Galatians 3:21-22

TEXT 3:21, 22

(21) Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law. (22) But the scripture shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

PARAPHRASE 3:21, 22

21 Is not the law, then, which subjects men to the curse for their sins, contrary to the promises of God, wherein he declares that he will justify them by faith? By no means. The law, by subjecting men to the curse, without giving them the least hope of mercy, obliges them to flee to the promises for justification. For if there had been a law given, which was able to make sinners alive, either from the spiritual death under which they were lying, or from the temporal death to which they were condemned for their sins, certainly justification would have been obtained by that law.
22 But, so far is this from being the case, that the scripture hath shut up together all, as condemned to death on account of sin (that is, hath declared that they are so shut up) that the promise of justification made known by the gospel of Jesus Christ might be given to them who believe.

COMMENT 3:21

Is the law then against the promises of God

1.

NoGod can not act in a contrary way.

2.

The law is not a competitor nor in opposition.

if there had been a law given which could make alive

1.

If it could give life, it would be a rival to the gospel.

2.

Some divide the law into a ceremonial part and a moral part.

3.

Still, the Word says there is no law ablenot one.

COMMENT 3:22

but the Scripture shut up all things under sin

1.

All the prophets declared men were sinners.

a.

The O.T. prophets did not foretell alone, but preached against sin.

b.

In the N.T. John the Baptist preached vigorously about sin to the Jews.

1)

The Jews considered themselves righteous and the Gentiles sinners.

2)

Jesus-' parable of the good Samaritan rather reversed the picture as did the story of the Publican.

2.

The law prescribed means of taking care of sins.

3.

Men were locked in sin until such a time as they could be released, according to Paul.

a.

There is a graphic picture of men in sin in Romans 3:19-20.

b.

For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. Romans 11:32

the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe

1.

All were prisoners of hope.

2.

Thus the law was not against the Gospel, but helped men to see the blessedness of the Gospel.

STUDY QUESTIONS 3:21, 22

367.

Is God acting contrary to himself in giving the law?

368.

Is the law in competition to the promise?

369.

If the law could give life, would it be a rival to the promise?

370.

Is the law divided by Paul into Moral law and Ceremonial law?

371.

What is meant by the scriptures shut up?

372.

Tell what is included in all things.

373.

How long were things locked up?

374.

What could do the releasing?

375.

Why did men need to be shut up in order to be prisoners of hope?