What role did the law play according to Galatians 3:23? Setting the Stage • God gave Israel the Mosaic law at Sinai (Exodus 19–20) as a real, historic covenant. • Paul writes to Galatian believers who were being told they must still keep that law to be right with God. The Verse in Focus “Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.” (Galatians 3:23) What “Held in Custody” Means • The law acted like a prison guard—confining, restricting, and watching over us. • It placed boundaries around daily life (diet, worship, civil matters) so Israel would stay distinct. • It kept people from running headlong into destructive sin by spelling out clear penalties. Why God Used This Guardrail 1. To expose sin—“Through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:20). 2. To restrain sin—“The law is good if one uses it lawfully… for the lawless” (1 Timothy 1:8-10). 3. To point forward—“The law became our guardian to lead us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24-25). 4. To preserve a people and lineage through whom Messiah would come (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 4:4). Other Passages That Echo the Thought • Romans 7:7—The law names coveting and other sins we might excuse. • 2 Corinthians 3:7-11—The letter carved in stone was glorious yet temporary; a greater glory arrives in Christ. • Matthew 5:17—Jesus fulfills, not abolishes, the law, completing what it foreshadowed. The Shift from Law to Faith • “Faith” here means relying on Jesus’ finished work—His cross and resurrection (Romans 10:9-10). • Once Christ came, the believer is no longer under the custody of the law but under grace (Galatians 5:1; Romans 6:14). • The moral heart of God revealed in the law is now written on believers’ hearts by the Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:10). Why This Still Matters Today • The law still diagnoses sin, driving people to see their need for a Savior. • It guards society when civil codes reflect its moral standards. • For Christians, its shadow gives way to the substance—Christ—so our obedience flows from the Spirit, not from external compulsion. |
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