Galatians 3:19-29

Galatians 3:19-29New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one.

Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring,heirs according to the promise.

A storm is increasingly loud as I write this.  There's been thunder and rain for the last few hours and now it sounds as if it is coming close again.

Reminds me of the rule about "not being on your computer" in a storm. Or not standing under a tree. Or being in water.

It's good to have those rules. They keep us safe.

Just like the law was given to keep us safe. And show us civility to our neighbor.

But the law is interestingly paradoxical. We sometimes over rely on it - often for others. Or completely ignore it.

Often for ourselves.

OK, that's not always true. But I'll bet it's often true. I'll bet you can think of examples when it's true.

I'll bet there are laws that annoy the heck out of you when other people disobey them.

And laws that you yourself sometimes forget to regard.

It's been like that since the law came into the lives of human beings.

But then something special changed how the law - God's law anyway (you probably should still obey the civil and Federal laws in this country!).

The law became subject to the man. One man.  One man-god.

One Jesus.

One Christ.

Who took the law, and freed us from the tyranny of it. 

He didn't make it disappear. It is still there. But it isn't what our lives depend on. Jesus is what our lives depend on.

Now, Paul does really well using words to try to explain how that works. And that's fine. But making sure you understand how it works correctly isn't really the issue.

Living as if you know it is true and glorying in that. Relishing in that freedom in love. 

Now that's something!

God of love, you have set us free.  Help us to live into that freedom in love and always be mindful of the freedom of our sisters and brothers as well.  Amen.