GALATIANS 3
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 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 free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.– Galatians 3:19-29
GALATIANS 3 SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
God’s law was given because of our transgressions
These laws reflect our sinful nature that needs to be addressed
The truth exposes all evil and gave us the gift of freedom
The law became our guardian against sins before Christ came
When Jesus died for all our sinfulness, we became sons of God
We no longer are slaves to sin but we are now slaves to righteousness.
In this letter, Paul talks about the believers as heirs according to the promise of God to his people. When the commandments were given to his people through Moses, it was a form of mirror so that the people of God could be aware of their sinful nature until his promise of a Savior was fulfilled. When Jesus died on the cross, those laws were summed up in two: to love God above all things and then to love others as we love ourselves. We were freed from our sinful nature and given a new creation in Christ. We no longer serve our cravings but we now aim to please the Lord and serve him and walk in righteousness.
REFLECTION
- What changed when Jesus died for us when it comes to following God’s laws?
