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I think I understand the argument in Galatians 3:19a about the purpose of the law. But then in the second half of the verse, Paul begins, “The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. A mediator, however, imp…
Mike Partyka
Acts 7:53, Psalm 68:17, and Hebrews 2:2 just the angels helping reveal mankind’s need for a savior.
Varnel Watson
you seem to know things no one else knows
Mike Partyka
Just a newbie with a BA……but not from a online school.
RichardAnna Boyce
Galatians 3:19
With the question, what purpose then does the law serve? Paul shifts his discussion from justification to sanctification. If a believer departs from a proper belief in justification, it negatively impacts his progressive sanctification. While justification cannot be lost, sanctification can be derailed.
This question surely suggests that the Judaizers were claiming that one of the main purposes of the Law, if not the purpose, was to provide the means of justification before God.
While nothing can be added to an irrevocable covenant once it is confirmed, something can be added to the people to whom the covenant was given. The Law was added because of transgressions. People were doing things that transgressed God’s desires. So God codified a law that would make His will clear. The Law was added till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made. With the coming of the Seed, there was a change, a new dispensation.
Paul mentions that the Law was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator [Moses]. The OT does not state that angels were involved in the giving of the Law. This was something well known in Jewish oral tradition (accurate, since Paul affirms it).
Varnel Watson
so basically you are not saying that Gal 3 is not saying what you are saying or what are you saying exactly?
RichardAnna Boyce
One of the 4 purposes of God giving the Moses Old Covenant was: To keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us.
Gal 3:19-20 The Message “What is the point of the law, the added addendum? It was a thoughtful addition to the original covenant promises made to Abraham. The purpose of the law was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. Obviously this law was not a firsthand encounter with God. It was arranged by angelic messengers through a middleman, Moses. But if there is a middleman as there was at Sinai, then the people are not dealing directly with God, are they? But the original promise is the direct blessing of God, received by faith.” When God called Israel out of Egypt, they were already worshipping Egyptian gods, and would probably have disappeared as a unique nation. So God gave them the Law to secure their national identity for 1500 years until Jesus’ first coming.
RichardAnna Boyce
Another purpose of God giving the Moses Old Covenant was:- The Law tends towards cursing, but the Promise tends towards blessing.
Gal 3:9-10 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Other translations make this thought more clear: “Those who rely on obedience to the law are under a curse…” (New English Bible), “Those who depend on Jewish laws to save them are under God’s curse….” (Living Bible), “All who depend on the Law are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction..” (Amplified Bible), “Anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God is doomed to failure “ (Message). “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” (Rom. 10:4).
Legalists are selectively aware of laws they think they can keep well, but no one can keep all the rules, and if you break one you are cursed by the whole law.
Blessing means to empower someone to prosper actively, knowing the favour of God’s Holy Spirit to gain blessings; but not passively receiving blessings. Cursing means that your self-efforts reduce in effectiveness and don’t work. Blessing occurs about 430 times and cursing about 160 times in the Bible.
False teachings about blessing and cursing include generational curses. Two tests are did the apostles practice that, and was it taught in the Epistles? There is nothing to support cursing and everything to deny it.
Varnel Watson
RichardAnna Boyce so basically free grace has a commentary you all copy paste from ? No personal thinking – just repeat what it says?
RichardAnna Boyce
The free unmerited favour of God, to those who trust Jesus only to be saved, results in God promising to bless, bless and bless you.
God’s blessing, salvation, forgiveness, acceptance and security are not based on anything good we do for God, or anything bad we choose not to do.
All of God’s blessings are based on what God has done for us in the finished work of Christ Jesus at the cross. (ie OSAS)
RichardAnna Boyce
anything good we do for God, like works of repentance as a condition of justification, or persevering in our faith during sanctification; but is based on God preserving our faith by OSAS during sanctification..