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4:3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Parents can relate to the joy that is experienced then their toddler masters the ABC’s of the English language.  It is adorable when they stumble through those letters, and when they begin to make the letters sounds, on their way to mastering phonics and reading.  In contrast to that joy, it would bring great pain if a child never worked to develop beyond that level, and lived as a teenager who only knew their ABC’s.

Paul is using the “elementary principles of the world”, which is essentially the ABC’s of faith, to build a case for his audience.  For a converted Christian to return to the basic ceremonies of Judaism, to include circumcision, would be like a teenager who could only communicate their ABC’s.

Colossians 2:20, Hebrews 9:10, and Hebrews 5:12 suggest that the A,B,C’s or “elementary principles” that Paul refers to are the ritualistic elements of the Law.  For many, religion is tied to the ceremonial customs of practice, rather than to the relational connection with the Creator.

It is not surprising that a pagan culture would find identity in ceremony, since often their pagan worship involved similar ceremonies.  Paul’s challenge to the reader is to remain focused on a growing relationship, rather than on the rituals that were rooted in the Law.

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4:1  I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything,  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ga 4:1). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Word pictures and analogies are often used to illustrate a point.  In Hebrew language they were critical to paint pictures of words to communicate a point.  Although Paul is writing in Greek to a mixed audience of Jews and Gentiles, he continues to use analogies to emphasize the role of the Law.  In chapter 3 he emphasized pedagogue.  Here in chapter 4 he references an heir and a slave.

Greek culture would consider a child to be an infant until age 7, and a minority until age 25.  It is not suggested that Paul is making a legal statement in 4:1, but he is referencing the immaturity of an infant in contrast to the immaturity of a young believer.

In a person’s young faith, the Law brings sin to light.  More importantly, in the immaturity of humanity, the Law protected mankind, until the time came for God to send Christ to ratify the Law and redeem mankind.

As we mature in our faith and better understand our identity in Christ, we will begin to see that we are joint-heirs with Christ; as we have been adopted into Him as sons.

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3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ga 3:27). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

With college football fast approaching, many are dusting off their jerseys or apparel of their favorite team.  These colors will be worn as a way to outwardly express an inward loyalty.  Dawning the jersey of a player one has never met is an attempt to identify with a group of people that share a similar passion.  This cultural image is a modern visualization of what Paul was communicating in Galatians 3:27.

Being baptized into Christ is an outward expression of an inward loyalty.  The act of baptism is a clear step of obedience that identifies an individual with all believers who share the same loyalty to Christ.  Paul will reference the broad scope of the body of Christ in the next verse.

Historically, it would have been common for an individual to have been baptized nude.  This stripping off of clothes would have signified the stripping off of the old self.  Following immersion, the believer would come up out of the water and put on a new robe.

Isaiah 61:10 describes being robed in garments of salvation.  Romans 3:26 describes the righteousness of Christ.  1 Peter 5:5 challenges us to be robed in humility.  The imputation of Christ and the justification of the believer that happens at the moment of salvation is beautifully illustrated in the act of baptism.

The act of baptism is a mark of identification.  We outwardly express the inward position and loyalty of our heart.  Having put on Christ and being covered in His righteousness by the shed blood of His Son, we have a deeply rooted identity in Christ that is shared with others.

There is nothing wrong with wearing your favorite team’s jersey, but more importantly allow your robe of righteousness to show through your words and deeds.

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3:19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ga 3:19). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Do you recall sitting in High School Algebra and asking the teacher, “Why am I required to learn this stuff?” That is a great question to ask.  Seeking to understand why something is needed affirms the need to endure it.

Paul has eloquantly established that salvation comes by faith in Christ, and that the Law does not abolish God’s promise made to Abraham centuries before the Mosaic law was instituted.  It has been clearly affirmed that every one, both Jew and Gentile, have come to God through faith in Jesus Christ. In 3:19, Paul sensed the need to address the big, dangling question: “Why then the Law?”

In his response, Paul outlines four factors in 3:19: (1) because of sin, (2) until the offspring should come, (3) through angels, and (4) by an intermediary.

Romans 5:20 says, “The Law was added so that sin might increase”.  “In Romans the word for “added” (pareisēlthen) means literally “came in by a side road.” The main road is the covenant of promise—inviolate, irrevocable. The law has the character of something additional, a side road intended to carry extra traffic and excess baggage and, if we may anticipate Paul’s argument, designed not to lead to a separate destination but to point its travelers back to the main road.” George, T. (1994). Galatians. The New American Commentary (Vol. 30, p. 253). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Martin Luther viewed the Law as a provocative function. In his assessment, the Law created civil order, while making a terrible situation even more desperate.  In doing so, the Law truly exposed the depraved mind of man, and set on course the need for a Savior.

During the forty days that Moses spent on Mt. Sinai, Exodus describes that the mountain was on fire.  Acts 7:38, 53 and Hebrews 2:2 seems to suggest that the fiery angels of God were present on the mountain.  This imagery is called upon by Paul in Galatians 3:19.

In this process of delivering and implementing the Law, it was Moses who God used as the intermediary.  It was Moses who walked down the mountain and communicated and enforced the Law to God’s people.  Some may assume that Mediator in 3:19 is referring to Christ, since Paul uses that description of Christ in 1 Timothy 2:15.  However, Hebrews 8:6 and Hebrews 12:24 affirm Moses in this context of an intermediary.

Understanding that Moses is the instrument God uses to create this side road of managing sin, it is clear that Moses does not possess the power to justify.  The purpose of the Law is to redirect our path toward the one way, that is Christ.

Why then the Law? Better understanding our sinful condition will help a person realize their need for a Savior.  Salvation cannot and does not come through good deeds, but only can come through that atoning and perfect sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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3:18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ga 3:18). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

As Paul exegetically walked the Galatian reader through understanding the covenant promise through Abraham and the Law given through Moses, he stresses the root problem of identity.  For traditional Jews and confused Gentiles, Paul is calling out their false identity in the Law.  This ancient standard that God gave to Moses was abolished by Christ.

Paul has given discourse as to the connection between the covenant Promise with Abraham to Christ.  In 3:18, Paul introduces the word, “inheritance”.  This concept will carry forward through much of Galatians, as Paul unpacks the idea of being an heir of God.

The promise and inheritance is of God.  This is stated in 3:18 and is critical to grasp.  Man does not earn his position with God by doing enough good deeds.  His righteousness is through the promise from God through Christ.  The challenge is that a person identifies with Christ, and not in humanity.

Where a person finds their identity determines how they live their life.  The challenge in applying this verse is that we take a long internal look and assess our identity.  Do we truly find our identity in Christ, as an heir to the promise?

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3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ga 3:13). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

After understanding that no one is perfect and able to fulfill the whole law, it seems rather hopeless to then acknowledge the curse that comes from being a prisoner of sin.  No wonder the disciples asked Jesus in Luke 18:26, “Who then can be saved?”  The seemingly impossible set of circumstances would cause a person to see no hope.

Redemption is a powerful word, and gives us hope.  In our modern culture the thought of redemption brings application to an extreme coupon queen.  In Biblical culture it has much greater meaning.  It literally means “to buy off”.  In the original language, “redeemed” comes from the same root word as “marketplace”.  The imagery of a marketplace where slaves were bought and sold, allows us to more fully understand what Christ did when He redeemed us from the curse of sin.

We are dead in our sins, yet Christ paid the price for our sins so that we could be redeemed from the auction block of sin and death.  Even the way Christ died on a cross, or a tree, was fulfillment of the Law.  In today’s verse Paul references Deuteronomy 21:23.  In ancient Hebrew culture a guilty criminal’s dead corpse would be posted on a stake, or tree, to be a visible reminder of the curse of the Law.  In Christ’s death, He redeemed us and fulfilled the Law. Out of love, He became the curse for us, so that we might be made righteous!

The deep thought of what Christ did for us compels us to live with commitment toward Him and in love to others.