The Law Our Schoolmaster (Galatians 3:24)

“The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.” Galatians 3:24

 

Summary:

The laws given to Israel—judicial, ceremonial, and moral—all led to Christ. The judicial law foreshadowed redemption and refuge; the ceremonial law pictured Christ through its worship, sacrifices, and sacred objects; and the moral law reveals God’s enduring requirement of perfect love. By exposing sin, declaring the sinner’s danger, and destroying confidence in personal obedience, the moral law drives us to seek a Deliverer. The law is therefore good when used lawfully. Its purpose is not to leave people in terror but to bring them to Christ, where every sinner who comes finds certain welcome and salvation.

 

Outline:

• God gave Israel three kinds of law
  • The judicial, ceremonial, and moral laws each served a distinct purpose, yet all directed people toward Christ.
• The judicial and ceremonial laws foreshadow Christ
  • Redemption, refuge, sacrifices, the tabernacle, and its sacred objects pictured his saving work.
• The moral law declares God’s enduring requirement
  • It requires supreme love for God and love for our neighbour, reaching the heart, motives, omissions, and actions.
• The moral law exposes sin and danger
  • It removes self-confidence, reveals the curse attached to transgression, and makes the sinner despair of life through personal obedience.
• The law brings the sinner to Christ
  • Its lawful ministry is fulfilled when people seek the Deliverer, rest in his salvation, and receive his promised welcome.