| | | | The Best of Both Worlds - Galatians 3:23-25 In Galatians 3:24 Paul describes the law as our tutor:
But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:23-25
In that day, children of means were raised by a tutor, the Greek word used here is "paidagogos."
However, the paidagogos was much more than a tutor; The paidagogos was the child's guardian, exercising general supervision over all of his activities. He kept the child safe, taught the child values, and ensured that he was educated properly.
Once the child reached adulthood, he no longer lived under the guardianship of the paidagogos. However, he didn't forget the discipline and lessons that he learned from the paidagogos; He still remembered them, and lived by them.
In this illustration Paul helps us understand our relationship to the law. Before Christ came, the law of Moses (the Ten Commandments) gave man the basic principles of life; how to live in harmony with one another.
But once Christ came, the law was superseded by faith. Yet the law still had purpose, in that because we cannot keep the law, the law shows us our need for a Savior. Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we're set free from the condemnation of the law, yet we still remember the law, and live by it's principles.
To me it's a beautiful paradox, in that we are now free from the law's condemnation of our sin, yet we're also free to live out the law in our lives through faith in Christ.
I guess you could say we have the best of both worlds!
"Lord, help me to live out Your law in my life today."
Pastor Clay | | | | | | | |
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