The Law Was Our Schoolmaster
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Galatians 3:21-29. We see in this Scripture in the book of Galatians that Paul asks an important question. Paul asks, “Is the law against the promises of God?” Paul says, “God forbid: if the law could have given life, then righteousness would have been by the law.”
The law with all the rules and regulations of the Old Testament was given to tell us how to live, but being the sinful creatures that we are, we couldn’t keep the law. The law was dependent on man’s ability to keep it, which we failed at miserably. However, the promise of God through Jesus Christ (eternal life in heaven) isn’t dependent on our ability to hold onto God through Jesus, but is God’s promise to hold onto us for eternity through our belief in Jesus Christ.
Before faith came we were kept under the law. The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to faith in Christ that we might be justified, or forgiven of our sins, by faith. The law shows us that we are in bondage to our sin and we need the faith in Jesus to free us from that bondage. After faith came, we were no longer under bondage by the schoolmaster of the law. We are made children of God, or His heirs, by faith in Jesus Christ, which we will discuss more fully in the next lesson.
The idea that Paul uses a schoolmaster reminds me of when I was a child and was under the leadership of my teachers. They made the rules and if I didn’t follow those rules I suffered the consequences. For most of you, your parents, or other adults in your life, not only taught you right from wrong, they took care of you, provided for you and protected you.
As you became an adult you remembered and respected what you were taught, but when you got out on your own you were no longer under their rule. They trusted you to do the right thing and to make right decisions based on what they had taught you over the years. The lessons they taught were meant to be carried with you for the rest of your life. The law was to teach, protect, provide, and correct Christians until the faith of Christ was revealed.
The law was God’s way of protecting man until the coming of grace by Jesus’ death on the cross. It gave Christians a model to live by. It shows us what kind of standards God has. The law kept man under its guard until faith was revealed. Just because we have Jesus in our lives doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to live right. Faith doesn’t give us a free ticket to do as we please.
Paul says those who’ve been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. This isn’t talking about the water baptism that we think about when we say we’ve been baptized. Think of the picture of baptism. You are completely immersed in the water. When you put your faith in Christ you are baptized with Christ you are immersed with Jesus. He is a part of every aspect of your life.
My favorite verse from this passage of Scripture is Galatians 3:28 which says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Sometimes as humans we have our prejudices and think we may be better than someone else because of the color of our skin or our social status. This Scripture lets us know that as Christians we’re all one in Jesus Christ. Paul tells us if we belong to Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs of the promise of God.
Daily Bible Reading:
Galatians 3:21-29
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Things to think about:
- What was the purpose of the law?
- What happened to the law after Christ’s death on the cross?
- How do we become God’s children?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for this Scripture in the book of Galatians where Paul explains what it means to have faith in Christ. Even though the law is still today a good schoolmaster for us to learn Your ways and Your desires for our lives, we are so thankful for Your gift of faith to us. Help those who haven’t put their faith and trust in Christ to realize their need for a Savior. Help those of us who’ve put our faith in Christ to stay true to our faith and continue to walk in it every day. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Daily Bible Verse:
– This is an excerpt from my book:
The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia
Click the link above to get your copy now!
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Featured Book:
The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia
By Deborah H. Bateman
The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Galatians. The book of Galatians is in the New Testament and is one of Paul’s letters. He wrote this letter to the churches of Galatia.
Paul is concerned that the people of Galatia are being taught something different than the true gospel, which he taught them earlier. Paul goes to great lengths to make sure they understand the difference between living under the law and living under the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia contains sixteen Daily Bible Reading lessons. Each lesson consists of a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer for the day. This book is great to use for both personal Bible study and group Bible studies.
For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.
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Have a blessed day,
Deborah
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