TRUE IDENTITY/GALATIANS 3:19-29

            Have you ever heard someone say, “I need to find myself.”  This means abandoning present relationships in search of new ones that will give what one thinks they need/want.  The reality is that seeking to find meaning in temporal relationships will lead to less than meaningful lives.  The point of our text today is that a right relationship with Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is the foundation of finding ourselves–our true identity.  Such knowledge transforms our lives.  Do you long to be transformed?  Do you long to make sense of your life? 

I) THE LAW AND THE PROMISE OF GOD–VV.19-22

            A) Last week, we heard Paul reasoning with the Judaizers that the Law of God in no way changed the promises God made to Abraham and his seed. This led Paul to address the Galatians about the purpose for which God gave the Law, and its relationship to the promise made to Abraham.

            B) Paul begins by asking the question on the minds of his audience (v.19a), “Why the Law then?”  Answer: “ ... because of transgressions.”  This means that the Law makes clear what sin is.  A transgression is to be understood as a breach of the holy law of God, or as a revolt against God’s will and authority.  It is simply stepping over the line that God has drawn based on His holy character.  Paul next tells how the Law came to the Israelites: through angels to Moses the mediator (v.19b).  Paul then tells us that the Law had a limited purpose.  Note the latter part of verse 19 “ ... until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made.”  Of course, Paul is talking about the coming of Jesus Christ.  And, he is letting us know that the Law’s purpose was related to the coming of Christ.  Now to verse 20, which is very difficult to interpret.  My best explanation for it is that the Law was indirectly given to Moses, whereas the promise to Abraham was given directly.  This highlights the importance of the one over the other, thus saying that the Law in no way should be understood to be superior to the promises made to Abraham.  Again, this was said for the sake of the Judaizers. 

            C) Paul tells us that the Law is not contrary to the promises God makes.  His proof of that is that the Law could not impart life to those who attempted to keep them.  If it could, then righteousness/right standing with God would be based on the Law, and not on a promise (v.21).  In verse 22, Paul teaches us of a purpose of the Scriptures, that all are imprisoned under sin’s curse.  But, here’s the good news, this was true till the coming of Jesus Christ cf. Romans 11:32.  In other words, those who exercise saving faith in Jesus Christ are set free from the Law’s curse.  These are free; liberated from sin’s prison house.  Now to where we live. 

II) UNDER LAW OR IN CHRIST–VV.23-29

            A) Paul says that the Law further functioned to keep us “in custody,” and “shut up” (v.23b).  This was the condition of those “before faith came” (v.23a).  Paul says that the Law is like a “child-custodian” (v.24a).  The Law functioned as a guardian to keep folks on the right path, all the while pointing to Christ who justifies us by faith in Him (v.24b).  “ ... the reign of the Law has ended for those believers who now through the coming of Jesus have become mature sons of God.”  Has the reign of law ended for you?  Are you still under the curse of the law?  Are you still trying to be right with God through keeping the law?  Come to Christ today by simple faith, and have the burden of the law removed.  In so doing, you will become mature.  And, you will find true meaning in life, and hope beyond the grave. 

            B) The faith that has come (v.25) is in reference to the coming of Christ into the world as the Savior of the world. And, faith in Jesus Christ declares our true identity ... “sons of God” (v.26).  The evidence of our union with Christ, expressed as being clothed, is baptism--internal (Holy Spirit) and external (water baptism) (v.27).  This union with Christ destroys all barriers to unity with one another as Christians (v.28).  This is one evidence we are children of Abraham.  There should be no barriers ... ethnic, social, or biological in our pursuit of unity in the faith.  The salvation of God knows no boundaries or barriers.  Salvation is for all!  Paul in verse 29, finally, summaries all that he has been saying since his introduction of Abraham in Galatians 3:6.  True identity!  Therefore, my value, worth, meaning, and hope are found in my relationship, my union, with Jesus Christ by faith.  I am entitled to all the blessings made by promise to Abraham!  I am rich!  Want to find yourself?  Come to Christ, and become a new creature, an heir with Christ of all of God’s wonderful blessings.