Understanding God’s Law part 2
In this second part, we will continue studying the law of God. We will learn the meaning of not being ‘under the law’ but ‘under grace’ and discover which laws are the ‘schoolmaster’ that bring us to Christ.
1. Read Romans 6:14. Many use this scripture to say that we no longer have to keep God’s Ten Commandments because we are under grace.
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
2. Based on scripture, what does it mean to be “under the law”?
a. Romans 3:19
Romans 3:19
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
b. Romans 6:15-18
Romans 6:15-18
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
c. Romans 7:5, 6
Romans 7:5, 6
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
3. How did we become free from the penalty of the law, which is death? Galatians 4:3-5; Romans 8:1-4
Galatians 4:3-5
3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Romans 8:1-4
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
4. What does Jesus give us to free us from the penalty of the law? Romans 5:20; 6:14
Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
5. What is grace? 2 Corinthians 9:8; Titus 2:11, 12
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Titus 2:11, 12
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
6. How can we receive this grace from God? Romans 5:1, 2; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Matthew 21:22
Romans 5:1, 2
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Ephesians 2:8, 9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
7. Since we receive God’s grace by faith, are we freed from the responsibility of keeping God’s law, the Ten Commandments? Romans 6:15, 1, 2
Romans 6:15, 1, 2
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Note: With this understanding of what it means to be under grace and not under the law, let us address Galatians 3 which references “the schoolmaster” which was to bring us unto Christ.
8. Read Galatians 3:24, 25. It says that the law was our schoolmaster. Is this law speaking about the ceremonial or the moral law?
Galatians 3:24, 25
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Note: The law which Paul calls the schoolmaster in Galatians 3 is speaking about BOTH the ceremonial law and the moral law. Let us now read Galatians 3:19.
9. What does Paul say about the law in Galatians 3:19?
Galatians 3:19
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
10. Based on our previous lesson, which law (ceremonial or moral) was added after the fall of man?
11. Based on Galatians 3:19, how long were the ceremonial laws to be kept? See also Galatians 3:16
Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Read Galatians 3:21-23. Both the ceremonial and the moral law are righteous, but the mere keeping of them cannot grant eternal life. Verse 22 shows us that only by exercising faith in Jesus can the sinner be made righteous.
Galatians 3:21-23
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Note: As previously mentioned, ‘the schoolmaster’ points to the ceremonial law and the moral law. How did the ceremonial law bring us unto Christ? Colossians 2:17 & Hebrews 9:9-11 show us that it was a shadow of things to come and a figure, typifying Christ’s life, death, burial and resurrection. Since Jesus fulfilled these ceremonial laws, we no longer have to keep them. See the previous lesson (Understanding The Law of God, Part 1) for further study.
12. How does the moral law bring us unto Christ? Romans 7:7, 12, 24, 25
Romans 7:7, 12, 24, 25
7 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.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
13. Since the moral law is also the schoolmaster, what does Galatians 3:25 mean when it says that we “are no longer under a schoolmaster”? Galatians 5:13, 14, 16, 18
Galatians 5:13, 14, 16, 18
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
14. How can we know practically if we are “under the law”? Galatians 5:19-21
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
15. What will be manifested in our lives if we are freed from the penalty of the law and are living in harmony with its principles? Galatians 5:22-24
Galatians 5:22-24
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
16. As we close, meditate on Galatians 2:20, which shows us how to live in accordance with the Ten Commandments.
Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
See Ellen White’s Commentary Below on the “Schoolmaster”, Based on Galatians 3.
Selected Messages Vol. 1, 233: I am asked concerning the law in Galatians. What law is the schoolmaster to bring us to Christ? I answer: Both the ceremonial and the moral code of ten commandments. {1SM 233.1}
Selected Messages Vol. 1, 233: Christ was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy. The death of Abel was in consequence of Cain’s refusing to accept God’s plan in the school of obedience to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ typified by the sacrificial offerings pointing to Christ. Cain refused the shedding of blood which symbolised the blood of Christ to be shed for the world. This whole ceremony was prepared by God, and Christ became the foundation of the whole system. This is the beginning of its work as the schoolmaster to bring sinful human agents to a consideration of Christ the Foundation of the whole Jewish economy. {1SM 233.2}
Selected Messages Vol. 1, 233: All who did service in connection with the sanctuary were being educated constantly in regard to the intervention of Christ in behalf of the human race. This service was designed to create in every heart a love for the law of God, which is the law of His kingdom. The sacrificial offering was to be an object lesson of the love of God revealed in Christ—in the suffering, dying victim, who took upon Himself the sin of which man was guilty, the innocent being made sin for us. {1SM 233.3}
Selected Messages Vol. 1, 234: The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). In this scripture, the Holy Spirit through the apostle is speaking especially of the moral law. The law reveals sin to us, and causes us to feel our need of Christ and to flee unto Him for pardon and peace by exercising repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. {1SM 234.5}
Selected Messages Vol. 1, 235: The law of ten commandments is not to be looked upon as much from the prohibitory side, as from the mercy side. Its prohibitions are the sure guarantee of happiness in obedience. As received in Christ, it works in us the purity of character that will bring joy to us through eternal ages. To the obedient it is a wall of protection. We behold in it the goodness of God, who by revealing to men the immutable principles of righteousness, seeks to shield them from the evils that result from transgression. {1SM 235.1}
Selected Messages Vol. 1, 235: We are not to regard God as waiting to punish the sinner for his sin. The sinner brings the punishment upon himself. His own actions start a train of circumstances that bring the sure result. Every act of transgression reacts upon the sinner, works in him a change of character, and makes it more easy for him to transgress again. By choosing to sin, men separate themselves from God, cut themselves off from the channel of blessing, and the sure result is ruin and death. {1SM 235.2}
Selected Messages Vol. 1, 235: The law is an expression of God’s idea. When we receive it in Christ, it becomes our idea. It lifts us above the power of natural desires and tendencies, above temptations that lead to sin. “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165) — cause them to stumble. {1SM 235.3}