TEXT: Galatians 3:23-4:7

SUBJECT: Exposition of Galatians #8: Argument from History Continued

This Epistle is Paul's defense of the Gospel. He defends it because it was in danger of being replaced by a different Gospel, a Gospel which offered salvation by faith in Christ and obedience to the Law of Moses. Beginning in 3:15, Paul rebuts this legalism by an appeal to redemptive history. The promise made to Abraham of salvation by faith alone antedates the Law by centuries. The Law, therefore does not alter the terms of the prior agreement. Justification is by faith alone; it always has been. Why, then, was the Law given. "It was added because of transgressions" says v.19--to expose our sin and promote our guilt. That's the short answer. The longer answer begins with v.23 and isn't finished until the 7th verse of chapter 4.

He begins by informing us of the function and the duration of the Law, vv.22-25: "But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore, the Law was out tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith".

The key to understanding this passage are the words "we" and "our". To whom do they refer? Obviously, they refer to Paul and others. But who are "the others"? Either the Galatians saints or some part of them. The church was composed of believers in Christ from two distinct backgrounds: Jewish and pagan. The latter cannot be intended in this place for the simple reason: They were never "under the Law of Moses". The Jews, however, were. Consequently, when Paul writes "we", he means himself and his fellow Jews. They alone had been given the Law and put under the Mosaic Covenant. "To the Israelites--he says in another place--"pertain the covenants and the giving of the Law".

What did the Law do for them? It "kept (them) under guard". It confined them. Confined them as what? Not as prisoners, but as minors or underage children. Even in our permissive age, young people are "kept under guard" or protected by juvenile laws. Statutes require schooling, for example, or forbid driving. By these and a myriad of other laws, children are "kept under guard".

In this way, the Law "kept (Israel) under guard. It provided the culture which kept the people intact and distinct. So they must remain until "faith came". What is this "faith"? It can be understood in two ways: either as the act of believing or in the object believed. Which is meant here? It cannot be the former, for "Abraham believed God" centuries before the Law was given. Rather, it means the object of faith--our Lord Jesus Christ.

The result: "Therefore, the Law was our tutor to bring us to Christ..." This is misleading; the NEB words it better: "Thus, the Law was kind of a tutor in charge of us until Christ should come..." And in Him, we are "justified by faith".

What effect does the "coming of faith" (or its object, Christ) have on the Law? "We are no longer under a tutor". A 21 year old man or woman is free from juvenile laws. Why? Because the laws were bad? No, but because he or she is now an adult--and doesn't need them. Likewise, when our Lord Jesus arrived, His people came to maturity and no longer need the old rules and regulations! Not because they were wicked, but because--in Christ--the people of God are grown up.

At this point, I must take a moment to answer an objection. I have been accused of believing God changes. "If His Law changes, then He must change too" it is said. "But He doesn't change. Therefore, neither does His Law". This kind of talk is rhetoric masquerading as an argument. Why? Because it forgets one part of the equation. What is it? The people of God. God's Law does change, but not because He has changed, but because we have! My parents don't treat me the same way as they did 35 years ago. Why not? Because they've become lax? Of course not! It's because I've grown up in the meantime. Likewise, when God revoked the Mosaic Law--all of it--it's not because there was anything wrong with it, but because it was suited for an infant nation, not a mature people.

Recap: What is the Law's function? It is to keep Israel intact. How long would it serve that purpose? Until the coming of Christ. Once it has served that purpose, it is properly discarded. By the writing of Hebrews, it was "becoming obsolete, growing old, and ready to vanish".

Having explained the Law's function and duration, Paul goes on to apply the doctrine to the church, vv.26-29: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise".

Through faith, we become "sons of God". The word, "sons"--at this point--has a definite meaning; it means "heirs". Who's an heir? "As many of you as were baptized into Christ". People have read every absurdity into this verse. Some have used it to teach "baptismal regeneration". But how can that be squared with Paul's overall purpose to exalt God's grace in salvation over against "the deeds of the Law"? Others have interpreted this "baptism" as "baptism of the Spirit" which they equate with salvation. But this forces an unnatural meaning on the word. What it means is simply this: Everyone saved person in Galatia professed his salvation by baptism; the baptized and the saved, therefore, were more-or-less identical. Saved people, therefore, are the heirs of God.

The inheritance is equally divided. Greeks, of course, didn't inherit a Jewish father's estate; females were also excluded from the legacy as were slaves. But "in Christ Jesus" these racial, sexual, and social distinctions are abolished. Therefore, every believer is included in the benefit.

Recall: the promises were made to "Abraham and to his Seed...His Seed was Christ." Therefore, everyone united to Christ by faith becomes the rightful heir of the promises made to Abraham.

Paul has exhausted his theme. But, like other good preachers, he's afraid his people have missed the point. Therefore, in slightly different words, he makes in again, 4:1-7: "Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the spirit of adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying `Abba, Father!' Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ".

In vv.1-2, Paul describes a royal son. He's born for the throne, but he doesn't take it right away. For the first several years of his life, he's treated like anyone else--subject to discipline and without special privileges. Only in the father's good time does he begin to exercise his royal prerogatives.

In vv.3-7, he applies the illustration. Under the Old Covenant, the people of God were put under a severe discipline--a "bondage" he calls it. What was this discipline? It was the Law, of course! The Apostles called it "a yoke... which neither we nor our fathers could bear".

But eventually, the people of God were released from that bondage. When? "In the fullness of time"--when the Law had run its course and gave way to the virgin's Son. What did He do? He "redeemed" us by His atoning death. As a consequence, we became the full-grown sons of God. How do we know that? Because we can honestly cry "Abba, Father". "Abba" is the familiar word corresponding to our "papa" or "daddy". Who would dare call The Maker of Heaven and Earth "Papa"? Not a "slave"--he'd be flogged for it. But only a "son". The Lord's people can now do that; we must do that. By Christ's saving work, we are made the children of God...and made to feel like the children of God.

And, to repeat for the umpteenth time: If we're children, then we're heirs. "Heirs" of whom? God. How? "Through Christ".

With these words, Paul has performed the coup d'grace. The Legalists are exposed as frauds and fools. They claimed that faith in Christ was a good place to start, but only the Law could bring one to maturity. But Redemptive History says just the opposite: Life under the Law is for children and slaves. The heirs of God live by faith. Therefore:

Finally, these words give identity. Ours is a neurotic age; a self-obsessed age; so many are trying to "find themselves". The Christian has! He's not a slave as some would have him be; he's a child of God; he's an heir of God; he's a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. If this doesn't cause us to "love one another with a fervent love" and to "esteem others better than ourselves", nothing will.

"I'm a child of the King,

A child of the King:

With Jesus my Savior,

I'm a child of the King".