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Sunday 11 October 2009

Galatians 3:23-25

The Law was not the destination, but a temporary stopping place. The Law was a kind of guardian for the people of Israel, but only until faith came. Notice that it says "the faith that was to come would be revealed", this is not faith as an abstract entity, not faith in anything, but only faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Law was put in charge of the Jews so that they could be justified by faith. Now that Christ has come, no one is any longer under the supervision of the Law.

What does this mean? How did the law act as a guardian? The Law reveals something of the heart of God. It revealed many things that were right and wrong, it revealed social attitudes and justice. It revealed the need for sacrifice. It revealed that there was only one true God. It also revealed a concern for people outside of Israel. and of course it clearly demonstrated man's need for a saviour.

"No longer under the supervision of the law". This manifestly does not mean that we can do what we like. Murder, lying, adultery, worshipping other gods etc are all still wrong. They were wrong before the Law, wrong during the Law, and wrong now. What Paul means is that the Law is no longer a means of defining who God's people are.

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