HEIRS THROUGH THE PROMISE

Introduction

Main Point: These verses show us the purpose of the Law which is to lead us to freedom and heirship with and through Christ.

Read - Galatians 3:23-29

Galatians 3:23–29 NASB95

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Message

Story about being stuck in back of station wagon on the way to pre-school

I. BONDAGE

picture of jail

Galatians 3:23-24

Galatians 3:23–24 NASB95

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

“being shut up”

confine to specific limits, imprison

to shut up on all sides

fish in cage

cows in pin

Tutor - disciplinarian

a leader of a boy

a slave or freed man who attends and guards a boy to and from school, and looks after his moral character.

He would go over with him what was learned in school and help him to review

once the would become of age the tutor was no longer needed.

Galatians (2) The Purpose of the Law (3:19–25)

The pedagogue took over where the nanny left off in terms of offering menial care and completing the process of socialization for his charge. For example, one of the functions of the pedagogue was to offer instruction in the basics of manners as this description from Plutarch reveals: “And yet what do tutors [hoi paidagōgoi] teach? To walk in the public streets with lowered head; to touch salt-fish but with one finger, but fresh fish, bread, and meat with two; to sit in such and such a posture; in such and such a way to wear their cloaks.”124 The pedagogues also offered round-the-clock supervision and protection to those under their care. In this regard Libanius described the pedagogues as guardians of young teenage boys who warded off unsolicited homosexual advances their charges regularly encountered in the public baths, thus becoming “like barking dogs to wolves.”125

Justified by Faith

render a favorable verdict

be acquitted

no longer under the law

found by God to be in the right

The Law

for Jews was used to isolate (pin in) or protect and separate them from the rest of the world.

worship different

eat different

With Christ in mind Paul took it to a grander scale. One that pined in the entire human race.

Pined them into the sentence of condemnation, punishment.

separated from God through sin.

II. FREEDOM

Galatians 3:25-27

Galatians 3:25–27 NASB95

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Sons of God

Adult sons

freed from the tutor

III. NEW LIFE

Galatians 3:28-29

Galatians 3:28–29 NASB95

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

The days of the Jews being the only chosen has now changed.

Conclusion

Main Point: These verses show us the purpose of the Law which is to lead us to freedom and heirship with and through Christ.