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SUBJECT: The Law
QUESTIONS: What is the Law? Has it been done away?
What is the purpose of the Law? What does it mean to be
“under” or “above” the Law? Why is the Law called the
schoolmaster?
ANSWER:
The biggest problem with the law both in Paul's time and in
our time is that people do not really understand what the
law was designed to do. Paul was living in a time when man
worshipped the law, thinking that the law was an end in
itself. They could not see that the law was designed as a
map or a sign post to something else.
The law was designed to point mankind to something called
"principle". Examples of principles are found in Galatians
5:22-23; the fruits of the spirit. Laws point to
principles. We keep laws, but we 'invoke' principle. Two
of the Ten Commandments tell us to Not Lie and Not Steal.
These laws point us to several principles including honesty
and love. Not stealing is one thing......it is keeping the
law, but we must invoke honesty. The scriptures encourage
us to "be a light". Just keeping the law will not be
enough. I cannot tell if someone is keeping a law.
However, when someone is honest, everyone can see it. You
have surely heard someone refer to a man as honest. "Joe is
sure an honest guy" or "That was sure an honest thing in
did." Being honest is usually an action or "work" and
people can see it. Notice something very important though.
Christ is the embodiment of all principle. That is why the
commentary below states that law points to Christ. Further,
when you "invoke" principle, you are not doing the honest
thing, but Christ in you is doing the honest thing.
A true Christian is one who allows Christ to live in them
and do great things by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 says love, joy, and peace are fruits of
the Spirit.......not man. Man can choose to allow love, joy
and peace to be invoked through them, but they cannot
produce these things fully without the power of the Spirit.
When you invoke principle, you call upon the God's Holy
Spirit to make the thing happen. People see that and they
see Christ in you.
These verses about the law, for the most part are trying to
explain to man the true design of the law. Notice further
down in
Galatians 3
Galatians 3:23-27
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut
up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto
Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a
schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ
Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have
put on Christ.
The law was our schoolmaster (teaching
us or pointing us to what?) to bring us unto
Christ (embodiment of all
principle) that we might be justified by faith (faith
is a principle). But after that faith (principles)
are come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (the
law). Verse 27, for as many of you as have been
baptized into Christ have put on Christ (allowed
principles to be invoked by and through Him).
There are moments in our lives when we are no longer under
the law, that is, we are "above the law". The law is not
done away. It is always there when we slip and fall (sin).
Example: Say you are an honest person. Everyone I ask
tells me that you are the most honest person they know.
What good would it be for me to come to you and tell you not
to lie or steal? You are "above" that. Sure, the laws
against lying and stealing worked to help you understand the
principle of honesty, but now you have chosen to be honest.
Now one day, in a moment of temptation, you take something
that is not yours (you sin).
The law is there to tell you that you sinned and that you
should get back to invoking principles including honesty. I
mentioned that the fruits of the Spirit (principles)
are listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Notice what it says in the
scripture just before those verses.
Galatians 5:17-18
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the
other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
If you are led by the Spirit (which
produces principles) you are not under the law.
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