According to Titus 2:11-12, God's grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and that we should live righteously in this present world. Hebrews 5:9 says that Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. 1 John 1:7 says if we walk in the light as He is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. Jesus says if you will enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). Jesus agreed with the lawyer that to inherit eternal life is to love God (with some included details) and to love your neighbor (See Luke 10:25-28). Not helping the poor in this life can lead a believer to be cast into everlasting fire (See Matthew 25:31-46). Looking upon a woman in lust can cause a person's body to be cast bodily into hell fire (See Matthew 5:29-31). Not loving your brother is the equivalent of being like a murderer and no murderer has eternal life abiding in them (See 1 John 3:15). Not preaching the gospel is a salvation in this life is a salvation issue (See Luke 9:62). 1 John 3:10 says that he that does not righteousness is not of God. John 8:47 says he that is of God hears (obeys) God's Word (Also see James 1:21-27). Not forgiving another means you will not be forgiven (Matthew 6:15). Paul says,
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are
these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told
you in time past,
that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21).
So in Galatians 3:24, what does Paul mean by his statement that the Law is a school master that brings us unto Christ? Was Paul talking about all forms of Law? Was Paul talking about how we do not need to obey the commands of Jesus as a part of everlasting life as Jesus said?
Paul was referring to the 613 laws as a whole (not individual laws) or the entirety of the old contract, i.e. the Law of Moses.
16 "That is how it is with the promises God made to Abraham and his descendant.The promises were not made to many descendants, but only to one, and that one is Christ.
17 What I am saying is that the Law cannot change or cancel God’s promise that was made 430 years before the Law was given." (Galatians 3:16-17) (CEV).
In other words, the promise made to Abraham about his descendants as being as numerous as the stars (Which is only possible by Jesus Christ, the "seed") came 430 years before the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses does not undo the previous promise made to Abraham. So the context here in Galatians 3:24 is the whole of the Law of Moses (i.e. the entirety of that whole covenant or contract; All 613 laws as a covenant given to Israel). Verse 25 says, "But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3:25). Does this mean that there was no faith in the Old Testament or Old Covenant? No. Romans 4:9 says, "...faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness." So this means that Galatians 3:25 is talking about "faith in Jesus Christ as a part of the New Covenant or New Testament" (that went into effect officially with his death upon the cross). The Law (i.e. the Old Law) was a school master to bring those unto faith in Christ during His earthly ministry and during the time His followers spread the good news of the gospel.
Paul was fighting against the heresy of Law Alone Salvationism that did not include God's grace. People were trying to be circumcised FIRST in order to say that they were saved. They thought they had to go back and obey ALL of the laws of the Torah to be saved (When that was a covenant or contract that was no longer binding anymore as a whole).
We see that this problem was addressed at the Jerusalem council. Please slowly and carefully read these verses:
- Acts of the Apostles 15:1 says, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”
- Acts of the Apostles 15:5 says, But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”................................................................................................................................................................
- Acts of the Apostles 15:24 says, “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”
Paul also addressed this problem, as well:
- Galatians 2:3 says, “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:”
- Galatians 5:2 says, “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”
- Galatians 5:6 says, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
- Galatians 6:15 (NLT) says, “It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:18-19 says, 18 For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. (NLT) 19 “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.” (NASB)
- Romans 2:28-29 says, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
- Romans 3:1 says, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?”
- Romans 4:9-12 says, ”9 “Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”
- Acts of the Apostles 21:21 says, “And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.”
So we can conclude that Paul was against going back to the whole of the Old Testament Law of Moses (and not individual moral laws) and he was against "Circumcision Salvationism." Paul was fighting against "
Law Alone Salvationism." For if you say that you are saved FIRST by circumcision, then the foundation of your faith is not by coming to Jesus Christ it would be circumcision or Law Alone. This was not even a form of salvation even under the OT. Men were always saved by faith in the Messiah and then obedience to His commands followed from that point after. So yeah; You are taking Galatians 3:24 out of context to defend a sin and still be saved type belief. Salvation as taught by Free Grace teachers is not biblical. Salvation has always been "Faith + works of faith." Just read Hebrews 11. Works of faith had always followed a person having faith in God. For faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
