What to do with the Law...

There is much confusion about the law these days. What do we do with the law? Is it still in force? Are we under the law or free from the law? If we are free, in what sense are we free from the law?

I wish I could say this post will answer those questions, but.......no, I don't think so. We'll have to stick with what Paul says in Galatians 3. Indeed this will take us down the road a bit to understand the answer to some of these questions.

So what does Paul say? Here are a few points to consider.

1. If you rely on the law for your righteousness you are under a curse. Paul quotes, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by ALL things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Why are lawkeepers under a curse? Because no one keeps all the law. So if you want to play the law game, know for certain you are under a curse.

2. The law was added (to the promise of Abraham) because of transgression. If you think about it, why do we have any laws? We have laws because people do things that are harmful to others or even themselves. People race their cars down the streets putting others at risk. So, we enact laws to curb this human tendency. Thus, the fact that the Law was put in place speaks to our human tendency to act in ways that are not loving, that put others at risk. The Law indeed shows us our sinfulness.

3. The Law is not able to provide for us a righteousness before God. Paul clearly says in verse 21, "For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law." But the fact is the law can't do that. In fact, it does a better job at condemning us for our lawlessness.

4. The law has temporal limits. It was not meant to be "in charge" forever. Paul says the law was added "until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made,..." That word "until" sets a limit of time. Again in verse 24 Paul says, "So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian..." Note that a guardian in classical times was a slave, whose task it was to conduct a boy to and from school and to supervise and direct his general conduct. The role of the guardian was limited by time and was not meant to replace the relationship with one's parents.

5. Thanks be to God that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law. Paul says in verses 13-14, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree' - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith."

The Law had an enormous role. It showed us our sinfulness. It showed us we are under a curse. It sought to guide and curb our behavior until we were led to the promise. Now having been led to the promise which is ours through faith in Christ we have been declared sons of God. We are no longer under the Law in this way, but now as sons we are under the law of Christ, which is His Spirit written on our hearts. The law is no longer something external to us, but has come to take residence in us, empowering us to live in a way that fully represents the loving ways of our Father. Thank God for His immeasurable mercies to us!