Galatians Paper
Finally finished my Galatians exegesis paper! Thanks for the useful comments (Dan, Matt, and others). I ended up just covering Gal. 3:10-12.
Here is my abstract:
Galatians 3:10-12 is at the heart of Paul’s message to the Galatian believers: salvation is unattainable by obedience to the law’s commands, because nobody is able to continually remain in steadfast obedience to them. The “implied premise” of Gal. 3:10 is stated in Gal. 2:16, which alludes to Ps. 143:2: nobody living is righteous before God. Since all are constituted sinners, nobody can be justified before God by the law, and eschatological life (salvation) is only available by the instrumentality of faith. Those, and only those, who possess faith will receive eternal life (Hab. 2:4; Gal. 3:11). The law embodies, naturally, the principle that obedience confers blessing. Hence, the law does not operate on the principle of believing, but on the principle of doing (Gal. 3:12). The law (both before and after the Christ event) has a twofold relation to justification: it does not confer righteousness (since nobody is able to keep it), but it shares in the prophetic witness to righteousness. It reveals and exacerbates sin, and drives penitent (regenerate) persons to repentance and faith.
A juicy Luther quote:
“Let the law have its glory…I will grant that it can teach me that I should love God and my neighbor, and live in chastity, patience, etc.; but it is in no position to show me how to be delivered from sin, the devil, death, and hell.” -- Martin Luther
Got it from Westerholm.
And my conclusion:
Those who look to their obedience to God’s commandments for gaining a right standing with God are under the curse of the law, because any righteousness they have is filthy rags in comparison to the perfect obedience which God required and which Christ has now furnished (Isa. 64:6; Gal. 3:10; II Cor. 5:21). The law in its commanding aspect does not function on the principle of faith. Rather, it was a temporary administration that revealed sin and thus witnessed to the righteousness that could only be obtained by faith. The Abrahamic promise of the Holy Spirit and eternal life among God’s covenant people has been given to Jews and Gentiles alike on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 2:16; 3:10-14).
If there is interest, I'll try to figure out a useful way to post more.
Comments
Alex,
Yes, this IS useful. Would you comment further upon the role of obedience to God's commands for the believer...referencing Jesus' words about love for Jesus reflecting itself in obedience as well as in John's numerous references to obedience. This would also relate to the idea of Jesus' lordship as part and parcel of His relationship to us as believers.
So...while it is absolutely true that the Law does not and cannot save us, does it not perform a function in the sanctification of the justified sinner AFTER salvation?
Thanks,
Charley
Posted by: Charley | July 9, 2007 08:46 PM
Charley,
Every person justified by faith alone invariably is sanctified (i.e., renewed in image of God by means of the Holy Spirit). Where there is no sanctification, there is no justification. Every true believer, therefore, will grow in holiness in a way that is imperfect, but significant, substantial, and observable.
The question is: What role does the Law have in accomplishing this? That is where Christians disagree. I think believers are under the Law of Christ (Gal. 6:2; I Cor 9:21), which has replaced the Mosaic Law-covenant (Heb 8:13). The Law of Christ centers around the two great commandments (Loving God and loving neighbor as self), the teachings of Christ, and the Apostles. Briefly, it is what the moral teachings of the OT were pointing to all along.
Doug Moo wrote a great essay in Five Views on Law and Gospel - that's pretty much were I stand. The book is available for free on Google Books (just type in the title).
Good to hear from you, Charley.
Alex
Posted by: Alex Chediak | July 9, 2007 09:15 PM