Purpose of the Law

Intro

We have entered into the planning stage of the holidays. Plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Very rarely do plans come together because of so many variables. When plans don’t come together, it’s chaos. We can start to lose trust in the one who is planning. We feel like we won’t have a good time at the party.

God connection - God had a plan from the beginning. There were very many variables, but they all served his purpose. In Galatians 3, Paul is explaining this grand plan and where these variables fit.

Main Idea: The law fulfilled God’s purpose

Galatians 3:15-29

Truth #1: The law did not nullify the promise (15-18)

Exp. Verses 15-17. Paul speaks in legal terms. God’s promise is unchangeable. 430 years before the law was given. Judaizers focus on law of Moses. Abraham was way before that. If law nullified the promise, then there is no promise, and therefore no hope.

Ill. Christian asking me for something and then asking Bethany. He’s trying to nullify what I said becuase it wasn’t what he wanted.

Exp. If the law brings righteousness, then what was the point of the promise? Verse 18. Paul also points out that we can understand what God was doing in light of the overall plan of the OT. Broad expanse.

Christ - God had a plan for the promise to point directly to Jesus. He is the “offspring.” Biblical Theology is important. Biblical Theology is the unfolding of salvation history. In January, we will walk through this.

App. What do we learn?

God is unchangeable.

Hebrews 6:17–20 ESV

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

God has a plan. Plan of ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Ultimate fulfillment for us.

Truth #2: The law was a guardian (19-24)

Exp. Verses 19-20. Different views on this. The knowledge of sin increased, so sin increased. Transgressions = violation; tresspass. I can now sin, therefore, I will. How is sin increased? Verses 21-22. If the law could give life, it would. Nullify Gal. 2:21. Scripture imprisoned everything under sin. Law fulfills the will of God by making sin evident. Works in tandem with the promise. Sin was increased because of trespasses.

Ill. If I told you the speed limit was 55, how fast would you go? 70 probably. We know the line, but we want to cross it anyway. One commentator said the law is a cage. The cage can keep the lion from eating the lamb, but it cannot take away the desire.

Exp. Verse 23-24. Law held us as captives but was also our guardian. Or custodian. In ancient world, would keep watch over kids. Like a baby-sitter. Children need this person in their lives until they reach maturity.

Ill. The guardian would teach the Israelites how to live and worship God. How to abstain from sin and perfectly live. In same way we teach our children manners. How we teach them to grow into maturity. We teach them to grow so that they do not need us anymore.

Exp. The problem is that the law was not an end in and of itself. It could not bring God’s plan into maturity. It could not make man righteous. It was not its job. The role of the law would watch over Israel until God’s plan would reach its climax, and then the babysitter could go home.

Truth #3: The law ended when Christ came (25-29)

Christ - Verse 25-26. Because of Christ we are no longer under a guardian. We are sons of God. Adopted as his children. This even a higher privilege than being justified because we have been made a part of his family. He didn’t say “sons and daughters.” Sons received highest share of inheritance. Every believer who is in Christ has been made a son and gets to enjoy the full blessing and inheritance of Jesus Christ.

Exp. Verse 27-28. Identity in Christ. Book of prayer for men. Thank God I’m not a Gentile, female, or slave. They were disqualified from relious practices. There are distinctions within the body, but not the inheritance.

App. While social distinctions exist, Paul’s argument still remains that the answer to the problems of race, class, and gender are all found in the gospel. We find our identity in Jesus Christ, not what we do.

Arg. Jesus did come to end social issues, but not by becoming a politician. He came to bring healing to these social issues by changing the hearts of mankind.

Ill. The law is like the cage that keeps the lion from the lamb. Jesus makes it where the lion and the lamb can run and eat together. He changes us from the inside.

App. We have been given an inheritance and yet we still squander it. Let me ask: Do you see God right now as the one who adopted you into his family? Are you being changed on the inside? Or do you find yourself only trying to behave on the outside?

If you are merely behaving, here are some next steps:

Repent. Repent of our sins or repent of doing good with selfish motives.

Give your life to Christ. Christianity must cost you something. You may not truly be saved.

Conclusion

God had a plan from the beginning. He had us in mind. He allowed us to see the grievousness of sin, and brought redemption through his son, Jesus. This should lead us to worship him fully.

Let’s pray.