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Galatians
BC Weekly Digest Monday, August 30 1999 In this issue: Galatians 3:23-29 Galatians 3:21-25 Galatians 3:26-29 Galatians 3:23-29 Galatians 3:23-29 (ASV) 23 But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that the law is become our tutor [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. 28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise. Comments by Howard Justice *3:23 "But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed." Before the advent of the law of Christ, all Jews were held under the care and authority of the Law of Moses. They were "shut up", i.e. they were sealed by the covenant of God with the Jews, awaiting the promise of the era of faith that was to be revealed in His Son, Christ Jesus. The concept here is that of a child or ward of the state whose care has been assigned to a special interest of an overseer or "schoolmaster" as the King James version notes. It is the basic concept of custody being granted to a third party (the Law of Moses) much like is done in the courts regarding the care of an orphaned child. God gave the custody of His people, the Jews, to the Law of Moses for a while until the era of faith would come in Christ Jesus. This denotes the temporary nature of the Law of Moses to which we alluded in a recent lesson. The Law of Moses was never intended to be a permanent law but was only temporary. It was to serve until the "fullness of time" when God could send His Son to serve as a sacrifice for mankind (Galatians 4:4). *3:24 "So that the law is become our tutor [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." It was the Law of Moses that was assigned the oversight of God's children until Christ would come. This comparison is matchless. The Roman custom of assigning a trusted slave to the oversight of the Roman child went far beyond that of a simple schoolmaster or even a tutor of today. This slave was entrusted with the very life of the child and knew full well that his own life would be lost if the child suffered any harm whatsoever. His duty as a "schoolmaster" or "tutor" as the ASV has it, was to accompany the child to the academy where he would receive his basic education. The slave would wait on his charge and then accompany him home at the end of the day. In addition, he was responsible for the total maturing of the child by constantly directing his development along Roman guidelines. We would call this slave a guardian today. It is vital that we understand that his duties were far greater than just that of being a "tutor" (one who teaches) or a "schoolmaster" (one assigned to the task of teaching), but entailed the total responsibility for the child under his care. In much the same way, the Law of Moses was not only a religious or spiritual law, but was also a civil law in that it directed not only the relationship between Jews themselves but also between the Jews and their neighbors. *3:25 "But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor." We are no longer under this legal arrangement with this special guardian because the era of faith, under Jesus Christ, has come. I can find no more compelling passage that supports the concept that the Law of Moses has been taken away than this. It is clearly evident, from the language here, that the Law was only a temporary "guardian" for the people of God's promise (the Jews) until the era of faith had come through Christ Jesus. In Colossians 2:13-15, there is a reference to the removal of the Law of Moses that is often used. However, I believe that it is not only often misapplied but is far more meaningful that is commonly accepted. Paul teaches that all mankind was "dead" in his trespasses (under the Law of Moses as well as the Law of the Patriarchs) but God made man "alive" by the forgiveness of his trespasses. It is the removal of this "true bill of conviction"; this death warrant much like that of the grand juries of today when they indict someone for their crimes against the state. In much the same order, man is freed from this indictment by the forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. To me, it is the curse of sin that has been removed and was nailed to His cross more than the Law itself. The Law of Moses was legally removed on the day of Pentecost, some fifty days after the Sabbath of the Passover. *3:26 "For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus." All who have obeyed the requirements of God in the Law of Christ, have become "adopted" sons of God. In Romans 8:14-16, we find Paul telling us that those of us who have accepted the terms of God through Jesus Christ have become "adopted" children and joint heirs with Christ. This is also a fulfillment of the promise made in John 1:11-12. It is the same as today when a couple adopts a child into their home as one of their own which makes this child a "joint heir" with their other children who were naturally born into that home. Hallelujah, what a great God we have! *3:27 " For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." Here Paul tells us exactly how it is that we become members of God's family. It is the "putting on" of the name of God by becoming a child of His great family. There is every assurance that we will be equally accepted, just as Christ is, in the great family of God. This "putting on" comes when we submit ourselves to the will of God through baptism (the final initiatory act of salvation) which is a demonstration of our complete acceptance of His authority rather than our own. To teach anything except baptism would be to thwart the authority of God and show our unwillingness to accept His terms. In Acts 2:38, Peter told those repentant Jews: "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The logical and legal sequence to this promise is that one must first submit to baptism (following the required hearing, faith, confession and repentance) in order to receive the forgiveness of sins. We are forgiven after and only after we have "fully" demonstrated our willingness to obey Him. In 1 Peter 3:21, Peter notes that like the ark was able to save Noah and his family, even so "baptism doth now also save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but an answering of a good conscience unto God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ"(KJV). It is this "answering of a good conscience" that is accomplished when we agree to accept His will over that of ours. In Colossians 2:11-12, Paul compares baptism to the act of circumcision under Judaism. He demonstrates that like the circumcision of the Law of Moses had removed the filthy foreskin of the Jewish male, even so baptism removes the "body of sins" from the convert under the Law of Christ. This means that we remain unjustified until the moment that we arise from the watery grave of baptism. In Romans 6:3-7, Paul compared the act of baptism to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ where the old man of sin is buried with Him through baptism and the convert is raised to walk in "newness of life." In the unbaptized state, we are unclean and unforgiven. It is in the act of baptism that God washes away the guilt of sin. It is then, and only then, are we able to enter the kingdom (Matt 7:21). *3:28 "There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus." In God's eyes, there is neither national, racial, cultural or sexual difference. Those relationships are only temporal and fleshly. Nothing of this nature is able to inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor 15:50). The kingdom to which all baptized believers are added is a spiritual relationship within the family of God and is not of this world, but is reserved and sealed by the Holy Spirit until the end of time (Eph 1:13). In the kingdom, all of God's children are equal. *3:29 "And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise." Because all men have received access to the promise made unto Abraham in the long ago (Genesis 18:18), those who have truly accepted Jesus have become Abraham's seed through the redemption found in Christ Jesus. The fulfillment of this "seed" promise unto Abraham has truly come in the likeness of Jesus Christ. Praise God! Howard Justice ------------------------------ Galatians 3:21-25 Galatians 3:21-25 (OPV) 21 Is law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law was given, capable of making alive, indeed righteousness would have resulted from law. 22 But the Scripture placed everything in confinement under sin that by [the] faith of Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe. 23 But before the faith came, we were being guarded under law, held in confinement for the faith which would later be revealed. 24 Thus, the law has been our custodian [to bring us] to Christ so we might be justified by faith. 25 But since the faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian. (Comments by Roy Davison) *3:21 "Is law then against the promises of God? Certainly not!" Although law brought a curse and condemnation rather than the promised blessings, the law was not in opposition to the promises. It served a temporary, yet vital, purpose in God's plan. *3:21 "For if a law was given, capable of making alive, indeed righteousness would have resulted from law." Righteousness is required for eternal life. But we are dead in trespasses and sin. Law makes this lost condition obvious. Righteousness cannot proceed from law. Law just makes it clear how unrighteous we are! The law itself was righteous: "And what great nation is there, that hath statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?" (Deut 4:8 ASV). As Paul explains, however, law is not the problem, but sin, for which law offers no solution: "So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good. Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; -- that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful" (Rom 7:12,13 ASV). Law cannot give life because it just shines a spotlight on our lost condition. Rescue must come from another source. *3:22 "But the Scripture placed everything in confinement under sin" In verse 10 a Scripture was quoted that places us all under a curse because of our sin. The function of law was not to justify, but to convict. We are hemmed in, confined, imprisoned by our own sins! Paul uses the same word to express a similar idea in Romans 11:32. "For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all" (ASV). *3:22 "That by [the] faith of Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe." This confinement is of course extremely unpleasant. As a consequence, from that position, one can see freedom from sin in Christ (Gal 5:1) shining in all its glory. Christ came to set us free from the prison of sin in which we have been locked up by law. Jesus explained this to the Jews, who did not value His offer of salvation because they expected to be saved simply because they were sons of Abraham. "Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, [then] are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered unto him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed: yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you" (John 8:31-37 ASV). The faith of Jesus Christ refers to the teachings of Christ embodied in the New Testament. To those who believe, who allow the word of Christ "free course" in themselves, this freedom comes through baptism by which we have fellowship with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Rom 6:4,5), "knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin" (Rom 6:6). "But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter" (Rom 7:6 ASV). *3:23 "But before the faith came, we were being guarded under law, held in confinement for the faith which would later be revealed." As mentioned above, "the faith" refers to the doctrine believed by Christians (compare with Gal 1:23; 3:25; Acts 6:7). In the next chapter it is mentioned that Christ Himself was under law that He might redeem those who were under law (Gal 4:4,5). *3:24 Thus, the law has been our custodian [to bring us] to Christ so we might be justified by faith. The Greek word translated "custodian" is so rooted in a particular custom of the Greek-Roman world that its full force and its extreme suitability can only be understood by explanation. This word refers to a person assigned as a chaperone, teacher, guardian and protector of a young man. He took him to school, brought him home, supervised all his activities, helped him with his homework, and in general was responsible for his safety, well-being and development. Thus, the law was not against the promise, but was given as preparation for the realization of the promise. *3:25 But since the faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian. This custodian provided strict supervision! This was required because of the inexperience of the boy who, without the help of the custodian, might be harmed or might find himself in situations where he did not recognize the danger. It was the custodian's responsibility to guide the boy to manhood when he would no longer need such supervision, but would have become a responsible and mature adult. In chapter 4 Paul will expand on this guardian function of the law (Gal 4:1,2). The concept of no longer being under law is often misunderstood and misapplied. At one extreme, the principle is misused to excuse continuing in sin. John's first letter refutes this notion. At the other extreme, the concept is rejected entirely. Law-keeping is imposed as a means of salvation, often in conjunction with an intermixing of the Old and New Covenants. Not being under law means that we have God's law written in our hearts and expressed in our lives so we are living self-motivated examples of what the law requires (see Rom 8:10-12; 10:16,17 and compare with Rom 2:14-16). It also means that when we fall short of this high goal, we have access to forgiveness by the grace of God in Christ Jesus. "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid" (Rom 6:14,15 ASV). "If you are Spirit led, you are not under law" (Gal 5:18). Roy Davison ------------------------------ Galatians 3:26-29 Galatians 3:26-29 (OPV) 26 Because -- through the faith -- you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, nor is there male and female, because you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise. Comments by Roy Davison *3:26 "Because" Paul now explains why Israel was no longer under a custodian. *3:26 "Through the faith" Sonship does not come through the law (the custodian) but through the Christian faith. The words "the faith" (in Greek) in verses 25 and 26 are sometimes translated simply as "faith". But faith existed under the Old Covenant. It was the coming of "the faith" - - - the Christian faith, that brought maturity and freedom from the guardianship of the law. *3:26 "You are all sons of God" Here Paul changes from "we" to "you". He has been talking about the guardianship of his own nation Israel under the law. Now he starts discussing sonship in Christ, which is available to all. "But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12 ASV). Whether they are Jews or non-Jews, sonship comes through Christian faith, not through law or physical descent: "having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth" (1 Peter 1:23 ASV). *3:26 "In Christ Jesus" This sonship is in Christ who is the seed to whom the promise was given: "That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed" (Rom 9:8 ASV). "The blessing of Abraham" is "for the nations in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:14). Being in Christ means being part of His body, the church (Eph 5:29,30; Eph 1:22,23). *3:27 "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ" The statement "for as many of you" allows no exceptions. To be "in Christ" we must be "baptized into Christ." There are no "unbaptized" Christians. "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit" (1 Cor 12:12,13 ASV). In his letter to the Romans, Paul explains this more fully: "Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with [him] in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin" (Rom 6:3-6 ASV). Law brings bondage to sin. Baptism (a burial in water) unites us with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ to free us from bondage to sin. That is why Paul himself, after he had believed and repented of his sins, was told by Ananias: "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16 ASV). There is one baptism (Eph 4:5). We must be born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5). When a penitent believer is immersed into Christ, he is given new life by the Spirit: "Not by works [done] in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:5-7). "Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new" (2 Cor 5:17 ASV). *3:27 "Have put on Christ" When we are baptized into Christ we are clothed with Christ. As a consequence, we are also clothed with His righteousness. "I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Is 61:10 ASV). We cannot be righteous before God on our own merits: "For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away" (Is 64:6 ASV). "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfill] the lusts [thereof]" (Rom 13:14 ASV). *3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek" Nationality and ethnic origin are of no significance in Christ: "seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him: where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all" (Col 3:9-11 ASV). "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same [Lord] is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him" (Rom 10:12 ASV). *3:28 "There is neither slave nor freeman" "For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant" (1 Cor 7:22 ASV); "knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him" (Eph 6:8,9 ASV). Notice that the distinction is not denied. But in Christ it is neutralized. *3:28 "Nor is there male and female" "From the beginning of the creation, Male and female made he them" (Mark 10:6 ASV). Although there are physical differences, and different roles in the home and in the church, this does not affect ones worth in Christ. After the resurrection, this distinction will no longer exist (Luke 20:35,36). *3:28 "Because you are all one in Christ Jesus" Paul discusses the oneness of Jews and Gentiles in His letter to the Ephesians. "For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in the flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, [so] making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph 2:14-18 ASV). Before returning to the Father, Jesus prayed that His followers might be one: "Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we [are] one" (John 17:20-22 ASV). *3:29 "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed" Christ is Abraham's seed (verse 16). We are baptized into Christ (verse 27). In Christ we are descendants of Abraham, and therefore heirs of the promise. Because we are in Christ (who is the son of Abraham and the Son of God) we too are sons of Abraham and sons of God. Through His sacrifice on the cross, Christ brings many sons to glory (Heb 2:10). *3:29 "Heirs according to promise" "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified with [him]" (Rom 8:14-17 ASV). Roy Davison