Photo by Markus Spiske temporausch.com on Pexels.com

Galatians 3:19-26 (JDV)

Galatians 3:19 Why then was the law given? It was added for the sake of the oversteppings until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect by angels by means of a mediator.

Galatians 3:20 But a mediator is not required just for one person, and God is one.

Galatians 3:21 Is the law therefore against God’s promises? Not going to happen! You see, if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law.

Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.

Galatians 3:23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed.

Galatians 3:24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith.

Galatians 3:25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

Galatians 3:26 because by faith in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God.

set free, and given life

What freedom and joy comes to us when we learn that God’s word is not a set of shackles to bind us, but a declaration that we have been set free because of what Jesus did! The Galatians had learned that gospel truth. But then a group of heretics came along and were convincing them to lock themselves back up in prison! No way, you say. But that was what Paul had to argue against. The result was a treatise on freedom from the constraints of tradition because of God’s grace.

Lord, thank you that we have been set free from a law which could not give life, and given life freely by your grace.