Many have interpreted Paul’s comment in Galatians 3:25 as a complete dismissal of the law. This makes little sense, however, in light of Paul’s positive comments about the law elsewhere in the Bible. 1 What does he, then, mean? First, we are no longer under the law’s condemnation (Rom. 8:3). As believers, we are in Christ and enjoying the … Continue reading –>
Keeping within the lines 1 Darcy and Danielle laid out the pictures on the table next to the box of crayons. Darcy’s picture was of a giraffe surrounded by trees with a monkey peering around the giraffe’s neck. Danielle’s was of a picnic table in a forest, loaded with pineapples, bananas, and other tropical fruit … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: The law points us to Christ. Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law in submission to His Father’s will. By living His life, God writes the law in our hearts.. [Teaching Plan for The Road to Faith November 9, 2011] 1. Have a volunteer read Galatians 3:22,23. A. Ask class members to share a … Continue reading –>
In Galatians 3:23, Paul describes the law as a guarding and protecting force. To what does he liken it in verse 24, and what does that mean? 1 The word translated “schoolmaster” (KJV) comes from the Greek wordpaidagogos. Some versions translate it as “disciplinarian” (NRSV), “tutor” (NKJV),or even “guardian” (ESV), but no single word fully can encompass its meaning. The paidagogos was a slave … Continue reading –>
Paul gives two basic conclusions about the law: (1) the law does not nullify or abolish God’s promise made to Abraham (Gal. 3:15–20); (2) the law is not opposed to the promise (Gal. 3:21, 22).1 What role does the law actually play then? Paul writes that it was added “because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:19), and he expands on this idea … Continue reading –>
In Galatians 3:23, Paul writes that “before faith came, we were kept under the law.” By “we” Paul is referring to the Jewish believers in the Galatian churches. They are the ones acquainted with the law, and Paul has been speaking to them in particular since Galatians 2:15. This can be seen in the contrast between the … Continue reading –>
“Is the law then contrary to the promises of God?”(Gal. 3:21, ESV). Sensing that his comments might lead his opponents to conclude he had a disparaging view of the law or that his comments about the priority of God’s promises were just a veiled put-down of Moses and the Torah, Paul asks the very question … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gal. 3:21–25; Lev. 18:5; Rom. 3:9–19; 1 Cor. 9:20; Rom. 3:1, 2; 8:1–4. Memory Text: “Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:22, ESV). Homing pigeons long have been known for their ability to fly hundreds of miles a day and … Continue reading –>
