Bob Josey - The Letter to the Galatians Part 15 - Jan 19, 2025
The Letter to the Galatians
Part 15
(Galatians 3:22-29)
Introduction
There was a group of people in the churches of Galatia, called the Judaizers, who were teaching that justification was received by trusting in Jesus as Savior and by observing different aspects of the Mosaic Law. Today, we will continue in the section of Galatians in which Paul is demonstrating to the churches in Galatia that justification is received by faith, not by keeping the commandments of the Mosaic Law.
In today's lesson, we will continue to show that the Mosaic Law had a purpose, but that purpose was fulfilled at the death of Jesus. Also at Jesus’ death, the Mosaic Covenant was replaced by the New Covenant. Therefore, the Mosaic Law is no longer an active covenant.
6. By the purpose of the Law (3:22-25) continued
22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Paul here continues to speak to the Jewish section in the churches in the Roman district called Galatia. We know that he is speaking directly to the Jews because he continues to refer to those who were under the Law of Moses. Remember, the Law of Moses was made with Israel and the Jewish people, not with Gentiles or Gentile nations. He is speaking to the Jewish believers in Galatia through verse 25.
The book of Galatians was written by Paul before he wrote the book of Romans. Romans is an extended version of the book of Galatians. Because of this, there are many parallels between the two books. One parallel is seen in this verse.
Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” As we learned in our last lesson. “All have sinned” does not mean that all men and women have committed sins, but that each person is a sinner because they were born with the Old Sin Nature passed down from their parents. The parallel thought in Galatians to “all have sinned” is found in verse 22 that says, “The Scripture has shut up everyone under sin.” I think here Paul intends for his reference to “The Scripture” to represent God. From your high school or college days do you remember ta figure of speech called personification? Personification means an idea or thing is given attributes and/or feeling as humans.
The phrase” has shut up everyone under sin” is speaking of God confining or imprisoning someone under the authority or power of sin. Everyone listening to his lesson knows that when humans are born, they are born in bondage to the power of sin. Everyone here knows that sin is strong, and it is powerful. Paul wants everyone in the churches in Galatia to know, particularly the Judaizers, that the Mosaic Law brought bondage to sin, physical and spiritual death. and condemnation instead of eternal life and blessings like the New Covenant did.
As I said during our last lesson, God does nothing unless it has a purpose. The purpose for confining everyone to the authority or power of sin is seen in the second half of this verse when Paul uses the words “so that.”
By using the two words “so that,” Paul gives us the purpose for God placing everyone under the power or authority of sin. The promise given to Abraham was that those who were in bondage to sin could receive justification from the LORD by faith alone in Christ alone. Justification by faith and not by keeping the Law of Moses is in focus here.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Even though Galatians 3:23-25 was written to Jewish people who were under the authority of the Law of Moses before trusting Christ, these verses did give Gentiles believers clarity that the Law of Moses is inoperative.
Paul likened the Law of Moses to a prison and to a child-custodian relationship. “Before faith came” means before the advent of receiving declared righteousness through faith in a person, Jesus Christ. Justifying faith was operative in the Old Testament but faith in the person and work of the Messiah did not come until He was revealed. Before that, Israel was under the protective custody of the Law. The word custody means to hold in custody, detain, or confine. The word was used of Roman prisons principally for holding prisoners until disposition of their cases. Israel was held under the authority of or was in the custody of the Mosaic Law for approximately 1500 years. By being under the authority of the Mosaic Law, God was shielding His people from the evil heathen rites surrounding them.
Further, the Law served as a
“tutor” (NASB)
“Schoolmaster” (KJV)
“Guardian” (ESV)
“Supervisor” (NIV)
“A strict governess.” (J.B. Philips)
The word paidagōgos is difficult to translate into English because there is no exact parallel to this position in the world today. JB Phillips suggests translating the term “a strict governess.” The pedagogue was slave to whom a son was committed from age six or seven to puberty. He was given the responsibility to watch over a young child, train his public behavior, and keep him safe in public. A child being under a tutor was like the Law’s function until Christ came and people could be justified by faith in Him.
It is better than to understand that the Law did not lead on to Christ but that it was the disciplinarian until Christ came. Therefore, the reign of Law has ended for faith in Christ has delivered Jewish believers from the protective custody of the prison and the harsh discipline of the pedagogue.
From these verses we not only see one of the purposes of the Mosaic Law was to act as a guardian to Israel but that the Law was temporary, not permanent. It was operative in the life of Israel until the Messiah came. In Jeremiah 31:31-32 which was quoted in
God through Jeremiah promised to give Israel and Judah a New Covenant which would have better promises and a better sacrifice that would one day replace the Mosaic Covenant which deems it temporary. The writer of the book of Hebrew writing in that vein says in Hebrews 7:22,
“... Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.”
If Jesus died to inaugurate a better covenant, the New Covenant, why would any believer want put themselves under the authority of any part of an inferior covenant, the Mosaic Covenant.
7. By the believer’s present position (3:26–29)
You hear all the time that all humans are children of God. Is that statement true? All humans are certainly part of God’s creation but are they considered God’s children. Let’s see what Scripture says.
Now Paul returns writing to Jews and Gentiles. So, Jews and Gentiles alike, who trust in Jesus as Savior, are children of God. We are in God spiritual family. God is our Father, Jesus is our Shepherd and the Head of the body to which we belong, and the Holy Spirit is our Guide and our Comforter.
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 9:8 - That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
Galatians 3:27- For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There are two types of baptism - Spirit baptism and water baptism, but Paul stresses Spirit Baptism in Ephesians 4:4-6
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
From this we see that in reality there is only one real baptism, Spirit baptism because water baptism is just a picture of Spirit Baptism. It like the Lord Supper, the other church ordinance. The Lord’s Supper is just a picture of the death of Christ on the cross.
The word baptism means identification. The moment a person is saved, they are spiritually baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit as we see in 1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
When a new believer is baptized into the body of Christ, they become identified and united with Christ as the head and identified and united in the body of believers in Jesus. We are placed into God’s family. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are in a spiritual union with Jesus and with each other.
Acts 1:5 - for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
In Galatians 3:27 Paul says that believers in Jesus are baptized into Christ but he also says we have clothed ourselves with Christ. It’s interesting that the verb “were baptized” indicates that believers are baptized by another source, the Holy Spirit, but the phrase “we have closed ourselves with Christ” shows that believers clothed themselves. So what is the difference between being baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit and clothing ourselves with Christ?
After Paul wrote about new believers being baptized into Christ and His body by the Holy Spirit, he wrote that a new believer also clothed ourselves with Christ. The phrase to put on a person is like putting on or covering oneself with a new garment after taking off the old garment. This relates to one imitating the example of someone or to becoming like him. To put on the Jesus means to take him as a pattern and guide, to imitate his example, to obey his precepts, to become like Him. To imitate Christ and to live this new life and to leave the old life behind is a choice each believer makes every day.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
All believers who are baptized in Christ are part of the body of Christ. We are all equal but he is not saying here that all the distinctions between people have been erased. All he is saying in this context is that, as far as how one is justified, which is the the chapter 4, one is justified by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, whether he or she is Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female. In other areas, of course, distinctions still remain, but in matters of justification, all are on the same plane.
Those who have accepted Christ by faith, whether Jew or Gentile, are considered Abraham’s seed or descendants. Paul was making it clear in chapter 3 that receiving God’s justification is by faith. not by observing any aspect of the Mosaic Law.
Application
Every believer in this class has been identified or united with Christ and His church. We are all united with all other believers around the world, which, of course, includes those of us in this class. For those in our class, we see most of the outworking of our faith among those in this class and those in this church. Yes, we also reach out to believers and unbelievers outside this church.
This class is to be commended for the unity and lovingkindness you show each other on a daily basis in so many ways. When there is a need, you meet that need. When someone is hurting or grieving, you comfort them. You have done a terrific job of ministering each other for such a long time. So. Keep up the good work.
However, even though this class does a terrific job in ministering to our class and others not in our class, there is always room for improvement. Each person in this class knows someone that you don’t particularly like. You probably never reached out to them in any way when they had a problem, were sick, had surgery, in the hospital, etc. Next time when they have a problem or need, pray for them, call them, text them, send them a card or email, or visit them.
Even though this class does a terrific job in ministering to our class and others not in our class, there is always room for improvement. Each person in this class knows someone that you don’t particularly like. You have never reached out to them in any way when they had a problem, were sick, had surgery, in the hospital, etc. Next time when they have a problem or need, pray for them, call them, send them a card or an email, or visit them.
Believers are exhorted to love one another as Jesus loved us. We should be committed to one another. Agape’ love comes from God. Some have suggested that it should be translated “a demonstration of God’s love.”
1 Peter 1:22 - Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart...
Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere commitment the brethren, fervently be committed to one another from the heart...
Since agape’ is divine love, it requires action, not just a mindset. It’s like repentance. Repentance means to change one mind, but real repentance requires action. So does agape’ love!