Galatians 3:24 - Law and Gospel

Galatians 3:24 - Therefore the Law has become our tutor [to lead us] to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. 

Message: Law and Gospel 

Time: Paul wrote to the churches in southern Galatia after having a hand in starting them on his first missionary journey to Asia Minor, making sure they were on the path of truth and not led off into deception. Paul wrote the book a few months before his attendance at the Jerusalem Council in AD 49.

What the Lord is Saying: This passage of scripture is a good reminder of the significance of the Law in leading us to Christ. The verse begins with "Therefore" so first we go back to earlier verses in this chapter. Chapter 3 starts with a call to "foolish Galatians" and Paul hearing among them that they are still focused on "the works of the Law" rather than by faith. He goes back to Abraham and shows his faith, "so Abraham believed God." But for his audience he communicates the purpose of the Law remarking that "no one is justified by the Law before God." He remarks that righteousness is not based upon law. 

Now, verse 24 makes more sense. "The Law has become our tutor." The Law shows us we are lost. Faith justifies us and saves us. 

The lesson here is it makes a difference in how we define the gospel. We are thankful in America that we have so many good places of teaching, but some areas are limited and don't have as many avenues for good learning. We need to be trained in this good teaching and go back to these good road maps for truth. 

Summary: The Law shows us we are lost. Through faith we are saved or justified.

Promise: We need both law and gospel to be equipped to know and serve the Lord. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word. Thank you for truth. Lord, I pray that the truth of Your Gospel would shine forth and be clear to people. Help me to encourage this in others. Lord, be glorified.