Christ in the Law: A 5-Day Plan to Delighting in God’s LawSample

Day 3: Clues About Christ

Your personal testimony of the work of Jesus in your life demonstrates that your spiritual eyes have been opened to the truth.

Such was the case with those in the Galatian church, but now they are acting as though circumcision and following Jewish customs and laws are necessary for them to be true followers of Christ. Paul says that the Galatian church has been bewitched! It is as if someone has cast a spell on them and caused them to forget their own testimony, what they have seen with their own spiritual eyes and what they have heard with faith (Gal. 3:1–2). Paul’s concern is that they are turning away from Christ and turning to a different gospel, a gospel that is really no gospel at all.

The word gospel literally means “good news,” but a gospel forged by man is not good news; it is deadly because it is a gospel that cannot offer eternal life. Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can do that (Gal. 1:6–12). Paul makes it clear that it is actually foolish to have the Holy Spirit residing in them by faith but allowing themselves to be led by their flesh (Gal. 3:3).

He wants them to see that faith in Christ, not works of the law, frees and unites all believers, whether Jewish or Gentile.

Let’s unpack these a bit more to better understand the unique ways in which this passage connects the law to Jesus and the church.

Read Acts 13:37–39.

Who can receive forgiveness of sins, and how?

Read Romans 3:22–31.

How is God’s righteousness made known to us?

How is one justified by God?

Unity:

According to John 1:12, Romans 8:14, and Galatians 3:27, who can be included as children of God?

How does our union with Christ impact:

The promise made to Abraham (Gal. 3:14; Eph. 3:6; Heb. 9:15)

Our relationship to the law (Gal. 3:13; 5:18; Matt. 5:17; Rom. 13:8)

Our relationships with the Father and the Son (Gal. 4:4–7; Rom. 8:16–17)

Our relationships with other Christians (Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20–22; 2 Cor. 5:18)

Our witness to the world (John 13:34–35)

As those who are justified freely by God’s grace, we are free from the law and free to serve the living God, loving and serving God and one another. This is actually how the law is fulfilled—by love, not by legalistic obedience. Does this mean that we don’t have to obey the law? No, it means that Jesus obeyed the law perfectly in our place. It means that obedience is not a burden for us, but the Spirit enables us to obey God’s commands as an expression of love for Christ.