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THE ROAD TO FAITH

THE ROAD TO FAITH. Lesson 7 for November 12, 2011.

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THE ROAD TO FAITH

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  1. THE ROAD TOFAITH Lesson 7 forNovember 12, 2011

  2. “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians, 3: 21-22) THE LAW AND THE PROMISE Both the law and the promise were given by God; therefore, they can’t contradict one another. Each one plays a role in the divine plan. The worried ones were those who thought that they could have spiritual life through the justice of the law. Because of the extent of sin and the limitations of the law, the promise of eternal life can come to us only through the faithfulness of Christ in our behalf.

  3. UNDERTHELAW “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed” (Galatians, 3: 23) Paul uses the term “under the law” in his letters with two different meanings: “Under the law” as an alternative way ofsalvation (Galatians, 4: 21). It is impossible to obtain life-enhancing righteousness through obedience, because if we believe that we can be justified by obeying the law, we are actually rejecting Christ. “Under the law” in the sense of being under its condemnation (Romans, 6: 14-15). The law condemns us and cannot remove our sin. That doesn’t invalidate the law. Being “under the law” in this sense is a positive thing, because it leads us to find the solution in Christ, the only One who can free us from the condemnation of the law.

  4. THE LAW AS OUR GUARD paidagogós “Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians, 3: 24) The word translated as schoolmaster (paidagogos) was used for a slave who had authority over the children of his master. He was not a teacher (didaskalos), but a person who took care of the child since he was 6 years old until he was an adult. He had several duties: he had to protect the child, take care of him, teach him moral virtues and care about his needs; on the other hand, he had to correct him and punish him when necessary.

  5. THE LAW AS OUR GUARD “I am asked concerning the law in Galatians. What law is the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ? I answer: Both the ceremonial and the moral code of ten commandments” E.G.W. (Selected Messages, book 1, cp. 31, pg. 233) Like the schoolmaster in that time, the law has two functions: pointing out the sin and providing education; and reprimand us and condemning us as sinners. That’s how the moral code points out our sin, reprimands us and condemns us. The ceremonial law provides the necessary education, leading us to repentance before God and to the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ to obtain forgiveness and peace.

  6. THE LAW AS OUR GUARD “But after faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians, 3: 25) “And what, indeed, happened for the child of God when Christ came, as touching the matter of "the law," which had been "our schoolmaster"? As regards the ceremonial laws, they ceased by a divine statute of limitations, for Christ’s sacrifice took the place of animal sacrifices, and thus the laws governing such sacrifices ended. As regards the civil statutes, they lost their significance for the simple reason that Israel ended as a nation, or state, and spiritual Israel took its place. As regards the moral law, the Decalogue, it no longer stands out on two tables of stone, as something apart from man. Instead, those who are "justified by faith" (v. 24) in Christ become new creatures in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17), with the law of God written in their minds and hearts (Heb. 8:10). And thus "the righteousness [or "requirements"] of the law" is "fulfilled" in them (Rom. 8:4). Rightly does Paul, employing his figure, declare that we are no longer "under a schoolmaster." It is difficult to understand how anyone ever concluded that Paul is here announcing the abolition of the Decalogue, God’s great moral law. So long as the new hearts and minds of the children of God endure, the divine law, in living characters, is engraved upon them” (SDA Bible Commentary, on Galatians, 3: 25)

  7. UNDERTHE GRACE “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (Romans, 6: 14-15) When our schoolmaster (the law) has already led us to Christ, we are no more under the law, but under grace; that is, God’s grace. That’s true in the two meaning Paul uses for the term “under the law”: According to “under the law” as accepting it as a means to salvation, Paul says: “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (Galatians, 5: 4). They are two incompatible conditions: those who think that are saved by their works are under the law and cannot be under the grace; those who accept salvation by faith in Jesus Christ are no more under the law, but under the grace. As for being “under the law” because the law condemns us; when we receive forgiveness of our sins and are declared sons and daughters of God by divine grace, our sins no longer exist. The law doesn’t condemn us anymore (while we don’t sin anymore)

  8. UNDERTHE GRACE The grace under which we are when we accept Jesus is beyond mere forgiveness of sins. Since the Law is the transcription of God’s character and He writes that Law in our hearts, we are turned into his resemblance. When Jesus lives in us, his Spirit gives us the power to obey his Law (Romans, 8: 4) When we are under the grace, we are new creatures and “there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans, 8: 1) “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John, 2: 1)

  9. “By disobeying the commands of God, man fell under the condemnation of His law. This fall called for the grace of God to appear in behalf of sinners. We should never have learned the meaning of this word “grace” had we not fallen. God loves the sinless angels, who do His service, and are obedient to all His commands; but He does not give them grace. These heavenly beings know naught of grace; they have never needed it; for they have never sinned. Grace is an attribute of God shown to undeserving human beings. We did not seek after it, but it was sent in search of us. God rejoices to bestow this grace upon every one who hungers for it. To every one He presents terms of mercy, not because we are worthy, but because we are so utterly unworthy. Our need is the qualification which gives us the assurance that we shall receive this gift. But God does not use His grace to make His law of none effect, or to take the place of His law.... God’s grace and the law of His kingdom are in perfect harmony; they walk hand in hand. His grace makes it possible for us to draw nigh to Him by faith. By receiving it, and letting it work in our lives, we testify to the validity of the law; we exalt the law and make it honorable by carrying out its living principles through the power of the grace of Christ; and by rendering pure, whole-hearted obedience to God’s law, we witness before the universe of heaven, and before an apostate world that is making void the law of God, to the power of redemption” E.G.W. (God’s amazing grace, January 2)

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