One Way
© 04.21.24 By David Eric Williams
Is there a conflict, then, between God's law and God's promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:21-22 NLT).
The Mosaic dispensation was not designed to actualize the Abrahamic promises but that does not mean it was opposed to God's covenant promises. It means the purpose of the law was different. It could not bring life because it could not make righteousness take root in the lives of God's people. If it had that ability it would be opposed to the promises of God. It would have provided an alternate route to righteousness and blessings. In fact, it wold have (potentially) nullified the Abrahamic covenant since it came after. As far as Paul is concerned it is a tremendous blessing Torah did not supplant the promises. For the Law could not "give us new life." It was not intended to. The covenant promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ are; The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10 NKJV).
Moreover the Mosaic dispensation was temporary. Therefore it functions as a historical marker not a means of life. A problem arises when one tries to make the Torah an avenue to righteousness. The Judaizers were doing that, insisting Jew and Gentile alike were required to observe the Mosaic ritual in order to be acceptable to God. They insisted on Jesus plus the Law.
However, the Word of God declare[s] that we are all prisoners of sin. Indeed, the scripture imprisoned everything under sin (Galatians 3:22a NET). Paul doesn't provide a handy reference we can turn to to verify this assertion. Yet, the witness of Scripture is clear; "Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out." Then all the people shall say, "Amen!" (Deuteronomy 27:26 NIV). Therefore, the primary premise of the Judaizers actually contradicts the Scripture
Paul will develop this idea further; at this point he simply reminds his readers that the “imprisonment” was enacted so that the promise could be given – because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ – to those who believe (Galatians 3:22 NET).
This section of Paul's letter may seem irrelevant to the modern Christian. After all, twenty-first century Evangelical Christians understand salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone – or do they? The sad fact is, recent surveys have shown that a large percentage of “Evangelical Christians” reject the truth of salvation in Jesus alone. They claim there are a variety of ways to "be saved." Thus, the critical nature of the principals in Paul's first century letter remain pertinent today.
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