The Role Of Law

Read Galatians 3:9-22

“This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” (Galatians 3:12)

Thoughts… What is the role of the Mosaic Law in the life of the Christian according to Paul’s letter to the Galatians? Are the 10 Commandments still valid? Are we not obligated to obey what is written in the Old Testament?

If we do not see Paul’s understanding of the Law in Galatians (as well as in his other writings) as multi-functional, it would appear that Paul was theologically confused.

On the one hand, he says, “So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified” (Gal. 2:16); and “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse…Clearly no one is justified before God by the law…The law is not based on faith.” (3:9-12) But on the other hand, he appeals to the same Law when he says, “The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal. 5:14)

Paul is not confused; he sees different functions of Law. One of those functions is, for the lack of a better term, what I would call “moral”, and another function is “tutorial” or “custodial”. The moral function of Law predated the Mosaic Law, which Paul refers to in Galatians 3:17 when he says, “The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.”

That moral aspect of Law has always existed, it guided mankind before the Mosaic Law, will always exists, and mankind will be judged against that Law. It is this Law that reveals God’s nature and perfect will.

The tutorial function of Law was given by Moses. It was, as Paul says in 3:24, “put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.” It is this law that reveals man’s sinfulness and his inability to redeem himself, and it served as a constant reminder of sinful man’s hopeless and cursed state until the time arrived for the only One who could blot out man’s record of sin and deliver from the sentence of death imposed by the Moral Law.

To rely on, or revert back to the Tutorial or Mosaic Law is to become enslaved or bewitched again to the curse of the Law. (3:1, 10) Why would anyone want to go back to grammar school when they have graduated?

So what is the role of Mosaic Law in Galatians. According to Paul’s own words in 3:19, “What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come….” Again, the Law was put in charge to lead us to Christ, so that we could be justified by faith and no longer under the supervision of the Mosaic Law (3:24-25)

We’ll always be obligated to follow God’s moral law. However, while practicing the specific tutorial aspects of the Mosaic Law may give you some sort of good feeling, it won’t make you righteous. In fact, it may detract from the righteousness that comes only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

So lean on Christ, not the law. That’s all you need.

Prayer… Father, thank you for making the way of grace my pathway into your presence. I am not required to observe the Mosaic Law to gain access to your presence or to garner your divine favor. I stand perfectly righteous before you on credit from Jesus and his righteousness, and for that I am eternally joyful.

One More Thing… “Many doctrinal conflicts have their foundations in two opposing covenants. Some doctrines are based on Israel’s Covenant of Circumcision; other doctrines are based on the Body’s Covenant of Grace. Where the former and latter doctrines stand in opposition, the position reflecting the grace given to the Body of Christ will be the correct theology for Christians today.” — Bob Enyart