The Law As Tutor (As The Backboard Helps the Shooter)

Please Read Galatians 3:19-25

 

"What purpose then does the law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept (confined) for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor (in a household, the guardian responsible for the care and discipline of the children) to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor".


The promise is the availability of everlasting life, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus to/in those who believe. Faith is the understanding (like the inherent knowledge within that we must eat to live. Babies even, while understanding little else, know that they are hungry) that Jesus Christ is, and accompanied by the works of that understanding (if we are willing to obey His inspiration), Jesus Christ builds His church, and the gates of Hell shall NOT prevail against what He is able to build in us, individually and as a body.


The game of basketball, most people know, is played on a rectangular "court". The goals are anchored to a backboard - a solid, hard surface that assists in shot-making and also keeps errant shots from rolling far away from the GOAL. Young players are directed to "use the backboard" for their shots. As players develop, they use the backboard less and at the highest levels of play, the backboard is used in a small percentage of shots taken - the players have become proficient in scoring the ball WITHOUT the backboard. The coaches hardly bother to recommend it.


The Galatian church had become tempted to go back to the backboard, the tutor, as the scripture describes. But, the tutor had been made obsolete by the indwelling of the Righteous One- Christ in us, the hope of glory!


Paul asks them, "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:2) "Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:5)


God has manifested Himself to man through supernatural occurrence from the beginning; from the initiation of the writing of His Book to the finishing of the same. Only don't be tempted to go back to what was the tutor and try to find or experience Him. The new wine comes from Jesus' words in the gospels and the words He inspired through man.


The Galatian church was a new testament church in every regard yet they were tempted, probably by peer pressure from the Jewish people who were against Jesus as the Christ, to make themselves more like those who were being tutored according to the law. You see, life would be easier for them without the gnashing teeth of unbelievers. This exercise exposed the Galatian's will and, ultimately, the correction by Paul. There was an assault by satan-inspired thieves to steal what the Holy Spirit brings - a life of victory in Christ Jesus.

You can write to the author of this study at ngm0811gdh@gmail.com