Galatians 3:1-29
We can often become distracted from that which is best by that which is good. The believers in Galatia were giving priority to the Law over faith. The Law is not an evil thing, however it was never intended to replace faith. As long as the Law is used for its intended purpose, it is a great blessing from God. However, when the Law is used as a substitute for faith it becomes perverted and results in a curse instead of a blessing.
THE SUPERIORITY OF FAITH: Paul demonstrates the faith is superior to works, nationality, and the Law. Justification never came about as a result of man's works. Faith in the work of Christ on the Cross is the only divine requirement for salvation. We must never be deluded into thinking that the doctrines of human effort can be added to the doctrine of faith. We also cannot think that faith can be inherited because we were born into a certain family or are descendants of a certain nationality. We often identify nations by the predominant religion practiced in that nation. However, a relationship with God is a personal issue not a national issue. Citizenship in a Christian nation or membership in a believing family may provide wonderful blessings and opportunities for salvation but they are not substitutes for justification by faith. The Jews were not justified because they were descendants of Abraham and we are not justified because we belong to Christian nation or family. Faith is superior to the Law because it performs a superior purpose. Faith justifies those to trust Christ, while the Law condemns those who walks in disobedience. The condemnation of the Law serves a noble purpose, but it is pointless apart from justification through Christ. We must never try to make the Law a substitute for faith.
THE INFERIORITY OF THE LAW: Paul gives several reasons why the Law is inferior to faith. The first reason is that it came after faith. Abraham was justified by faith four hundred and thirty years before the Law was ever given. Keeping the Law was never meant to be a prerequisite to faith, God's requirement of faith was given long before He reveled the Law. The second reason is that the purpose of the Law was to reveal sin not to release us from sin. The Law has the vital purpose of showing men the just requirements of God so that man can see that he falls short of these requirements. As God's righteousness is revealed, man recognized his own wretchedness. This is an important aspect of God's grace in revealing to man his need of salvation but it does not change man's standing before God. Only faith in Christ can do that. The final purpose of the Law then is to point people to Christ. As men recognize their inability to keep the Law, they must then turn to Christ as their only hope. When we do that, we trust Christ and are justified by His work on our behalf. Just as John the Baptist pointed men to Christ, the Law points men to Christ. That which leads men to Christ can never be considered superior to or a substitute of Christ. The Law holds an important place in God's revelation of Himself to man. However, it must never be seen a replacement for the righteousness that it available to us through faith in Christ.
THE SUPERIORITY OF FAITH: Paul demonstrates the faith is superior to works, nationality, and the Law. Justification never came about as a result of man's works. Faith in the work of Christ on the Cross is the only divine requirement for salvation. We must never be deluded into thinking that the doctrines of human effort can be added to the doctrine of faith. We also cannot think that faith can be inherited because we were born into a certain family or are descendants of a certain nationality. We often identify nations by the predominant religion practiced in that nation. However, a relationship with God is a personal issue not a national issue. Citizenship in a Christian nation or membership in a believing family may provide wonderful blessings and opportunities for salvation but they are not substitutes for justification by faith. The Jews were not justified because they were descendants of Abraham and we are not justified because we belong to Christian nation or family. Faith is superior to the Law because it performs a superior purpose. Faith justifies those to trust Christ, while the Law condemns those who walks in disobedience. The condemnation of the Law serves a noble purpose, but it is pointless apart from justification through Christ. We must never try to make the Law a substitute for faith.
THE INFERIORITY OF THE LAW: Paul gives several reasons why the Law is inferior to faith. The first reason is that it came after faith. Abraham was justified by faith four hundred and thirty years before the Law was ever given. Keeping the Law was never meant to be a prerequisite to faith, God's requirement of faith was given long before He reveled the Law. The second reason is that the purpose of the Law was to reveal sin not to release us from sin. The Law has the vital purpose of showing men the just requirements of God so that man can see that he falls short of these requirements. As God's righteousness is revealed, man recognized his own wretchedness. This is an important aspect of God's grace in revealing to man his need of salvation but it does not change man's standing before God. Only faith in Christ can do that. The final purpose of the Law then is to point people to Christ. As men recognize their inability to keep the Law, they must then turn to Christ as their only hope. When we do that, we trust Christ and are justified by His work on our behalf. Just as John the Baptist pointed men to Christ, the Law points men to Christ. That which leads men to Christ can never be considered superior to or a substitute of Christ. The Law holds an important place in God's revelation of Himself to man. However, it must never be seen a replacement for the righteousness that it available to us through faith in Christ.
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