Lesson #7 (4th Quarter 2011): The Road to Faith

Many people try to separate the law from the gospel; some even see them as contradictory. Not only is this view wrong, it can have tragic consequences. Without the law, we would have no gospel. It’s hard, really, to understand the gospel without the law.

Paul uses the phrase “under the law” twelve times in his letters. Depending on its context, it can have a couple of different connotations.

1. “Under the law” as an alternative way of salvation (Gal. 4:21). The opponents in Galatia were trying to gain life-giving righteousness by obedience. However, as Paul has already made clear, this is impossible (Gal. 3:21, 22). Paul later will even point out that, by desiring to be under the law, the Galatians were really rejecting Christ (Gal. 5:2–4).

2. “Under the law” in the sense of being under its condemnation (Rom. 6:14, 15). Because the law cannot atone for sin, the violation of its demands ultimately results in condemnation. This is the condition in which all human beings find themselves. The law acts as a prison warden, locking up all who have violated it and brought upon themselves the sentence of death. As we will see in tomorrow’s lesson, the use of the word guard (Gal. 3:23, NKJV) indicates that this is what Paul means by “under the law” in this passage.

Wouldn't there be a third connotation - under the jurisdiction of the law - like in Gal. 4:4? I know some understand this passage as applying to the condemnation of the law, but I don't agree with this view.

Perhaps 1 Corinthians 9:20 is an example.

If we interpret it as "salvation by perfect obedience" in Gal. 4:4, we would have to apply the same meaning to Gal. 4:5, but would this meaning fit Gal. 4:5?

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

I just studied this week's lesson and I want to throw a thought out there. This week's lesson was obviously about the importance of the law of God. Coming from an SDA position the author obviously wants to make sure that the law is defended. Now I believe the law is still in force but I have a couple issues with a few things. I felt the lesson spent too much time trying to prove the law's permanence. It is a point that must be made but I think our people need to hear more about the promise of Christ and its fullness. I believe that the freedom in Christ from the law and its condemnation needs to take a more central role. Also, there is a subtle form of legalism that says I am forgiven and justified in Jesus but now as a believer it is my duty to keep the law out of love and loyalty. Sounds good but Paul totally dismisses this, especially in Romans in 6-8. It is only 'in Jesus' that I can obey. Life in the Spirit which lesson 12 gets into must be screamed out to us. We need Jesus' justifying grace and his sanctifying grace. I cannot as a born again believer look at the law and keep it. The new birth deals with my attitude and will toward God in my mind. But the power to obey my newly converted mind is not present. Hence the struggle spoken of in Romans 7. His mind is right with God (new birth) but his body (the housing of his sinful nature) is warring against it. Paul in despair cries out that there is only one answer in Romans 7:24, 25, Jesus. In Romans 8 he begins with another role of the Spirit (Jesus' earthly Representative) to bring life into our mortal bodies. I must have Jesus within. It is God that works in to will and to do in us to obey. Furthermore, the goal of the Christian life is not obedience but rather to know God. Paul tells us in Colossians that the mystery is Christ in us, the hope of glory. God wants to restore and remake us for sure but being in a trusting, living union of grace with Him is the goal not to get us to simply obey. For many years as an SDA I have heard our duty to obey, obey, obey and little or no mention of the freedom I have in Jesus. Jesus has me on every level! I can simply rest in Him for everything. Ephesians 1:3 tells us that every spiritual blessing is already mine in Christ. I do not have to wonder about my security. God has retold my story, I have a new reality in Christ. I am forgiven, new, righteous, holy, redeemed, loved, empowered, the Spirit...etc in Christ. The question is 'who's version of reality am I going to believe, God's or Satan's? The flesh, Satan, the world all try to tell me another story I can see but God is telling another story I can't see but believe. I am under grace, which can only believe. To be under law, which can only be do. If my focus is do I am not believing the right story. So under grace, being in Jesus is more about knowing who I am in Him. Study the word knowledge in the NT and look how it is used. Knowing Jesus, is knowing who I really am now. And here is the climax, as I understand who I really am in Jesus it affects the way I live. Paul in his letter was always trying to get people to see themselves differently, in Christ and then would urge in light of their new identity how to live. If I am in Christ in the heavenly realms then live from that vantage and put to death the things of the earth. Live as you are in Christ. All his letter are like this. If you want this really brought out read Ephesians and Colossians especially. Sorry its long but we need to focus more on who we are in Jesus rather than how to live!

I felt the lesson spent too much time trying to prove the law's permanence. It is a point that must be made but I think our people need to hear more about the promise of Christ and its fullness.

I believe that the freedom in Christ from the law and its condemnation needs to take a more central role.

Also, there is a subtle form of legalism that says I am forgiven and justified in Jesus but now as a believer it is my duty to keep the law out of love and loyalty. Sounds good but Paul totally dismisses this, especially in Romans in 6-8.

It is only 'in Jesus' that I can obey. ... We need Jesus' justifying grace and his sanctifying grace.

I cannot as a born again believer look at the law and keep it. The new birth deals with my attitude and will toward God in my mind. But the power to obey my newly converted mind is not present.

His mind is right with God (new birth) but his body (the housing of his sinful nature) is warring against it.

Paul in despair cries out that there is only one answer in Romans 7:24, 25, Jesus.