What is the significance of
the law of God as it relates to people? What are the implications if
a person does not keep the law of God? Why does it seem that there
are so many lawbreakers, and since this is so, why should there be a
law of God in the first place? On any given day we may hear questions
such as these from people who do not understand the purpose of the
law of God. Of course the law of God is wonderful for social order,
health benefits, and limiting ciaos, however we have learned from
Paul the apostle that it serves another purpose, “the law was
our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be
justified by faith.” The law
brings us to an understanding that we are lawbreakers and in need of
a Savior. That Savior is Jesus, and the law was and is our teacher
that directs us to Him. Paul continues to show the benefit of coming
to Jesus in chapter three and verse twenty-five where he wrote:
But after that faith is
come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster
Once
again we encounter the word, “But”,
and now know that it means that what is about to be stated takes
precedence over what was previously shared. Paul says, “But
after faith is come” which in
other words means, when Jesus came now anyone can be saved who
accepts His salvation, and relies upon Him as Lord. The idea is that
when Jesus fulfilled the law by faith, the usefulness for the law
bringing man into a relationship with God was substituted. The law
was and is fulfilled by Jesus Christ, and the penalty for
disobedience to the law has been paid by His death on the cross.
Paul
continues, “we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”
What was needed has been shared, and the fulfillment of the
requirement to have a relationship with God has been met. We no
longer have to rely upon the law to have fellowship with God. We need
only to have faith in Jesus Christ. His substitutionary work led us
to a path whereby we all may come to God and be His children. The
faithful work of Jesus has come, and we no longer have to worry over
keeping this rule or that which the schoolmaster, the law, presented.
The law
of God has fulfilled its purpose. It has led us to Jesus. This does
not mean that we despise the law of God or completely ignore its
significance in our lives. No, rather, we understand the importance
of the law and the guardian affect that it has upon our lives. We
will see more about this in future verses, however those will have to
wait until a later time.
Next time we will
how we become the children of God, so read ahead, and let us join
together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it
locally
at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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