Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:24-27
The Apostle Paul gives some interesting analogies when talking about the relationship of the Law to the Spirit of Jesus. In one such example, he likens the Law to a school master who was over us, was strict with us, enforced rules upon us, but ultimately was only doing it with the honest intention to lead us to graduation.
Graduating from the Law, being thankful for it’s role in leading us to the point where we could graduate, and yet equally thankful we could also leave it behind us as we move forward into the next stage of our lives.
We have now graduated from the need of the Law, and have been employed, so to speak, on a permanent basis by the Spirit of Jesus. We are no longer ‘in School’ with all the written rules, which we try our hardest to bend or break, but now we are ‘in Christ’ with no written rules, only a loving and wonderful Lord who we have the privilege of following, listening to and learning from.
My old School master’s name was Mr Humphreys. I’m thankful for the job he did back then, but I also use the past tense when referring to him on purpose. He “was” my school master, he isn’t “still” my school master. The same is true with the law. It is not still our school master, it was in the past, but now it’s role as school master has long been completed. We belong solely to our Lord now.
Praise God, we’ve graduated!
We are now led by the Spirit. We can trust the Spirit can lead us into all truth by His power. This year, let’s all really enjoy living by the Spirit.
Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:14-15
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great article, Mick!
Hi Dustin,
Do you still go to your old school everyday, sit in a few classes just to make sure you remember how to add and subtract? I’ve never heard of anyone doing that, have you?
The Spirit of God in you is immessurably more powerful and able to teach you then the law ever could. The truth is you don’t need the law as an ‘instruction’ because you have the Spirit as your guide now. If you think the Spirit is only a ‘theory’ but not a real and living reality I could understand why you think we still need the law, but if the Spirit is real and living in you, then you can rejoice that He alone is your guide.
At the end of the day, I’m not going to be able to convince you of anything. I’m only a guy who has experienced God in a wonderful way and has come to accept the fullness of his grace as best I can. But the same Spirit that is me is also in you, so just come to God humbly and ask him to guide you into all truth on these matters. Be humble, be open and let God give you the answers.
Thanks for the comments, God bless.
Mick
I don’t understand the analogy. It doesn’t make sense. I had teachers in school. They taught me things, things that I remember and use everyday: spelling, adding, historical information. To graduate and stop adding and subtracting or using correct spelling or grammar would be foolish. Yet you speak of the freedom from the Law being the wise thing to do. It really makes the analogy very weird.
Apart from that, many more literal translations use the words tutor or guardian, not schoolmaster. Paul says it guarded and kept the people.
Heres one last thought. The Law of Moses decribes celebrations of worship, eating, dancing, and fellowship. The christian celebrations were set up to mimic worship of foreign gods. The festivals of the Lord are wonderful. Should I stop celebrating them because I am commanded to by the strict schoolmaster of the Law, whom I no longer need to obey?
Well, even the Holy Spirit will not miss a jot or Tittle in the Bible. I guessed I’d have to be grammatically correct to bring the point across
Cheers mate. Love the comics
Nothing like a good grammar debate in the middle of discussing God’s grace
haha
maybe this will sound more accurate.
“The law may have been our school teacher…..”
My old School master’s name was Mr Humphreys. I’m thankful for the job he did back then, but I also use the past tense when refering to him on purpose. He “was” my school master, he isn’t “still” my school master. The same is true with the law. It is not still our school master, it was in the past, but now it’s role as school master has long been completed. We belong solely to our Lord now.
Praise God!
amen amen. walking in the Spirit actually is harder for most of us, especially so for the legalistic and those who failed to understand the message of grace. The law may be our school teacher, but the Spirit is our Counselor. And Jesus is sitting together with the Father at the Ministry of Education (of eternal life)