Galatians--A Look

[Alive]

I am going to place this in 'General Discussion', but it may be moved. It is my hope that this OP will bring clarity to some and result in further study.

________________________________________

 

We that have been born and raised especially, but not limited to western civilization are aware of the 10 commandments whether we were brought up in a Christian environment or not. Of course we don't actively choose not to obey the 10 with the possible exception of the Sabbath as folks understand it. Looking at it that way, is the inverse of what our new 'heart of flesh' shows us.

The issue is always where we place the emphasis regarding the principle of Law and the principle of Life. We are taught in the scriptures that He wrote His law on our hearts and that the 'New Creation'--that New Life Nature and the Holy Spirit within desires to serve and please God. If we follow the teaching and dictates of His Life, we will be seeking to please Him. That is the experiential side of our lives since being born again. From our heavenly Father's point of view, we are justified. When He looks at us, He sees the perfection of His Son and His blood cleanses us from all sin. The Father is pleased with us because of the Son. This is the Truth of the work of the cross. The pleasure He has with the Son is passed onto us. The substitutionary work of the Cross covers all the ground that God required. From His perspective, our works of law keeping or being a good Samaritan can't augment the pleasure of the Son. The works that we do that have their origin 'In Him' prepared by the Father do three things. They add joy to our lives, shed light into the world and produce reward for us later on--but do not add to the 'Righteousness  of Christ' that is imparted to us; nor does it 'save us or keep us saved'.

We are children of Abraham, the father of those of faith. We are not children of Moses. The Father through Paul gave us an absolutely wonderful treatise on Law and Grace. Studying Galatians is an amazing experience of clarity. I love what the Holy Spirit says in chapter 3:15 and nearby.

Gal. 3:15   Brethren, bI speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s 2covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is 1based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

It's profitable to unpack the entire letter, but I am thinking of looking at this section.

Paul starts by using a human example of a contract or covenant. He is saying clearly by example that once a contract is ratified, it doesn't get changed. The conditions of the covenant are not altered nor are any conditions added to it. That covenant was made with Abraham and his seed which is Christ and then we who are His by extension. That covenant we know was made by Grace and through Faith. Paul continues and explains that the giving of the law did (does) not invalidate the previous covenant that God ratified. God put that covenant (the covenant of Grace by Faith) officially 'in force'.

The law didn't alter or add conditions to it and it did not nullify it. In other words, the giving of the law did not do away with, alter, augment, add to or replace the previous contract.

Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.

Gal. 3:6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

We know the Law came because of transgression and was a tool to 'bring us to Christ',  but once reaching Christ we are the recipients of and included in the previous covenant. Righteousness by faith through the Grace of God, not of works lest any man should boast.

So for us who are born again, we are not under law as slaves, but rather under Grace and a 'New Life' as adopted sons with all of the benefits of that sonship. Paul goes on to discuss the differences in being a slave and a freeman. Bond or free. Hagar and Sarah, etc. Paul goes on to explain the foolishness of wanting to go back to 'law keeping' in place of Grace.

All this to show that we have been set free in order to have the privilege of living by the principle of Life rather than the principle of law keeping.

Gal. 3:10   For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

 The tell tale sign that something is amiss is when a believer begins to speak in terms of 'keeping or obeying' the law. The emphasis is inevitably in the wrong place.

We ought to be looking within to Christ and the Holy Spirit rather than outwardly to a list of laws. The first results in Grace and peace and the fruit of the Spirit which fulfills that law. The second results in a lack of ease, bondage and fleshly works. Experientially, these two are worlds apart.

Consider how these two covenants (contracts) are incompatible.

If the Law was never given, would that change the Abrahamic covenant of faith and Grace?

If only the Law was given and never the Abrahamic covenant, where would we be?

We have been given the Spirit. Do we start in the Spirit and finish via the flesh?

It is a very good thing to study Galatians in depth. Our God provided it for us and made these things very clear.

I am feeling that my writing here is inadequate and rather am trusting the Lord and the Holy Spirit, who is our Teacher--to make things clear.

Do we trust Him or do we trust ourselves?

 

The Law is good and holy and instructs us in what pleases and displeases our God. It provides an 'analog' metric for a baseline of morality and living among others. This can't be and is never disputed.

For the born again believer who has had the law written on his heart, it becomes a matter of emphasis. What we sometimes miss is what Paul teaches regarding the 'principles' of LAW and LIFE and how they are juxtaposed against each other. This is a real thing and vital for a son of God to understand.

Rom. 8:2 For ^ahe law of the Spirit of life¹in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  For what the Law could not do,^bweak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

If we read through Romans 7 and 8 we find Paul teaching something of these two principles and just how the law functions experientially to make obvious the 'sin in the flesh' and how 'conversion' sets us free from that bondage. The law is holy and good, but it serves to function in that it makes obvious the sinful nature within.

This is what is meant when the word teaches us that the law is a 'tutor' to lead us to Christ.

Jesus Himself put a spotlight on this in His discourse with one of the scribes who asked Him about the greatest commandment.

Mark 12:28 One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, What commandment is the foremost of all? ²⁹ Jesus answered,The foremost is, HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; ³⁰ AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. The second is this, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. There is no other commandment greater than these.

Remember Jesus came to 'fulfill' the Law.

When Jesus replied thus to the scribe, He was raising the bar. Jesus knew full well that men can't do this all the time, if ever. The bar is too high for even Jesse Owens to leap over. Jesus was literally --at that moment---being the tutor that leads to Himself. Think about that for a minute. Jesus, who was fulfilling the law was pointing to the solution (Himself) that would later be taught by the Apostles. Nobody understood this at this time. He taught the disciples those things after His resurrection and after the Pentecost event. He wasn't saying and never did Teach that the Law was abolished---only that it was to be 'fulfilled' and later expressed from within--with the power of a New Life and a heart of flesh by the Church, His Body. The power of the law of the sprit of Life in Christ Jesus that would set us free from the law of sin and death. The emphasis is on a New Life--on Christ within to fulfill the law.

May the Lord make this clear to us.

 

[Michael37]

6 hours ago, Alive said:

It is my hope that this OP will bring clarity to some and result in further study.

So you think clarity is lacking in regard to what exactly?

[JohnR7]

7 hours ago, Alive said:

The Law is good and holy and instructs us in what pleases and displeases our God.

David teaches us about how the law was written for us and for our benefit. God as a loving Father wants what is best for us. 

Jesus lived His live as an example for us to follow. There was a book written WWJD. What would Jesus do. Often people do not follow the example Jesus gives us, esp when it comes to work and making money.  

Edited July 4, 2022 by JohnR7

[Alive]

2 hours ago, Michael37 said:

So you think clarity is lacking in regard to what exactly?

There are many on the forum, Michael.

[Michael37]

7 minutes ago, Alive said:

There are many on the forum, Michael.

And you discern some lack clarity on the subject of . . . ?