Gal 3:25 | KingComments | STEP | . In this section Paul puts two eras opposite to each other. One era is that of faith, that is the period in which God deals with man by faith. The other period is that of the law, that is the period in which God deals with man by keeping the law, so do what the law says. The era of ‘faith’ is in essence the Christian era – the period that started when Christ came to earth, accomplished His work on the cross and returned to the Father. After that the Holy Spirit came on earth and Christendom started. The era of the law was characterized by strict statutes which God had imposed on Israel, His earthly people. To the Jew it was a yoke (bondage), under which he suffered as a prisoner. It took away all his freedom of action, it governed his whole life. On penalty of death he had to keep it. The law protected him from mingling with the nations around him ( ). But the era of the law had a restricted period of validity. This era lasted “up to the faith which was later to be revealed” ( ); that means that with the coming of Christ a new era would begin. . After presenting the law as a prison, Paul uses another example for the law: a tutor. A tutor is a person in a household who is a guardian or caretaker, someone who oversees the physical wellbeing of a child entrusted to his care. That is the function of the law. The law ensures that man adheres to the commandments of God which are given to him to obtain life. However, since man is depraved and is not able to keep the law, the desire arises in him for a Deliverer. The law doesn’t show the way to Christ, it doesn’t “[lead us]” to Christ. The brackets make it clear that these words don’t belong to the original Greek text. It is about the period of time in which God dealt with His people on the basis of the law. In that period it was proven by the law that we are incorrigible sinners who fall under the condemnation of God. He who is going to realize that, searches for a solution to escape from that condemnation. God has prepared that solution in Christ and in His work of reconciliation on the cross. Because the Lord Jesus has accomplished His work on the cross, it is possible to be justified in Him by faith. This is by faith alone, not by law nor by any effort of man. . Since the accomplished work of Christ, God no longer deals with man on the basis of law, but only on the basis of faith. Therefore it can be said: “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” This is about the period of time in which God deals with people on the basis of faith. The law has had its time. The Galatians had to be fully aware of this and thereby they have to shake off the Jewish false teachers. . Then Paul makes a powerful statement to prove that the law has lost its validity for the Christian. By faith the Christian has come in a new position before God: that of son. Yes, you read it right: SON! That’s quite different from being a slave, such as is the position of someone under the law, or someone who places himself under the law. If you fully understand what it means that you and all believers are “predestined … to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ” ( ), how would you ever give room to the law in your life again? Have you become a son by keeping the law or by the faith in Jesus Christ? The answer here is “through faith in Christ Jesus”. . Also bear in mind what you confessed when you were baptized. (Or have you not been baptized yet? What’s hindering you?) If you have been baptized, you are attached by your baptism to a dead Savior ( ). In the death of Christ each link with the law is broken. He has borne the curse of the law ( ) and thus removed the penalty of the law for all who believe in Him. The law has no authority anymore over Someone Who died (the Lord Jesus) nor over those who died with Him (the believers). You confessed the latter – that you died with Him – when you were baptized. But the Lord Jesus didn’t remain dead and you didn’t stay in the water-grave. The Lord Jesus is risen and it may be expected of you that after you were baptized you will live in connection with Him. Then people will see that you “have put on Christ”. It may sound a little bit disrespectful, but it is like putting on a new coat. People see that you have something new. To show Christ your nationality, your social status or your gender is of no importance. Everyone who is baptized has put on Christ and shows Him in his life rather than himself. There is only One Who is seen. This does not mean that after your conversion these distinctions no longer exist. What Paul says here, concerns the position of the believers as God sees them in Christ. But in other letters slaves are addressed in their position, and wives should adopt the attitude toward their husbands prescribed by God, and the same applies vice versa. It is God’s will that man and woman respect His order in creation in always wearing short or long hair and in not covering or covering the head during prayer and prophecy ( ). Also during the meetings of the church, God wants to see these distinctions being maintained ( ). . The last verse makes clear once again what has already been demonstrated by Paul. Those who belong to Christ are descendants of Abraham, because Christ is ‘the seed’ of Abraham ( ). For such a person, the promise is that he or she is an heir. In the next chapter we will see what that means. Now read Galatians 3:23-29 again. Reflection: What contradictions do you find in these verses? What blessings do you encounter?

‏ Galatians 3:25

The Era of Faith

Gal 3:23. In this section Paul puts two eras opposite to each other. One era is that of faith, that is the period in which God deals with man by faith. The other period is that of the law, that is the period in which God deals with man by keeping the law, so do what the law says. The era of ‘faith’ is in essence the Christian era – the period that started when Christ came to earth, accomplished His work on the cross and returned to the Father. After that the Holy Spirit came on earth and Christendom started.

The era of the law was characterized by strict statutes which God had imposed on Israel, His earthly people. To the Jew it was a yoke (bondage), under which he suffered as a prisoner. It took away all his freedom of action, it governed his whole life. On penalty of death he had to keep it. The law protected him from mingling with the nations around him (Eph 2:14). But the era of the law had a restricted period of validity. This era lasted “up to the faith which was later to be revealed” (Gal 3:23b); that means that with the coming of Christ a new era would begin.

Gal 3:24. After presenting the law as a prison, Paul uses another example for the law: a tutor. A tutor is a person in a household who is a guardian or caretaker, someone who oversees the physical wellbeing of a child entrusted to his care. That is the function of the law. The law ensures that man adheres to the commandments of God which are given to him to obtain life. However, since man is depraved and is not able to keep the law, the desire arises in him for a Deliverer.

The law doesn’t show the way to Christ, it doesn’t “[lead us]” to Christ. The brackets make it clear that these words don’t belong to the original Greek text. It is about the period of time in which God dealt with His people on the basis of the law. In that period it was proven by the law that we are incorrigible sinners who fall under the condemnation of God. He who is going to realize that, searches for a solution to escape from that condemnation. God has prepared that solution in Christ and in His work of reconciliation on the cross. Because the Lord Jesus has accomplished His work on the cross, it is possible to be justified in Him by faith. This is by faith alone, not by law nor by any effort of man.

Gal 3:25. Since the accomplished work of Christ, God no longer deals with man on the basis of law, but only on the basis of faith. Therefore it can be said: “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” This is about the period of time in which God deals with people on the basis of faith. The law has had its time. The Galatians had to be fully aware of this and thereby they have to shake off the Jewish false teachers.

Gal 3:26. Then Paul makes a powerful statement to prove that the law has lost its validity for the Christian. By faith the Christian has come in a new position before God: that of son. Yes, you read it right: SON! That’s quite different from being a slave, such as is the position of someone under the law, or someone who places himself under the law.

If you fully understand what it means that you and all believers are “predestined … to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ” (Eph 1:5), how would you ever give room to the law in your life again? Have you become a son by keeping the law or by the faith in Jesus Christ? The answer here is “through faith in Christ Jesus”.

Gal 3:27-28. Also bear in mind what you confessed when you were baptized. (Or have you not been baptized yet? What’s hindering you?) If you have been baptized, you are attached by your baptism to a dead Savior (Rom 6:3-4). In the death of Christ each link with the law is broken. He has borne the curse of the law (Gal 3:13) and thus removed the penalty of the law for all who believe in Him.

The law has no authority anymore over Someone Who died (the Lord Jesus) nor over those who died with Him (the believers). You confessed the latter – that you died with Him – when you were baptized. But the Lord Jesus didn’t remain dead and you didn’t stay in the water-grave. The Lord Jesus is risen and it may be expected of you that after you were baptized you will live in connection with Him. Then people will see that you “have put on Christ”.

It may sound a little bit disrespectful, but it is like putting on a new coat. People see that you have something new. To show Christ your nationality, your social status or your gender is of no importance. Everyone who is baptized has put on Christ and shows Him in his life rather than himself. There is only One Who is seen.

This does not mean that after your conversion these distinctions no longer exist. What Paul says here, concerns the position of the believers as God sees them in Christ. But in other letters slaves are addressed in their position, and wives should adopt the attitude toward their husbands prescribed by God, and the same applies vice versa. It is God’s will that man and woman respect His order in creation in always wearing short or long hair and in not covering or covering the head during prayer and prophecy (1Cor 11:1-16). Also during the meetings of the church, God wants to see these distinctions being maintained (1Cor 14:34-35).

Gal 3:29. The last verse makes clear once again what has already been demonstrated by Paul. Those who belong to Christ are descendants of Abraham, because Christ is ‘the seed’ of Abraham (Gal 3:16). For such a person, the promise is that he or she is an heir. In the next chapter we will see what that means.

Now read Galatians 3:23-29 again.

Reflection: What contradictions do you find in these verses? What blessings do you encounter?