“Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.” (Galatians 3:23)
If one takes this literally, that would mean that the laws set down since the giving of the Ten Commandments were seen as confining and burdensome. I have read and thought about the Ten Commandments a great deal. And they are not heavy-weighted. I have also read through the laws as outline in the Old Testament passages that are known as the Torah or the Pentateuch. Those laws are definitely an expansion on the original ten; and at times do not make much sense and other times seem rather archaic and punitive. Further laws were made so that the laws from the past would not be violated. And on it went, the laws binding more and more so that each little physical movement had a law prescribing it.
So I have to wonder, are these the laws that Paul was talking about? The reason for following the law was to remain “good” and “approved of” under the rule and auspice of the Divine. And to make amends when one had violated the laws in some way. There were even laws as to how to earn forgiveness for breaking the laws.
“Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.” (Verse 24)
But how does being “justified by faith” relieve one of discipline under that law? Because this justification does not mean we can do whatever we want. The rules of correct relationships and dealing with others has never been suspended or set aside. In fact, those rules are even more binding under Jesus than under the law. Even in our modern society there are laws for interacting with others. Laws to govern the keeping of laws. Unspoken and unwritten laws that bind us up. And, creeds, mores, attitudes, principles, doctrine and theologies that are attached to movements and groups that divide us, isolate us, and cause dissension, hatred, and outright aggression. But, perhaps my vent is veering this discussion in another direction. So what exactly are we freed from/of according to where Paul says he & his readers were?
“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.” (Verses 25 – 26)
What they and we are actually freed from is fear of judgment. No longer do we have to hid like Adam and Eve, covering our sins and disgrace. We can come to the Lord God, confess & reveal our sins, and receive grace and forgiveness instead of censure and sanction. But I am thinking also of the prophet Elijah, who we read about last time. He ran away and hid. He was scared. He thought, I am assuming, that the wreck and havoc of nature was the Nature of the Lord God. But the Lord God was not there. The Divine was in the peace. And the listening and understanding of Elijah’s fears.
Yes, Jesus Christ showed us the Nature of the Divine, the way of mercy and forgiveness, and being drawn into relationship with the Divine. But wasn’t that always there? If the Divine is unchanging, and we know through Jesus Christ the Nature of the Lord God, was that not always the way the Lord God was? What we were freed from then was not the law, but the fear of living according to the law without ever achieving the perfection that the law demands.
“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.” (Verses 27 – 29)
Free not only from the unattainable expectations of the perfection that the law, but free from the fear of what would happen if we could obey that law. And as Paul explains it to his readers, free also from the divisions & judgments that humanity places on themselves and each other. There is one law, the law of love that Jesus set down, and that apparently the Divine had wanted from the beginning. Have you considered, beloved readers, that Adam and Eve not only chose disobeying the Lord God but also chose fear as a result of sinning?
I feel a soapbox rising underneath me. A platform to talk about how fear of other members of humanity leads to hatred. And that leads to violence. But I chose to step off that platform and plead with you, beloved reader, to not chose fear but embrace the freedom of knowing the Love of the Divine. To live out that love. And spread that love to everyone you meet. To accept them as the Divine accepts us. Then, we will all be free! Shalom & Selah!
A Simple Desire 
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