In Galatians 2:16, Paul makes his case that “a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” He goes on to ask the Galatians that since they began the Christian life “by the Spirit,” why were they foolishly trying to be perfected in the flesh (Galatians 3:2-6)? The apostle then spoke of the curse imposed by disobedience to the law, and again of how God’s people are justified through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:10-11). Paul also made the case that the Sinai covenant does not supersede the Abrahamic covenant (i.e., the covenant of grace), although the law was given 430 years after God’s covenant promise was made to Abraham (Galatians 3:15-18).

No doubt, Paul’s understanding of redemptive history raised a significant question in the minds of those Galatians who had been taken in by the Judaizers. If obedience to the the law cannot justify, and if the covenant promises God made to Abraham are not annulled by the covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai, why then did God give the law? What role and purpose does it serve? In Galatians 3:18-22, Paul offers five reasons why God gave the law to Israel.

To read the rest, follow the link below

Read More