The Law and The Promise
The Promise preceded the Law
I. The Law Was Temporary
A. Scripture reveals God’s three basic provisions for dealing with men over the centuries—the patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian dispensations (note Mark 4:28). Recall God’s promise (Genesis 3:15, 12:3; Galatians 3:16). The gospel preceded the law in the promise. Galatians 3:19 explains why the law was added.
B. The law was inadequate, but not erroneous. It was not complete because it lacked the shedding of blood in a perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22). No one but Christ could keep the law perfectly (Galatians 3:10–13, 21). To the Galatians, troubled by the Judaizers, Paul made it clear that the law was like a school bus, designed to take us to the proper place (3:24).
II. The Law Was Fulfilled
A. Jesus regarded the law as provisional (Matthew 5:17, 18). It was good (Romans 7:12, 13), so good that only Jesus could keep it perfectly (Galatians 3:10ff). In Him it was fulfilled, filled full, completed.
B. Some try to limit the “law” to the Ten Commandments, but this is not correct. Where in them is there a reference to offering turtle doves and pigeons? (See Luke 2:22ff). The Ten Commandments contain the moral law, but they are not the moral law. Moral law as such cannot be done away with, and has not been.
C. In the New Testament, the Ten Commandments (except the Sabbath) are repeated, reinforced, and reissued. We live by their moral principles, but not by the Ten Commandments as such.
Scripture reveals God’s three basic provisions for dealing with men over the centuries—the patriarchal, Mosaic, and Christian dispensations (note Mark 4:28). Recall God’s promise (Genesis 3:15, 12:3; Galatians 3:16). The gospel preceded the law in the promise. Galatians 3:19 explains why the law was added.
B. The law was inadequate, but not erroneous. It was not complete because it lacked the shedding of blood in a perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22). No one but Christ could keep the law perfectly (Galatians 3:10–13, 21). To the Galatians, troubled by the Judaizers, Paul made it clear that the law was like a school bus, designed to take us to the proper place (3:24).
Jesus regarded the law as provisional (Matthew 5:17, 18). It was good (Romans 7:12, 13), so good that only Jesus could keep it perfectly (Galatians 3:10ff). In Him it was fulfilled, filled full, completed.
In the New Testament, the Ten Commandments (except the Sabbath) are repeated, reinforced, and reissued. We live by their moral principles, but not by the Ten Commandments as such.
III. The Gospel Is Our Permanent Authority
A. Jesus has all authority for all time (Matthew 28:18ff). He told the story of the new wine and old wine skins (Matthew 9:17). Paul reminded his readers how they were saved (Galatians 3:1–5).
B. We need no law but love for Christ; no rule of faith and practice but His New Testament; no requirements in the church but those He has laid down. God offers salvation, not on the basis of our keeping the law perfectly, but because of what Jesus did for us (3:26–29).