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The apostle Paul said:"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,that we might be justified by faith.But after faith is come,we are no longer under a schoolmaster"[Galatians 3:24,25]
Some would say that because of the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ,we no longer need to keep God's laws which apparently are replaced by faith.The apostle Paul would have been contradicting himself as previously he said:
"Do we then make void the law through faith?God forbid:yea we establish the law."
make void - katargeo(Grk),make of non effect,abolish.
Establish - histemi(Grk),to cause to stand.
Is Paul saying we are no longer under a schoolmaster because of faith? How can he then say that the law is still applicable to christians and not abolished?
Are they the same thing?
The area of the Law which identifies sin is still applicable to us as Christians. "for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20
"Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law:" Rom.7:7;
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."I John 3:4;
8" If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. " James 2:8-12
"The area which shows how sin is to be dealt with,ie the judgements against sin and sacrifices for sin is now in Christ and is no longer applicable to Christians. 11" But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. " Hebrews 9:11-15;
" 1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 10:1-10]
The word schoolmaster is translated from the Greek word;paidagogos,which carries the meaning of a guide,guardian or trainer.He is the one who disciplines and sees that the rules are followed.The schoolmaster does not give or state the rules to be followed but he ensures that they are followed or obeyed.According to Vine's Expository Dictionary under paidagogosos:
"...here the idea of instruction is absent.In this and allied words the idea is that of training,discipline,not imparting of knowledge.The paidagogos was not the instructor of the child;he exercised a general supervision over him and was responsible for his moral and physical well being."
The word paideuo(Grk) is an allied word and means to discipline and is the word used in Luke 23:16,22 and translated,chastise.Hence it can be used in the sense of "teaching a lesson" ie. something done to correct someone and bring that person to the right point if they had gone wrong.It is the same word used in Titus 2:12 and translated as teaching.
The grace of God does not instruct but motivates or encourages us to do what is right.In the old covenant(under the law) it was the threat of punishment,various judgements,onerous sacrifices which should have served this purpose but now the grace of God should motivate,discipline or encourage us into doing what is right.
14" For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." II Corinthians 5:14,15;
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, " Titus 2:11,12
Because of our faith or belief in what God has done, for us,through Christ,now being our motivator,we no longer need the discipline or motivation described by the law.This was the schoolmaster, not the ten commandments.Hence,it says it was added because of transgressions ie. some commands were transgressed and others(or a system) were put in place to combat or prevent these transgressions.
Persons who lived prior to God speaking the ten commandments at Sinai were aware it was a sin to break them and therefore these were the laws transgressed and others added to discipline and motivate those who transgressed.[eg The entire sacrificial system revealed during the Exodus and the punisments for sin. Numbers 15:32-36;Leviticus 24:10-23
The ten commandments and its associated laws are to instruct us in righteousness ie.teach wrong from right.They cannot forgive or remove our sins,only the grace of God through faith will accomplish this as we repent of our sins.How can we repent of sins we are not aware of? Paul said:
"...for by the law is the knowledge of sin" Romans 3:20b
And:
"What shall we say then?Is the law sin? God forbid.Nay,I had not known sin,but by the law:for I had not known lust,except the law had said,thou shalt not covet." Romans 7:7
Which is a clear reference to the ten commandments as a guide for the Christian to know right from wrong not a schoolmaster.
Some would say that because of the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ,we no longer need to keep God's laws which apparently are replaced by faith.The apostle Paul would have been contradicting himself as previously he said:
"Do we then make void the law through faith?God forbid:yea we establish the law."
make void - katargeo(Grk),make of non effect,abolish.
Establish - histemi(Grk),to cause to stand.
Is Paul saying we are no longer under a schoolmaster because of faith? How can he then say that the law is still applicable to christians and not abolished?
Are they the same thing?
The area of the Law which identifies sin is still applicable to us as Christians. "for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20
"Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law:" Rom.7:7;
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."I John 3:4;
8" If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. " James 2:8-12
"The area which shows how sin is to be dealt with,ie the judgements against sin and sacrifices for sin is now in Christ and is no longer applicable to Christians. 11" But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. " Hebrews 9:11-15;
" 1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a]
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 10:1-10]
The word schoolmaster is translated from the Greek word;paidagogos,which carries the meaning of a guide,guardian or trainer.He is the one who disciplines and sees that the rules are followed.The schoolmaster does not give or state the rules to be followed but he ensures that they are followed or obeyed.According to Vine's Expository Dictionary under paidagogosos:
"...here the idea of instruction is absent.In this and allied words the idea is that of training,discipline,not imparting of knowledge.The paidagogos was not the instructor of the child;he exercised a general supervision over him and was responsible for his moral and physical well being."
The word paideuo(Grk) is an allied word and means to discipline and is the word used in Luke 23:16,22 and translated,chastise.Hence it can be used in the sense of "teaching a lesson" ie. something done to correct someone and bring that person to the right point if they had gone wrong.It is the same word used in Titus 2:12 and translated as teaching.
The grace of God does not instruct but motivates or encourages us to do what is right.In the old covenant(under the law) it was the threat of punishment,various judgements,onerous sacrifices which should have served this purpose but now the grace of God should motivate,discipline or encourage us into doing what is right.
14" For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." II Corinthians 5:14,15;
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, " Titus 2:11,12
Because of our faith or belief in what God has done, for us,through Christ,now being our motivator,we no longer need the discipline or motivation described by the law.This was the schoolmaster, not the ten commandments.Hence,it says it was added because of transgressions ie. some commands were transgressed and others(or a system) were put in place to combat or prevent these transgressions.
Persons who lived prior to God speaking the ten commandments at Sinai were aware it was a sin to break them and therefore these were the laws transgressed and others added to discipline and motivate those who transgressed.[eg The entire sacrificial system revealed during the Exodus and the punisments for sin. Numbers 15:32-36;Leviticus 24:10-23
The ten commandments and its associated laws are to instruct us in righteousness ie.teach wrong from right.They cannot forgive or remove our sins,only the grace of God through faith will accomplish this as we repent of our sins.How can we repent of sins we are not aware of? Paul said:
"...for by the law is the knowledge of sin" Romans 3:20b
And:
"What shall we say then?Is the law sin? God forbid.Nay,I had not known sin,but by the law:for I had not known lust,except the law had said,thou shalt not covet." Romans 7:7
Which is a clear reference to the ten commandments as a guide for the Christian to know right from wrong not a schoolmaster.