The Logic of Law

1. The Logic of Law Galatians 3: 15-29

2. 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

3. “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

4. 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?”

5. 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)

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. “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