Galatians 3 v 25 – 29 - Christians – Their union in the Messiah

 ‘But confident persuasion and entrustment having come, we are no longer under a child’s governor. 26 Because you are all sons of God by means of persuasion and entrustment within Jesus, His anointed. 27 For as many as have been immersed  - there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, and there is neither male and female, because you all exist one within Jesus the anointed. 29 Now if you [are] of the anointed, then you are existing Abraham’s seed, heirs down from announced promise’, (Galatians 3 v 25 - 29).

What happens when a Jew penetrates towards persuasion and entrustment? Paul says that such Jews ‘are no longer under a child’s governor’. They are no longer under the authority and government of Covenant law (verse 24). Recognising their need of the promise given by God to Abraham, in the light of the extent of their self-forfeiture and loss as revealed by Covenant law, they are persuaded and entrust God. 

Now that the Messiah has been revealed, this rendering idle of divine law is especially the case for those Jews who have heard the gospel and placed their trust in Jesus as their Messiah – Hebrew Christians. Why? ‘Because you are all sons of God by means of persuasion and entrustment within Jesus, His anointed’. Hebrew Christians ‘are no longer under a child’s governor’. They are no longer under the authority and government of Covenant law because by means of persuasion to the point of obedient entrustment within Jesus, God’s anointed, all such Jews are sons of God. They have received divine adoption into the household of God. But what does this mean? What are the implications?

Paul returns to the theme of ‘oneness’. ‘For as many as have been immersed within His anointed have sunk into being enclothed with the anointed one’. Those who entrust Jesus, the anointed of God, are immersed, submerged or baptised, implying enclothing, being ‘wrapping around’, and a very close and intimate relationship. What are they immersed into? They have been immersed ‘within His anointed’, by which believers are placed into mystical union with the crucified and risen Lord, the means of this union being the set-apart Breath of God. The result is that believers have ‘sunk into being enclothed with the anointed one’. They have sunk into the Messiah in the same way that someone sinks into a garment, into clothing. ‘Putting on’ the Messiah implies that his character, feelings and works become the believer’s own. The believer has received God’s anointed as the means of their judicial approval, have obtained union with him, and in consequence a likeness to him – walking around within his clothes.

Now this is true of all who are persuaded and entrusting the Messiah, be they Jews or Gentiles. There is no difference ‘because you all exist one within Jesus the anointed’. There we see the theme of ‘oneness’ once again. The God of Sinai Covenant law is one and the same as the God of promise, and those hearing, persuaded and entrusting in Jesus ‘all exist one within Jesus His anointed’, denoting the closest and most intimate approximation conceivable. We see it again here, ‘you (Christians) [are] of the anointed (Messiah), and the anointed (Messiah) of God’ (I Corinthians 3 v 23).

Paul now reaches a sub-conclusion and in doing so he continues to explain the Christian’s position in relation to divine law. He will explain this over the first eleven verses of chapter 4. His sub-conclusion is this, ‘Now if you [are] of the anointed, then you are existing Abraham’s seed, heirs down from announced promise’. Paul is applying what is true of Christians specifically to Hebrew Christians and he links existing ‘within the Messiah’ to their patriarch Abraham and the promises made to him by God. 

If you [are] of the Anointed,

Then you are existing Abraham’s seed (plural), and

        Heirs down from announced promise.

Paul introduces the theme of inheritance. Hebrew Christians are no longer in the situation of experiencing the loss of their inheritance because of their self-forfeiture. On the contrary, they are heirs down from the announced promise to Abraham.

Galatians 3 v 23, 24 - Covenant law – a guardian for infants

 ‘Now persuasion and entrustment came in front. Under the law we were guarded, protected and kept watch over, enclosed and shut in together penetrating into the persuasion and entrustment intended to be uncovered, 24 so that the law has come into being our guardian and tutor of children, penetrating into His Anointed, in order that we might be judicially approved and made right wise from out of persuasion and entrustment’, (Galatians 3 v 23, 24).

Persuasion and entrustment, like that of Abraham’s, came first, long before the law. Then, for Jews, over four hundred years later, the law was added. Jews, who are God’s chosen ethnic group, came to exist under the authority of Covenant law, they ‘were guarded, protected and kept watch over, enclosed and shut in together’. Covenant law was (and is) not given as a means to divine judicial approval. It was not (and is not) an alternative to, or a means of fulfilment of, that which was made known by the announced promise of God to Abraham. The function of the law was (and is) to penetrate into persuasion and entrustment, as individuals under the law came to know their self-forfeiture and hopeless position. The function of Covenant law was (and is) to enable individuals to perceive their need of God’s promise. The law provides knowledge of self-forfeiture, it is the starting point that reveals the sinfulness of sin, and the extent and increase of sin within our fleshly constitution. The law does indeed lead wayward Jews to entrustment in God. The particular details of how God would bring His promises into effect, and what this entrustment would mean in particular, were yet to be revealed. Jews were in a state of infancy.

Covenant law came in towards Jews like a tutor or guardian of children or infants. It points out what God judicially disapproves of and indicates the penalties that certain behaviours incur. The law also provided the means of paying for and sending away self-forfeiture and loss by means of the infrastructure of Levitical priests and the various prescribed ceremonies and sacrifices. All of this constitutes an ‘outline shadow’ pointing to, and penetrating into His Anointed and judicial approval by means of hearing, persuasion and entrustment in him.  

That was the position of Jews prior to the coming of the Messiah. It remains the position of those Jews who are still not persuaded that Jesus is the Messiah and who therefore do not place their trust in him.

Galatians 3 v 21 – 22 - The written codes of law are not how God’s promises are fulfilled

 ‘Therefore, is the law down from the announced promises of God? May it not be caused to happen! Because if law had been given having ability to give Life, indeed, the judicial approval and right wise-ness would exist from out of law. 22 But the Scripture shut up and enclosed all things underneath self-forfeiture and loss in order that the announced promise be given from out of entrustment and persuasion, to those who are persuaded and entrusting Jesus, His Anointed’, (Galatians 3 v 21 – 22).

In verses 19 and 20, Paul said that the God of the Sinai Covenant and its written codes of laws is one and the same as the God Who announced promises to Abraham. There is divine unity in spite of the various different aspects in which God reveals Himself to successive generations and different groups of humanity. Paul defines the implications of this in the following verses, and he considers another potential objection, which he once again expresses in the form of a rhetorical question - ‘Therefore is the law down from the announced promises of God?’ He immediately answers his own question, ‘May it not be caused to happen!’. 

This question proposes that God is fulfilling His promises to Abraham and his seed by giving Covenant law. In other words, it is proposed that Covenant law is the means by which God’s promises will be attained. ‘Not at all’ says Paul. ‘If it was possible that divine judicial approval could exist from out of individuals keeping the written codes of Covenant law, if Covenant law had the ability to give Life, then that would indeed be the arrangement that God would put in place’. But this is not possible, and Paul explains why.

‘Scripture shut up and enclosed all things underneath self-forfeiture and loss’. Self-forfeiture and loss encloses everyone. Everyone is trapped and imprisoned by self-forfeiture and loss, and there are no exceptions. There is an impulse and impetus inherent within our human nature, within the fabric of our flesh, inclining us towards self-forfeiture and loss. It is present within everyone, including those placed under Covenant law. Both Jews and Gentiles are trapped by it.

Why is this? Why does Scripture enclose everyone underneath self-forfeiture and loss? It is ‘in order that the announced promise be given from out of entrustment and persuasion, to those who are persuaded and entrusting Jesus, His Anointed’, (verse 22b). The announced promise given to Abraham – ‘in your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed’, (Genesis 22 v 18a), is not and cannot be attained by any individual expending their energy and labour to keep the written codes of Covenant law. This is because everyone is trapped and imprisoned within self-forfeiture and loss. This means that as with Abraham, the announced promise is received by means of persuasion and entrustment, and the ‘object’ of this persuasion and entrustment is Jesus, His Anointed, the seed of Abraham. Because of the all-pervading principle of self-forfeiture and loss, knowledge of which only increases by knowing divine law, it means that hearing, persuasion and entrustment is the means by which the announced promise is attained – in other words, the promise is attained by means of faith. 

Galatians 3 v 13 – 16 - Jesus and God’s announced promises to Abraham and his seed

 ‘His anointed has paid the price to rescue us from out of the law’s denouncement, having been denounced above and beyond us, because it has been written: ‘Denounced – all hanging on a tree’, 14 in order that the benefit penetrating towards Abraham comes towards the Gentiles within Jesus, His anointed. So that they receive the announced promise, the Breath, by means of faithful entrustment. 15 Brothers, I am speaking down from man, nevertheless, even man, having validated an agreed arrangement, no one sets it aside, negating it or adding to it. 16 The announced promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say ‘seeds’, on the basis of many, but on the basis of one – ‘and your seed’ – who is His anointed’, (Galatians 3 v 13 - 16). 

There is no individual human being who has the ability to fully construct all that is written in the book of law. Instead, everyone who seeks to observe the injunctions of the book of law finds that they are denounced by it. The law reveals that they incur self-forfeiture and loss, and that they face divine disapproval. 

So how can anyone obtain divine approval? How can they be delivered from divine condemnation? The answer is that God’s anointed – His only-begotten Son - ‘has paid the price to rescue us from out of the law’s denouncement’. The Messiah himself has been denounced above and beyond us, so that the benefit that penetrates towards Abraham also comes towards Gentiles, within Jesus. This means that Gentiles as well as Jews receive the announced promise, the Breath, by means of faithful entrustment. (Compare Joel 2 v 28, 29; Acts 2 v 16 - 21).

Paul says, ‘I illustrate this by a familiar example taken from common human practice. Even human beings, having established an agreement, don’t then ignore it, negate it or add to it without the consent of the other stipulating party’. This constitutes his next general statement. Namely that such an agreement is established and fixed. Nothing is going to come in from the side to make it invalid. 

Paul then explains what he means in more detail. ‘The announced promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed’, (verse 16). Paul refers to Genesis 22. ‘And Yahweh says, ‘I have sworn by Myself…17 that praising I will praise you, and increasing I will increase your seed according to the stars of the heavens, and according to the sand upon the sea shore. And your seed will take possession of the gate of his enemy. 18 And in your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed in consequence that you listened and obeyed My voice’.’, (Genesis 22 v 16a, 17, 18).

Paul comments on this text and says, ‘The announced promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. It does not say ‘seeds’, on the basis of many, but on the basis of one – ‘and your seed’ – who is His anointed’. In the first part of Genesis 22 v 17, the word ‘seed’ is intended to be understood in the plural sense – ‘according to the stars of the heavens and….the sand on the sea shore’. As with ‘stars’, the word ‘sand’ is to be understood in the same way. The reference is not to a single grain of sand, but to one body of sand made up of many grains.

Then, in the second part of verse 17, the word ‘seed’ refers to one individual, one seed out of many, who ‘will take possession of the gate of his enemy’. This phrase indicates conquest and victory. Similarly in verse 18, the word ‘seed’ refers to one individual within whom ‘all the ethnic groups of the earth, (not only Jews), will be blessed’. Paul says that this individual is God’s Anointed - Jesus.

Galatians 3 v 10 – 12 – Working to observe divine law is not out of entrustment and leads to condemnation

 ‘Because as many as are existing from out of law-works are existing under denouncement, because it has been written, ‘Denounced – all who are not continuing in all the writing within the book of law, constructing them’. 11 But because no one is judicially approved or made right-wise in the presence of God within law, it is clear that the judicially approved will live from out of entrusting persuasion, 12 and law is not from out of faith, on the contrary, they will live within having constructed them’, (Galatians 3 v 10 – 12).

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Paul continues to construct support for his general statement that Christians receive the Breath from out of hearing and entrustment. He has shown that Gentiles or non-Jews are connected to the Jewish patriarch Abraham by means of hearing and entrustment. Paul now contrasts this with seeking to maintain divine approval by putting energy and effort into observing the written codes of Covenant law. He says that everyone who is trying to earn and maintain divine approval by putting energy and effort into observing the written codes of Covenant law, exists under denouncement, under a curse. The curse is that those who are following this path have to obey every single injunction in the book of law. Those who fail to do so, even within just one instance, are not judicially approved. They incur self-forfeiture and loss.  

No one is judicially approved by putting their energy and work into obeying the written codes of Covenant law. So as a result, it is clear, it is evident, that those who are judicially approved will live from out of entrustment and persuasion – faith. It is also clear that divine law is not from out of faith. These are two completely different paths. Those putting their energy and work into obeying the written codes of Covenant law will live IF they have fully and completely constructed all the writing, all the injunctions, in the book of law. ‘Do this and you will live’, ‘they will live within having constructed them’, (verse 12), but ‘no one is judicially approved in the presence of God within law’, (verse 11). People are not able to stand acquitted before God on Judgement Day by means of observing Covenant Law. Nor are Christians able to maintain divine judicial approval day-by-day by means of seeking to keep the written codes of Covenant law such as the Ten Commandments. 

Galatians 3 v 5 – 9 - God’s announced promise and Abraham’s entrustment

 ‘Therefore, the provision of the Breath to you, and the working activity of power within you - from out of law-works or from out of hearing and entrustment, 6 just as Abraham entrusted God and he reasoned it to a logical conclusion into judicial approval and right wise-ness. 7 Therefore perceive and know that those within entrustment, these are Abraham’s sons. 8 But the Scripture foresaw that the Gentiles are being judicially approved and made right wise from out of entrustment, because God declared beforehand to Abraham: All the ethnic races will be within benefit within you. 9 So then, those from out of entrustment are benefiting and spoken well of in company with persuaded Abraham’, (Galatians 3 v 5 – 9).

Paul continues to chastise the Galatian Christians who were turning to observing the written codes of Covenant law, and he begins to logically reason things through to a conclusion – ‘Therefore…’.  He expands on the contrast expressed in verse 2, ‘Did you receive the Breath [Pneuma] from out of law works, or from out of faithful hearing?’ Building on what he has just said about receiving the Breath through hearing and persuasion, and about the Breath and flesh being opposed to one another, he repeats the question. ‘Therefore, the provision of the Breath to you, and the working activity of power within you - from out of law-works or from out of hearing and entrustment’? (verse 5). 

Paul is primarily writing to Hebrew Christians – to Jews who have become Christians – so as part of his question he brings in the example of the Jewish patriarch, Abraham. ‘….from out of law-works or from out of hearing and entrustment, 6 just as Abraham entrusted God and he reasoned it to a logical conclusion into judicial approval and right-wiseness’. Paul leads his readers to an answer. He asks the question but then adds, ‘This is what our revered Jewish patriarch did’. What did Abraham do? He ‘entrusted God and reasoned it to a logical conclusion into judicial approval and right-wiseness’. In other words, Abraham did not follow Covenant law – indeed, there was no Covenant law at that time, the Sinai Covenant had not been given or established. So Abraham listened, entrusted God, and used his mind to reason things through to a logical conclusion. He became correct or right in his wisdom and thinking. Paul is suggesting that this is the process that the Hebrew Christians in Galatia should be following, not expending energy and labour to observe the written codes of divine law.  

 

‘Therefore perceive and know that those within entrustment, these are Abraham’s sons’, (verse 7). Having presented the Hebrew patriarch Abraham as a primary example to Jews of entrustment in God, and knowing that for Jews, being a descendant of Abraham is important, Paul says to these Jewish Christians that Abraham’s sons are those within the sphere of entrustment. Abraham’s true sons are not those by physical descent, but those living within the sphere of entrustment. Paul says a similar thing in his letter to the Romans in chapter 2 v 28, 29. 

Paul then adds further support to his general statement that Christians receive the Breath from out of hearing and entrustment. He says ‘the Scripture foresaw that the Gentiles are being judicially approved from out of entrustment, because God declared beforehand to Abraham: ‘All the ethnic races will be within benefit within you’,’, (verse 8). Paul connects Gentiles – those who are not Jews – to Jews by means of Abraham. Gentiles are not judicially approved by God by means of the energy and work that they invest in keeping Covenant law. Indeed, Covenant law was not given to Gentiles. ‘In the past, He let all ethnic groups go their own way’, (Acts 14 v 16). Gentiles are judicially approved from out of entrustment, from out of faith leading to obedience. God declared this to Abraham when He said ‘All the ethnic races will be within benefit within you’, (verse 8b).

Paul then reaches a sub-conclusion – ‘So then…’. His conclusion is this – ‘those from out of entrustment are benefiting and spoken well of in company with persuaded Abraham’, (verse 9). Those who are benefiting and spoken well of are not those who are turning to Covenant law, but those who are from out of faith.

Galatians 3 v 1 – 4 - The law, flesh and the Breath

 ‘Oh! Thoughtless Galatians. Who has fascinated you not to be persuaded of the truth, that mind’s eyes down, Jesus His Anointed was announced having been impaled on the cross? 2 I am only wishing to learn this away from you – Did you receive the Breath [Pneuma] from out of law-works, or from out of faithful hearing? 3 So are you not thinking and understanding? Having begun in Breath are you being made complete at this present time within flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much without basis, if indeed also without basis?’ (Galatians 3 v 1 – 4).

As I said earlier, Paul does not mince his words. He chastises the Hebrew Christians who were turning back to observing the written codes of Covenant law, and he says that they are not thinking. They seemed to initially embrace the gospel but Paul says that the gospel was announced to them and their ‘mind’s eye’, their perception and thoughtful insight, was ‘down’. ‘Who has distracted you’, says Paul, ‘Who has occupied your mind away from the gospel? I just want to know one thing, did you receive the Breath from out of your efforts and energies that you put into observing the written codes of divine law, or did you receive the Breath from out of hearing the gospel and being persuaded to the point of obedience?’ This is a rhetorical question because in his next statements Paul implies that they did not receive the Breath from out of their efforts to observe the written codes of Covenant law. This effectively constitutes Paul’s first general statement – 

Christians receive the Breath from out of hearing and entrustment

Paul continues his questioning of the Galatians. He says, ‘Given that you did not receive the Breath from out of your efforts to observe the written codes of Covenant law, is it that you are not thinking and understanding? You know that you began within Breath. So are you now being brought to completion within flesh?’ Paul is not merely talking about the Christian’s ultimate standing before God on Judgement Day. He is not merely talking about ‘justification’. He says that they ‘Began within faith’, but now Paul is concerned about how they are being brought to completion. In other words how are these Christians growing and maturing? How are they living their lives day-by day? 

Paul places Breath in contrast to flesh. As he says elsewhere, these oppose one another, their impetus and movement is in opposite directions. There we see his implied second general statement –

The movement of Breath and the energies of flesh oppose one another

The Hebrew Christians in Galatia had obviously experienced many things since they turned towards the Messiah, but Paul expresses his concern that such experiences may have been without purpose, that they are empty and without value because they do not have a proper basis. The proper basis is persuasion and entrustment in the Messiah. Seeking to maintain divine approval by expending energy and labour in observing the written codes of Covenant law is not a proper basis for divine approval or for maintaining cleanliness.

Galatians 2 v 14 – 16 - The Christian challenge to legalists

 ‘But when I saw them not walking straight towards the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of all, ‘If you, being a Jew first of all, are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, why are you compelling the Gentiles to live like a Jew? 15 We [are] natural born Jews, and absolutely not from out of ethnic [Gentile] self-forfeiture and no share, 16 but we know that a man is absolutely not judicially approved or made rightwise from out of actions of law, if not by means of persuasion and entrusting Jesus His Anointed. We penetrate towards being faithfully persuaded of Jesus, His Anointed, to the point of obedience, in order that we are judicially approved and made rightwise from out of faith in His Anointed, not by means of law actions, because all flesh will not be judicially approved or made rightwise by means of law works’, (Galatians 2 v 14 – 16). 

Paul was not one to mince his words. He confronted Peter in front of everyone when he saw him acting contrary to the gospel, ‘not walking straight towards the truth of the gospel’. In what way was Peter in error? He was separating himself away from Christians who were Gentiles. But more than this, it would seem that Peter was aligning himself with the assertive, legalistic Jews who had recently arrived, and he was now compelling male Gentile Christians to be circumcised according to divine law. First of all, Paul exposes Peter’s inconsistency. He says, ‘You are first of all a Jew, and under the equality of the gospel you are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew. So why are you now compelling Gentiles to live like a Jew?’ Peter’s approach was a contradiction.

Then Paul, who was himself a Jew, reminds Peter of their heritage and their new position within the Messiah. Unlike Jewish proselytes, Paul and Peter are natural born Jews. They are not from out of the self-forfeiture of Gentiles. Paul and Peter both knew that if an individual is not judicially approved by means of persuasion and entrusting Jesus - God’s Anointed - then they are absolutely not judicially approved from out of his or her labours and efforts to observe the written codes of divine law, such as the requirement to be circumcised.  

Hebrew Christians, like Gentile Christians, penetrate towards being persuaded of Jesus, God’s Anointed, to the point of obedience. This means that Jews, like Gentiles, are judicially approved and made rightwise from out of faith – entrustment to the point of obedience - in His Anointed. Hebrew Christians are not judicially approved or made rightwise by means of law actions, says Paul, because all flesh will not be judicially approved or made rightwise by means of energy and work invested in trying to observe the requirements of the written codes of divine law. Even though Jews possess divine law and have this advantage over Gentiles, God will not judicially approve or make rightwise even one natural born Jewish individual as a result of them labouring and expending their energy in trying to observe the injunctions of divine law. 

Principles of living a godly life [76] – The divine plan

 ‘And those whom He predetermines, these He also summons, and whom He summons, these He also judicially approves and makes rightwise. Then, whom he judicially approves and makes rightwise, these He also honours and renders praiseworthy. 31 What then will we say to these things? Forasmuch as God is above us, who is down against us? 32 Indeed, He Who is not sparing His own Son, but surrendering him for us all, how will He not also give us all things together with him?’, (Romans 8 v 30 - 32).

As we come to the end of chapter 8, Paul steps back as it were to sum up the process of divine judicial approval and rightwiseness, which has been the main theme of his letter. As in other Scripture writings, the process of deliverance from condemnation is portrayed as being entirely down from God. When individuals are in a hopeless state and unable to deliver themselves, God, knowing some beforehand, predetermines them to be jointly formed to the image of His Son. It is God Who brings them forth – they are born again – and they become a new formation as a result of the atoning sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son, given as a free gift, coupled with the work of the set apart Breath of God and His Messiah. 

The process is this. God knows some beforehand and predetermines these to be conformed to the image of His Son. How does this happen? Those He knows beforehand and predetermines to be conformed to the image of His Son He summons, calls or invites, (by means of the good news of the Messiah and the word of the cross. Those who are summoned are, by means of the Breath, enlightened and such that they are persuaded to the point of entrusting the Messiah), and thus God accounts them judicially approved and rightwise. These He also honours and renders praiseworthy. 

All of this originates from and is brought into effect by God, and this gives Christians assurance and confident expectation. Because divine approval and deliverance from condemnation is not down to their fickle and unreliable energies and labours to be godly. Indeed, they lack ability and strength to deliver themselves because of their fleshly constitution. Nor is divine approval attained or maintained by Christians seeking to work to fully observe the written codes of divine law. Divine law is good and set apart, but it reveals our self-forfeiture and loss, and the impulses of our flesh take hold of this starting point such that our self-forfeiture is seen to increase even more. Christians are not placed under the written codes of law or the Sinai Covenant, but under the free, undeserved gift of God, and the New Covenant of the blood of the Messiah. Deliverance from condemnation, and divine approval, is given to them as a free gift from God. Christians maintain Life – responsiveness to God – by walking around moment-by-moment within their breath [pneuma] which is being moved by the Breath of God [Pneuma] dwelling in their deep inner core and effectively interceding for them. Christians are bond-slaves to their Lord who pays the price necessary to buy them back - the shedding of his own lifeblood as a substitute payment to send away their self-forfeiture.

So what shall we Christians say? Well here is the conclusion – ‘Forasmuch as God is above us, who is down against us? 32 Indeed, He Who is not sparing His own Son, but surrendering him for us all, how will He not also give us all things together with him?’ The deliverance of Christians is secure and certain. Since all this is away from the free gift of God, and since God did not hold back even His only begotten Son, but surrendered him for all of us, then who can be down against us? Who can successfully rob us of our deliverance? More than this, if God has not held back His own Son, then surely He will also give us all things together with him. Christians are adopted sons in God’s household, joint-heirs, joint inheritors with the Messiah. God does not surrender His only begotten Son so as to then hold back from us the benefits that His Son has attained.

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [33] – Divine Law and the gospel

 So what is the position of Christians when it comes to divine approval moment-by-moment and Sinai Covenant Law? Paul declares that Jesus ‘gave himself on behalf of us in order that on receipt of a ransom he release us away from all lawlessness and cleanse for himself a people existing all around, zealous of good works’, (Titus 2 v 14). Peter says this to Gentile Christians, ‘you were released on payment of a ransom away from the empty futile way of your life handed down to you from your ancestors 19 … by precious blood of the Messiah in the manner of a lamb without blemish’. (I Peter 1 v 18b, 19). To Jews it is stated like this, ‘Therefore men it is known to you that by means of this the sending away of self-forfeiture and loss is openly proclaimed. 39 And away from all that within the law of Moses you were not able to be approved, within Him, all entrusting are approved’, (Acts 13 v 38, 39).

Speaking to both Jewish and Gentile Christians who were in danger of turning to Covenant Law in order to live a godly life, Paul says this. ‘But when the fullness of time came God sent forth His Son, having come from out of a woman, having come under law 5 in order that he completely buy out those under the law, in order that we begin and continue to receive adoption. 6 And because you are sons, God sent forth the Breath [Pneuma] of his Son to reach into our deep inner core, crying out out, “Abba, Father”, (Galatians 4 v 4 – 6). Later, Paul plainly states the principle of Christians living a godly life day-by day, and he does not direct them to Covenant Law. ‘So I say, walk around within Breath [Pneuma] and absolutely do not bring to completion eager fleshly desire. 17 Because the flesh is focused on passionate desires against the Breath, [Pneuma] and the Breath [Pneuma] against the flesh. Because these resist and oppose one another in order that if you desire, you do not construct it, 18 and if you are led by the Breath [Pneuma], you are not under law’, (Galatians 5 v 16 – 18). 

Paul and the other Apostles consistently contrast the written codes of Covenant Law bringing down settled anger on one hand, over and against hearing, persuasion, and the Breath of God and His Son bringing down divine judicial approval on the other hand. Their instruction is to –

Persevere within persuasion and walk around moment by moment within the sphere of the Breath that they have received and which dwells in their deep inner core, at the foundation of their thoughts, emotions and desires

This is not an abolishing or dissolving of divine Law, but a unique way of life that is only possible for Christians because only Christians possess the indwelling and working energy of the Breath of God and His Messiah. It is a way of life within the Messiah that upholds the principles and fulfils the requirements of Divine Law within a superior priestly order. 

But Christian legalists usually raise their hands in horror at this. They suggest that such a position is anti-law – antinomian. But over the course of these posts I hope that we are seeing that this is not the case. Christian legalists propose that this is a lawless approach – that there are no moral or spiritual safeguards. But on the contrary, we have seen that Christians possess the Breath. Christian legalists propose that this approach opens the door to Christians being led by their emotions, fleshly desires and a deceitful heart, or that those who advocate such an approach are dismissing the word of God. But I am saying that Christian legalists are in danger of denying their Messiah. So let’s see what Paul has to say about the written codes of divine law.  

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [32] – Divine Law and the error of legalism [2]

 If Christians turn to the written codes of divine Law to try to attain godliness and maintain divine approval day-by-day, then they are putting their faith in their flesh, in the strength of their human constitution, and thus they are taking a step backwards. They are stepping away from their calling to a superior order of a royal priesthood. In the case of Jews they are turning back to the Sinai Covenant and Levitical order, or in the case of Gentiles they are imposing the old and inferior Sinai Covenant with its Levitical Law given through Moses to Jews, onto Gentile Christians. More than this, in turning to the written codes of Law in this way they are in danger of rejecting their Messiah. They are going back to a form of divine approval by their work and effort – to maintaining divine approval by means of their own energies, actions and behaviours. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews says this - ‘But the judicially approved of Me will be alive from out of persuasion to the point of obedience, [Faith]. He who cowers, withholds or shrinks back, My Breath [psyche] is not well-pleased within him, [Habakkuk 2 v 4]. 39 But we are not those cowering and shrinking back penetrating into being cut off, but persuaded to the point of obedience penetrating into possessing life-breath [psyche]’, (Hebrews 10 v 38, 39). 

Elsewhere we read, ‘….if the people were completely fulfilled and made complete through the Levitical priesthood – on the basis that it was ordained and sanctioned by Covenant Law – why is there still need for another priest to be raised up according to the rank of Melchizedek, not being spoken of according to the rank of Aaron? [who was a Levite] 12 Because the priesthood is being transferred from out of necessity, from out of compelling need, and a transformation of law is coming into being. 13 Because these things [about Jesus as high priest] are being said on the basis of another tribe [Judah] participating…’, (Hebrews 7 v 11 – 13). I spent some time in earlier posts talking about Christians being placed into a different priestly order. Christians do not attain divine approval by seeking to obey the written codes of Levitical Law. God has brought them forth within hearing and persuasion of the good news of the Messiah, placing them into a royal priesthood of the order of Melchizedek. Therefore they do not now continue their Christian life day-by-day by turning back to, or placing themselves under trying to keep the written statutes of Levitical Law. Neither are they now free in the sense of being lawless or anti-law. Instead, there is a transformation of law. Divine law is not abolished or dissolved. The superior priesthood into which they have been placed exists alongside the written codes of Sinai Covenant law. For Christians, the principles of divine law work and come to fruition in a different way. 

So what is the Apostolic instruction to Christians? Trust in Jesus and work to keep the written codes of Sinai Covenant Law? No, not at all. The Apostles never say this. Instead they say, ‘Therefore, in the manner you have received the Lord Jesus, Messiah, walk around within Him, firmly established and built up within Him, making the persuasion secure in the manner you were taught, super-abounding within thankfulness’, (Colossians 2 v 6).

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [31] – Divine Law and the error of legalism [1]

Some Christian leaders propose that now that Christians have attained deliverance away from divine condemnation by means of entrusting in Jesus, then in order to go on, live a godly life and attain the highest standards of godliness day-by-day, Christians should now turn to the written codes of divine Law. They should turn to the written codes of the Sinai Covenant, where we find the Ten Commandments for example, to spur them on to avoid sin and encourage holiness. 

Here is Paul’s response to such a suggestion. ‘I wonder and marvel that in this manner you are quickly changing sides and transferring away from your summons within the Messiah’s free gift, penetrating into a different kind 7 that is absolutely not another good message. If whether there are some who are disturbing you and wish to corrupt the good news of the Messiah. 8 But even if we or a messenger from out of heaven proclaim good news to you alongside that good news we announced to you, let him be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so even at this moment I say, ‘If anyone is announcing good news to you beside what you received, let him be accursed!’’, (Galatians 1 v 6 – 9). Then, after defending his reputation, authority and integrity and that of the Apostles and the gospel message, he repeats the gospel which says that Christians are delivered from condemnation by faith, not by observing the written codes of the Law. Then he says, ‘O unthinking Galatians! Who has begun and continues to fascinate you not to be having confidence and trust the truth - that eyes down Jesus the Messiah announced as crucified? 2 I merely desire to learn this from you, did you receive the Breath [Pneuma] by means of working energies of Law, or by hearing confident entrustment? 3 Are you so thoughtless? Breath [Pneuma] beginning to make complete, [but] now at this present time, flesh? 4 Did you have so much heavy emotion without purpose, if indeed also without purpose? 5 Therefore, the supply of the Breath [Pneuma] to you and active power within you - from out of actions of Law or from out of hearing entrustment?’ (Galatians 3 v 1 – 6). 

Paul does not hold back. He says that a core aspect of the gospel is being undermined. Once again he contrasts the written codes of the Law on one hand, with hearing and persuasion, and with the Breath of God and God’s Son on the other hand. He places these in opposition to each other. If Christians turn to the written codes of Law in their attempt to attain godliness day-by-day, they are entrusting in their own energies and efforts to maintain judicial approval. They are entrusting their own flesh and the energies inherent within their human constitution. This means that they are taking a step backwards. The written codes of divine law are working down settled anger, not godliness.

 

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [30] – Divine Law and Divine approval [2]

 Christians are rescued from God’s judicial condemnation by means of entrusting Jesus. God’s chosen deliverer, rather than by seeking to enact all of the written regulations of Sinai Covenant Law. As part of God’s free gift, Christians receive the Breath of God to indwell their deep inner core or ‘heart’ – the foundation of their thoughts, feelings and intentions. Paul places faith and Breath in contrast to working to put into practice the external written codes of the Sinai Covenant. 

So what happens then? What happens in the Christian’s day-to-day life? As a result of their enlightened perception away from the Breath of God, and their entrustment in the Messiah, Christians are exhorted to exercise illuminated self-control so as to live a godly life by walking around within the set-apart Breath of God. Nowhere do the Apostles instruct Christians to turn to and work to put into practice the external written codes of divine Law. But as we have seen, divine Law – with its emphasis on purity, cleanliness and being set apart from the worldly arrangement and its values – has not been abolished. Christians are not given a licence to engage in wayward speech and behaviour because they now trust Jesus. But the exhortation to, and purpose of, living a godly life places them in a battle, in warfare, because within their physical, fleshly constitution, raw energies and passions produce an impetus that leads to speech and behaviour that God disapproves of. No Christian is perfectly clean and pure in their speech and behaviour, despite their best intentions, or their most transcendent experiences. 

Given this purpose and summons to live a godly life and the opposition created by the energies within their physical, fleshly constitution, as well as by the values and behaviours of the world being displayed around them, where does this leave Christians? How are they to go about their daily lives successfully overcoming temptation? How are they to maintain the best standard of godliness that they possibly can? 

Different Christian leaders suggest different approaches, but the particular focus here is on divine Law. ‘Aha!’ say some Christian leaders. ‘Christians need to turn to the written codes of divine Law, like the Ten Commandments, to ‘spur’ them on or ‘goad’ them towards godly behaviour’. Are they neglecting Sunday worship? The Law says ‘Keep the Sabbath set apart’. Are they stealing? The Law says ‘You will not steal’ and so on. But I strongly disagree with this approach. I propose that this is not Apostolic teaching and that it falls into the error of ‘Christian legalism’. 

Principles of living a set apart, godly life [29] – Divine Law and Divine approval [1]

 Many of the Apostolic references to divine Law refer to divine approval, to being declared righteous or placed in a position of no condemnation from God. Many Protestant Christian commentators (though not all), agree that no one is declared righteous by means of them trying to obey or keep the written codes of divine Law. Paul states the position of Christians succinctly in his letter to the Christians in Galatia. ‘Therefore, as many as exist from out of works and actions of Law exist under a curse. Because it is written, ‘Cursed, everyone who is not remaining within everything written in the book of the Law, constructing them. 11 Because now it is clearly evident that no one is judicially approved in the presence of God within the sphere of divine Law, because ‘The judicially approved will live from out of faithful confident persuasion’. 12 But the Law is not from out of confident persuasion, on the contrary, the one constructing these things will live by them. 13 The Messiah buys us up completely from out of the curse of the Law, having become a curse on behalf of us, because it is written, ‘Everyone hanging on a tree is accursed’, 14 in order that Abraham’s blessing comes to the Gentiles within Jesus the Messiah, so that we receive the promise - the Breath [pneuma] - through entrusting to the point of obedience’, (Galatians 3 v 10 – 14a).

Covenant Law says, ‘Do this and you will live’. That is the arrangement for those under the Sinai Covenant - ‘we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those within the Law’, (Romans 3 v 19), to Jews. ‘The hearers of the Law are not judicially approved alongside God, but the doers of Law will be declared judicially approved’, (Romans 2 v 13). But no one successfully obeys or keeps all of the Law. Rather, ‘The judicially approved will live from out of faithful confident persuasion’,  (verse 11 above). 

Paul contrasts doing the written codes of the Law with ‘faith’ and the Breath. These are two different means of obtaining divine approval. But he says that no one successfully enacts the written codes of divine law, so that instead, divine approval comes from faith, from entrustment to the point of obedience. In these last days, the Messiah and his atoning death at Calvary has been revealed and it is Jesus who is the focus of this faith or persuasion. The fruit and evidence of this entrustment is that it is carried across from within – from ‘inside the cup’ into godly speech and behaviour as Christians co-work with the Breath of God. 

This is the situation according to Paul - ‘Therefore, in front of Him all flesh will absolutely not be judicially approved from out of energy and work of Law, because by means of Law is full knowledge of self forfeiture and no share or portion. 21 But now apart and separate from Law, God’s judicial approval is being made clear and apparent, testified and borne witness to by the Law and the Prophets - 22 judicial approval by means of entrustment, penetrating toward all those entrusting Jesus the Messiah’, (Romans 3 v 20 – 22b). Paul states a conclusion on this matter a little later. ‘Because if those from out of Law are allotted heirs, [then] persuasion to the point of obedience is made void, is nullified, and the announced promise rendered entirely idle. 15 Because Law is working down settled anger’, (Romans 4 v 14, 15a). These two means of judicial approval are in many ways mutually exclusive. When it comes to divine law, the written codes are bringing down settled anger, whereas the arrangement of judicial approval by means of faith exists beside Covenant Law, in the sense that it does not abolish or dissolve divine Law, but brings it to completion and with it, divine judicial approval.