Paul the apostle had gone to the Southern area of Galatia in his first Missionary Journey. That is when he established churches in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe as noted in Act:13:14-14:23). Then after going to the Council in Jerusalem, he got word that the churches were being infiltrated by false doctrine. Precisely it was the teaching of the Judaizers. These told them thier salvation was not complete unless they followed all the Jewish laws and traditions including circumcision. Paul then writes them this letter. He explains how one lives a Christian Life by Grace, free from the law. Still even though we are free from the law we are not to live a life bound with sin either.
Our relationship to Christ in its truest sense forbids a life of sin, because of love. The work of the Holy Spirit within us empowers us to live a Christian Life. A life exemplifying Christ with Joy, love, devotion, and kindness. We should be Holy even as He is holy. But how?
Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard? Galatians 3:5 (NET)
Paul delves deeply into the scriptures from Genesis. In this manner, he presents a solid argument for the truth of the gospel through grace because of Jesus Christ. It is not a new idea, but what was originally presented in promise to Abraham.
Life by Grace Free From the Law
Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.”So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. Galatians 3:6-9 (NET)
Abraham was given the promise. Precisely that promise of God included the salvation of the Gentiles. How? Through the seed that was to come from Him, namely Jesus. This promise was made before circumcision was ordered for the Nation of Israel beginning with Abraham. The circumcision was to set them apart from the world as a race through whom the promise would come. Yet, no human act could bring about the salvation of the soul. Because, no action could bring about the spiritual birth necessary to be united to God. Only God can awaken the dead soul. Faith is the key. Even faith cannot occur without an awakening of the spirit by the Holy Spirit of God.
We are children of the promise with a full inheritance in heaven, all who believe. That does not erase the genetic decedents still known as the Jewish nation. All the covenantal promises to them and how God will restore them to true worship in Him remains true.
Although we become a part of the promise when we believe, we do not replace them. There is not a replacement theory. The nation of Israel remains the Children of the Old Testament Covenant as God’s Chosen Nation, He will complete His work with them as well.
Free From the Law to Live a Life of Grace
Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Galatians 3:15-18 (NKJV).
So if the law was not necessary for the Promise to Abraham then was there a purpose? We say that it was to demonstrate our own depravity. The law is like a bright mirror shining forth our inability to live a life of righteousness before a Holy Righteous God. But it is more than that.
What Was the Purpose of the Law?
What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made Galatians 3: 19 (NKJV)
And to whom was this promise made? To all who would believe. Because of transgressions, a law was necessary to help guard the people until the promised one came. The law was like a tutor or guardian until the seed of promise came. Jesus would come to provide the propitiation for our sin on the cross.
Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Galatians 3: 21-23 (NKJV)
No Need of a Tutor once Free from the law
Therefore, 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
We are no longer as believers under a tutor because we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. So, who is the Holy Spirit? The third person of the trinity.
John Edwards Wrote in his Discourse on the Trinity
Therefore as God with perfect clearness, fullness and strength understands himself, views his own essence . . . that idea which God hath of himself is absolutely himself. This representation of the divine nature and essence is the divine nature and essence again. So that by God’s thinking of the Deity, [the Deity] must certainly be generated. Hereby there is another person begotten; there is another infinite, eternal, almighty, and most holy and the same God, the very same divine nature.
And this person is the second person in the Trinity, the only begotten and dearly beloved Son of God. He is the eternal, necessary, perfect, substantial and personal idea which God hath of himself . . .
The Godhead being thus begotten by God’s having an idea of himself and standing forth in a distinct subsistence or person in that idea, there proceeds a most pure act, and an infinitely holy and sweet energy arises between the Father and Son: for their love and joy is mutual, in mutually loving and delighting in each other. Proverbs 8:30, “I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before [him].” This is the eternal and most perfect and essential act of the divine nature, wherein the Godhead acts to an infinite degree and in the most perfect manner possible. The Deity becomes all act; the divine essence itself flows out and is as it were breathed forth in love and joy. So that the Godhead therein stands forth in yet another manner of subsistence, and there proceeds the third person in the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, viz. the Deity in act . . .
And this I suppose to be that blessed Trinity that we read of in the holy Scriptures. The Father is the Deity subsisting in the prime, unoriginated and most absolute manner, or the Deity in its direct existence. The Son is the Deity generated by God’s understanding, or having an idea of himself, and subsisting in that idea. The Holy Ghost is the Deity subsisting in act or the divine essence flowing out and breathed forth, in God’s infinite love to and delight in himself. And I believe the whole divine essence does truly and distinctly subsist both in the divine idea and divine love, and that therefore each of them are properly distinct persons.1
1 Edwards, Jonathan, An unpublished Essay on the Trinity, https://ccel.org/ccel/edwards/trinity/trinity.i.html
Free from the Law—Indwelt with the Holy Spirit to Love
As the Holy Spirit is the essence of God’s love and joy flowing forth from Father and Son and surrounding them. Therefore, at minimum the Holy Spirit purposes in filling our spirit with a proper Love and joy in God, the Father and the Son. Overflowing and overwhelmed with that love, we cannot help but surrender to the will of the Father. This becomes a natural response of obedience as we embrace the Word.
We become very sensitive to the Spirits welding of our spirit. Unhappy and frustrated when our spirit is wrestling with our flesh. Peaceful and joyous when we recognize the “filling of the Spirit” which pushes aside our own selfish desires.
If Free from the law, then what?
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Galatians 5:1-5 (NKJV)
Is Paul saying we should not live a life that exemplifies the law? Not really. What matters is the heart of the issue. If by placing the yoke of the law on my shoulders again, with the “I must not do this” or I must do that to gain God’s favor, then I might as well be under the law for everything. Instead, if my response to choose what is right comes from my love for Jesus and the Father with the work of the Holy Spirit in me, then the action is from the right heart surrendered to the Father.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5: 16-18 NKJV
Live the Christian Life by Grace, free from the law
Because of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the promised seed, we are free from the law which could only condemn but had no power to save. It could guide us, but not make us alive. Yet, in Christ Jesus we are free.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, Romans 8: 1-3 (NASB)
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1: 12-14
Free from the Law, but empowered by the Holy Spirit through Grace
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:19-23 KJV
Transformed and made new
When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes in to indwell us.
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
No longer must I bow to my flesh or place those shackles on ever again. I can take on the yoke of Christ instead, which he promised to be a burden so light as to lift us up above all these trials. Just as a pair of oxen are yoked in such a manner that the weight of the work is distributed, our taking on the yoke of the law is grueling. Yet, when we are yoked with Christ, we are lifted up off the ground and toil, as He carries the burden fully on His shoulders.
Therefore, free from the law, we can fully enjoy the fruits of the spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 NKJV
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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