Galatians 3:19-29

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Purpose of the Law

Select a, b, or c. The theme of this epistle is a. justification by good works b. justification by faith c. justification by faith plus good works
What is the penalty for sin?
What is God’s plan of salvation for us?
What were the false teachers in Paul’s day teaching as a means for salvation?
What is meant by sanctification?
What were the false teachers teaching about sanctification?
Are works the means of salvation and sanctification?

b. justification by faith alone
Death (Romans 6:23)
God will forgive our sins and declare us righteous if we turn to Him in faith and receive Christ as our Savior. God can do this because Jesus died on the cross as our substitute, and paid the penalty for our sins with His own perfect life.
They were teaching that you had to do works of the law for salvation, along with faith.
Sanctification means becoming more godly or more holy in your Christian life.
They were teaching that you had to do works of the law for sanctification.
No. Works are the result of salvation and sanctification.

“The Scripture has confined all under sin.” (Galatians 3:22) What does this mean? The law comes in when people believe that they can meet God’s standards on their own. The moral requirements of the law reveal God’s righteous standards, and they show that everyone has fallen short. So the law was not given for salvation, but rather to show us that we all need salvation, because everyone is under sin. But there is no law that can give life. The moral law of God reveals our condition under sin, but does not have the power to take away sin. “…that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (Galatians 3:22) Even though God’s law leaves no doubt that everyone is under sin, the promise of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ is given to those who believe. Aren’t you thankful that salvation is by faith?
“The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” (Galatians 3:24-25) The concept of the law as a tutor is not that the law leads a person to Christ, but that the law was a protective disciplinarian until Christ came. In the Old Testament, God used the law to discipline and protect His people from the evil and pagan practices surrounding them. But it was all to prepare the way for Christ. Now, as believers, our rule of life is to walk with the Lord and to serve Him.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek. there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) There are some who would have you believe that this verse justifies removing all male/female role distinctions. Not so! The context here is not concerning roles, but it has to do with salvation, that salvation of everyone is through Christ alone. Don’t make Galatians 3:28 say what it doesn’t say.

“What purpose does the law serve? It was added because of transgression, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made…” (Galatians 3:19)
“Before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:23-24)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you all are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29)