Galatians 3:19-22 says...
Today's verses are Galatians 3:19-22, which read,
v.19 - Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
Wow, a lot of information here. Paul asks the question, "If righteous is given to us only through faith in Jesus Christ, then why do we have the Law that can trip us up into a legalistic/works mentality about salvation?"
Paul is saying on human terms, you use a mediator when there is a dispute between two parties. The mediator stands between the two and listens and determines the best course of action. You will either accept and submit to the mediator's ruling or you will reject it. The Law fills that position between God and man in regards to showing us our sin.
But God's promise of a Seed, Jesus does not need a mediator. God's promise stands alone outside of the Law. God, Himself, gave His word of His Son that no one could debate or choose not to accept in the realm that He is the Seed. It makes me think of the verse that "..every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord." All may not accept Jesus as their Lord for salvation but there will be a day when no one will deny that He is even though they may not be with Him in eternity. The promise needs no mediator.
v.21 - 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 the law.
God gave the promise of the Seed and God gave us the Law. If God in the Law would have given a law that was able to impart life, then righteousness would have been given that way. The point is that God didn't give "a law" that would do that but He gave a promise of a Seed that would impart life.
v.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.
"...shut up..." means to "to enclose on all sides." The Law points that we are not righteous, no not one. The Law points that we are all sinners and have missed the mark. The Law says that we are all in need of a Savior for rescue and so the promise of Jesus is necessary to fulfill what the Law cannot give.
That promise of Jesus Christ is given to those who believe, those who are persuaded by the conviction of the truth that Jesus died on the cross and rose on the third day for the forgiveness of our sins and holding confidence of this hope. We live our lives out in light of that belief.
Paul continues to detail out the role of the Law and the role of the Promise. Both are in existence and not to be done away with but rather seen for their purpose in our lives. The definition of both helps us to keep them in their rightful place for the purpose they were given by God.
"Lord, thank You for both the Law and the Promise. Thank You for how they work together and not against each other. Thank You for giving the Promise and then giving the Law to point to that Promise that continues to come into the lives of those around us who need to hear about You. May I see someone today who needs to hear about the Promise as they are struggling under the weight of the Law. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.19 - Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
Wow, a lot of information here. Paul asks the question, "If righteous is given to us only through faith in Jesus Christ, then why do we have the Law that can trip us up into a legalistic/works mentality about salvation?"
- "It was added..." - God gave us the Law at a later time after the promise of a Seed, Jesus Christ.
- "...because of transgressions,..." - The Law was given to us because we needed something to point out our sin before the Seed, Jesus Christ came.
- "...ordained through angels..." - The angels had a role in bringing the Law.
- "...by the agency of a mediator..." - I believe this refers to Moses who gave the Law to the people and later prophets who spoke the Law to the people.
- "...until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made." - The appearing of Jesus was coming and the Law was in place for this purpose to point to His coming.
Paul is saying on human terms, you use a mediator when there is a dispute between two parties. The mediator stands between the two and listens and determines the best course of action. You will either accept and submit to the mediator's ruling or you will reject it. The Law fills that position between God and man in regards to showing us our sin.
But God's promise of a Seed, Jesus does not need a mediator. God's promise stands alone outside of the Law. God, Himself, gave His word of His Son that no one could debate or choose not to accept in the realm that He is the Seed. It makes me think of the verse that "..every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord." All may not accept Jesus as their Lord for salvation but there will be a day when no one will deny that He is even though they may not be with Him in eternity. The promise needs no mediator.
v.21 - 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 the law.
God gave the promise of the Seed and God gave us the Law. If God in the Law would have given a law that was able to impart life, then righteousness would have been given that way. The point is that God didn't give "a law" that would do that but He gave a promise of a Seed that would impart life.
v.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.
"...shut up..." means to "to enclose on all sides." The Law points that we are not righteous, no not one. The Law points that we are all sinners and have missed the mark. The Law says that we are all in need of a Savior for rescue and so the promise of Jesus is necessary to fulfill what the Law cannot give.
That promise of Jesus Christ is given to those who believe, those who are persuaded by the conviction of the truth that Jesus died on the cross and rose on the third day for the forgiveness of our sins and holding confidence of this hope. We live our lives out in light of that belief.
Paul continues to detail out the role of the Law and the role of the Promise. Both are in existence and not to be done away with but rather seen for their purpose in our lives. The definition of both helps us to keep them in their rightful place for the purpose they were given by God.
"Lord, thank You for both the Law and the Promise. Thank You for how they work together and not against each other. Thank You for giving the Promise and then giving the Law to point to that Promise that continues to come into the lives of those around us who need to hear about You. May I see someone today who needs to hear about the Promise as they are struggling under the weight of the Law. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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