Why Then The Law? Series

On October 31, 1517, a young Augustinian Monk, schooled in the law, named Martin Luther, posted 95 Theses of concern to the church door in Wittenberg Germany. This act triggered the Reformation, as they were immediately translated and distributed across Germany in a matter of weeks. The Protestant Reformation was the rediscovery of the doctrine of justification—that is, salvation by grace alone (Gal. 2:21) through faith alone in Christ alone. (https://www.christianity.com/christian-life/art-and-culture/the-connection-between-halloween-reformation-day.html). Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was named for the reformer. The Civil Rights leader was born Michael King, Jr., but after his father took a trip to Germany where he was inspired by Luther’s legacy, he changed his own and his young son’s names to Martin Luther King. The younger King, like his namesake, defended the rights of conscience, especially in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Religious liberty and the rights of conscience continue to be important and disputed themes in (American) law. (https://fedsoc.org/commentary/blog-posts/reformation-and-law)

In Galatians 3:19-22, the Apostle Paul talks about how the law was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made. In Galatia, Judaizing teachers; who wished to combine the Law with the Gospel as a permanent institution. In order to counter this, (the Apostle Paul shows), that, if they would make their works, whether ceremonial or moral, in any degree the ground of their hopes, they must stand altogether on the footing of the law, which prescribed perfect obedience as the way to life; and must renounce all interest in the covenant which was made with their father Abraham, and which promised life to people by believing in the Promised Seed. Upon this, they naturally ask, “(what did the law do?)” that is, ‘If we are not to be saved by the law, for what end did Moses give us the law? What end can it answer?’(Simeon, C. (1832-63). Horae Homileticae Vol. 17: Galatians-Ephesians (77). London.)

Paul has shown the Law could not give the Holy Spirit (vv. 1-5); could not bring justification (vv. 6-9); could not alter the permanence of faith (vv. 15-18); but it does bring a curse (vv. 10-12).

For us therefore, how are we to regard the law of God? Does it have any bearing for us today? What can we say God expects? The answers to these questions helps us to know upon which basis we are saved and how then we should live.

After showing the superiority of the covenant of promise, Paul now shows the inferiority of the covenant of law-first in regard to 1) Its Purpose (Galatians 3:19a), then in regard to 2) Its Mediator (Galatians 3:19b-20), and finally in regard to 3) Its Accomplishment (Galatians 3:21-22)

Paul now shows the inferiority of the covenant of law-first in regard to:

1) Its Purpose: (Galatians 3:19a)

Galatians 3:19a [19]Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, (until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.) (ESV)

In light of Paul’s convincing argument up to this point, the obvious question would be, Why then the Law? Since salvation has always been by faith and never by works, and since the covenant of promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, what purpose did or does the Law have? In recognition to the sequence of events we see that it was added. It was added to the promises previously given to Abraham. It was added in that it was intended to show the position of the law in relation to the covenant: it is both supplementary and subordinate to it (Arichea, D. C., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on Paul's letter to the Galatians. Originally published under title: A translator's handbook on Paul's letter to the Galatians. c1976. UBS handbook series; Helps for translators (74). New York: United Bible Societies.)

Please turn to Romans 3

Paul’s answer is direct and sobering: It was added because of transgressions (papabasis, stepping over the boundary). Because of transgressions relates (1) “to provide a sacrificial system to deal temporarily with transgressions,” (2) “to teach people more clearly what God requires and thereby to restrain transgressions,” (3) “to show that transgressions violated an explicit written law,” and (4) “to reveal people’s sinfulness and need for a savior” (cf. Rom. 3:20: “through the law comes knowledge of sin”) (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (pp. 2250–2251). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)

Paul explained these functions of the law in relation to the Jews to whom the law was given:

Romans 3:9-20 [9]What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, [10]as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; [11]no one understands; no one seeks for God. [12]All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." [13]"Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."[14]"Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."[15]"Their feet are swift to shed blood; [16]in their paths are ruin and misery,[17]and the way of peace they have not known."[18]"There is no fear of God before their eyes." [19]Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. [20]For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (ESV)