Galatians 3 is a stab at explaining the law and how it relates to faith. Paul is dealing with the Galatian church and they are struggling with how to deal with the contrast between the two. The law was “added because of transgressions” as Paul writes. It is the way we know that we don’t measure up to God’s standards. It verifies that we need to be saved from our sin. The law is the “guardian until Christ came”. It set the standards that demonstrated God’s expectations for mankind, and shows us just how far we fall short. Here is the reality around the law: “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law”. No one is going to make it to heaven by being obedient and following the law. No one. There are no perfect people. None can meet God’s standards of godliness and holiness. It isn’t going to happen. So that is where Jesus comes in. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us”. Jesus took our place – took the curse of our sin on Himself – and through His death, burial and resurrection has set us free. It is through His blood that we are justified. It is through His sacrifice that we are saved.
So “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law”. God did not change His plan for mankind midstream. Jesus has been the plan all along. He was there from the beginning at creation. God has provided a way for man to be saved – and that is the blood of Jesus. That alone is sufficient. All we have to do is believe. There are no other requirements. We can’t add to or subtract from what God has set up as the way to Him. “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith”. Want to be sure you end up in heaven with God? The formula is simple. You need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ based on faith. Not works. Not creeds. Not books. Not deeds. Jesus and Him alone. And when we get that done – we become sons of God. It doesn’t get any better than that. To be set apart as a Son of the Father – through the “promise of faith in Jesus Christ”. Sonship is forever. Once we become a son of the King, we will always be that. And the final note – “you are all one in Christ Jesus”. There should be no separation or division. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. There is something wrong on the religious and church front today. We are missing this piece of the equation. We are one in Jesus. Not Baptist, or Methodist, or Lutheran, or Catholic, or any of the dozens of other labels we stick on people. We are sons and daughters of the King. And we should be one. On the same team doing battle together against a very real and common enemy. Are you living that way?
