by faith. The true believer trusts God in everything and gives thanks to God in everything .

Then Paul says in (Gal. 3:13) -" Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written : cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree ". The law brings a curse. The believer is delivered from the curse through Christ who became a curse for us. The crucifixion brought him under the curse of the law, as explained in ( Det. 21:23) that says- " you must not leave his body on the tree over night. Be sure to bury him that same day, because any one who is hung on a tree is under God's curse ....... ".

Then Paul says in (Gal. 3:16)- " The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The scripture does not say " and to seeds, " meaning many people, but " and to your seed, "meaning one person, who is Christ. God called Abraham and promise to make him a blessing to the world. He made him blessing to the world through Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham. Christ is the one who brought salvation to the world. The word seed refers specifically to Christ ( Gen 22:18).

Christ said , " Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad " (John 8:56). ThEN Paul said in (Gal. 317) - " -----The law, introduced 430 years later, DOES NOT SET ASIDE THE CONVENANT PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISED BY GOD AND THUS DO AWAY WITH THE PROMISE . THE MOSAIC LAW DID NOT SET ASIDE THE PROMISES MADE TO ABRAHAM. AND, DURING THOSE HUNDRED OF YEARS BEFORE THE LAW, GOD HAD ALSO JUSTIFIED MAN ONLY BY FAITH.

Then in (Gal. 3:19-20) says -" What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgression until the seed to whom the referred promise had come. The law was put into effect through Angels by a Mediator. A Mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one ". THE LAW WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS UNTIL THE SEED (JESUS ) TO WHOM THE REFERRED PROMISE HAD COME. " This means the law was temporary . The law was given for the interval between the time of Moses until the time of Christ. " For the law was given through Moses ; Grace and Truth came to Jesus Christ " (John 1:17).

The Law was mediated through angels and Moses; whereas the covenant with Abraham was given directly by God ( Gen.15:18) . The presence of the a Mediator assumes two parties; and the need of a Mediator shows the inferiority of the law.

Then Paul says in (Gal. 3:24-27)- " So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were BAPTIIZED INTO CHRIST have CLOTHED YOURSELVES WITH CHRIST ."

" BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST "- meaning- not water baptism but SPIRIT BAPTISM, which brings believers into a living union with Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).

" HAVE COTHED YOURSELVES WITH CHRIST "- meaning- a responsible act of appropriating all that Jesus Christ is.

Then in (Gal. 4:3) says- " so also, when we were children, we were in slavery under THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD " - meaning- THEY WERE IN THE BONDAGE OF A LEGALISTIC PRACTICE OF JUDAISM. This view of the matter is confirmed by the use of the same word principles in ( Gal. 4:9) that says, "but now that you know God - or rather are known by God- how is it that you are turning to those weak and miserable principles?

Then Paul says in (Gal. 4-4:5) -" But when the time had fully come, God sent His son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons".

" BORN UNDER THE LAW"- meaning- Christ was reared in conformity to the mosaic law.

NOW WHAT WAS GOD'S PURPOSE IN SENDING HIS SON?

God had twofold purpose (1) to redeem those under the law. They were children under the law. You see, the law never made

anyone a son of God. (2) that they might receive the adoption of sons.

Then in ( Gal. 4:6-7) God said-" Because you are sons, God sent the spirit of His son into our hearts, the spirit who calls out "ABBA , FATHER ", So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

" BECAUSE YOU ARE SONS " - is a very strong statement.

Paul says in (Rom. 8:16) - " The spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children ". Paul continues to say in Romans, " And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raise Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit, who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation- But it is not to the sinful nature to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die ; But if by the spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body , you will live, because those who are led by the spirit are sons of God" (Rom. 8:11-14).

If you are a child of God, you will want to be led by the spirit of God. The flesh or the sinful nature may get a victory in your life, but it will never make you happy. You will never be satisfied with it, " For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the spirit of Sonship. And by Him we cry, ''ABBA, FATHER". The spirit himself testifies with our own spirit that we are God's children " (Rom.8:15-16) . Sonship or Adoption is the act of God that places the believer in his family as an adult son (Gal. 4:5 ; Ep. 1:5). At the same time he is born into the family of God as a child who needs to grow and develop. His position is one of full Privilege, His practice involves growth in grace.

Written by Osmundo S. Sabado

Edited by Orman L. Sabado