Focus
verses 3:19, 24-25, & 29
19 Why the
Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through
angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the
promise had been made.
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. 26 For
you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
29 And if
you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to
promise.
I have heard people over the years ask why did God give the
laws in the Old Testament if they were not to be followed forever? Why can’t keeping
the Law provide salvation from our sins and guarantee us a place with God in
heaven? Paul wrote on this specific thing in Galatians 3.
Why did God give the Law if He did not intend for them to
give salvation to humankind and eternal life with God in heaven? In verse 19,
Paul said God gave the His laws because of sin. Sin separates a person from God
because God cannot be in the presence of sin. The laws of God provided
temporary cleansing from the stain of sin so a person could be in God’s
presence. However, it did not provide permanent and eternal cleansing and removal
of sin and guilt. The Law was imperfect because they were a covenant between
God who is faithful and perfect and humankind who is unfaithful and imperfect. Humanity
could not always keep the laws of God; they were fallible and unfaithful. So
the laws were not effective to cleanse a person from sin and guilt. For this
purpose, God prepared a way from the beginning of time for humankind to be rid
of their sin and guilt through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Since the purpose of the Law of God was not to provide
salvation, what was its purpose? Verse 24 explains this. God gave His Law to
lead people to Christ. By obeying the Law of God, people recognized their
sinful selves and their inability to cleanse themselves perfectly and permanently
from sin and guilt. They realized the futility of it. This kept people looking
to God because they knew He is faithful and they were unfaithful. They looked
to God’s perfection for the way to be closer to Him. God provided that way
through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Before, the Law led us to God, but we could not stay permanently
in His presence because of our sin. Christ’s death provided permanent cleansing
from sin and guilt so we could stay in the presence of God and be in a
continual relationship with Him. Through Jesus Christ, believers become
children of God. When you have faith in Jesus Christ, you are descendents of and
heirs with Abraham whose faith God said made him righteous.
You see, faith in Jesus Christ as the perfect Son of God
who died to pay the penalty for our sins is what gives righteousness. Nothing
we do, like keeping the laws of God, can make us clean enough to be in the
presence of God. So nothing we can do earns our way into heaven. Abraham (Abram
at that time) believed in God and His promise and God proclaimed Him righteous
(Genesis 15:6). Faith in God through Jesus Christ, not works, is what makes a
person righteous.
Whether you are from China or Argentina, of dark or light
skin, from a religion of many gods or a Jew, when a person believes in Jesus
Christ as the Son of God he or she becomes a child of God – cleansed and saved.
That person becomes new in Christ. I do not know what your background is and do
not need to know. God knows, and He still loves you. Right now, if you believe
Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for your sin, accept Him as your Lord
and Savior, and confess your sins, you can become a redeemed (cleansed) child
of God, just as Abraham did. Exercising the faith God gives you makes you righteous,
just as God declared Abraham righteous because of his faith in Him. If you gave
your life to Jesus before but are far from God now, you have not lost your
salvation. You can confess your sins to Him because He said, “He is faithful
and just to forgive all sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1
John 1:9).
What will you choose
today?
Believe in Jesus Christ,
confess your sins, and allow Jesus to be Lord of your life. Renew your
relationship with God through confession.
These have to be your
choice because God gave you free will. He will not force Himself on you.
What do you choose?
