Christian Angelology
27 the idea of keeping the unleavened bread as a substitute, which becomes the literal body of Jesus Christ, has no warrant in the scriptures. Since thinking is like the corrupted fruit which comes from an attempt to interpret the new covenant (testament) in isolation from the Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic covenants.
But the Lord did not stop with that, he directed his attention to the red wine that was before him and which the traditional beverage of the pass over (Seder) meal. And he took the cup gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink all of it (Matthew 26.27). According to Jewish history four cups of wine are the major part of the pass over observance. Their importance was very closely related to the Exodus from Egypt. God spoke to the nation through Moses and said, I will bring you out under the burdens of the Egyptians and I will rid you out their bondage and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm and with great judgment. And I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God (Exodus 6.6-7)
The four I wills mentioned in this connection are, “I will bring you out, I will rid you I will redeem you, and I will take you” these four usages are with some inner meaning concerned to the rabbinic four cups of wine used in the pass over Seder ceremony. And they are called in sequence. (1) The cup of sanctification I will being you out or separate you (2) The cup of praises I will red you (3) The cup of redemption I will redeem you (4) The cup of acceptance, I will take you. If we look into those four cups
It seems the fourth cup which acceptance is basing on the statement of Matthew he said in his book. And he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink ye all of it. For this is my blood of the New Testament (covenant) which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you I will not drink hence forth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it with you in my father’s kingdom (Matthew 26.27.29)
Christian Angelology
This new covenant like the earlier covenants of Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic covenants were made with Israel (Jeremiah 31.31) but the blood of Jesus was shed for many “going beyond the boundaries of the Jews to the entire world. And then it fulfilled the promise of God to Abraham that thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 22.18). The truth here is that Jesus himself did not drink the fourth cup why because it was the cup of acceptance, and at that time his nation (Israel) did not accept. Him as their messiah. But only at the later days that is at the end of the age and that is when he comes for the second time and when the Israelites recognize him, who he is and enter into the provision of the new covenant then the Lord will drink the fourth cup.
The main point to understand the concept of the New covenant is found in a brief statement in the book of Hebrews, “For a Testament (covenant) is in force after men are dead if not it has no strength at all when the testater liveth” (Hebrews 9.17). The central point of this important text is that the victim (Jesus in the New Testament, represents the parties of the covenant God and man) and they can represent together in the victim (Jesus) only by means of his death (Jesus). So with the death of Christ on the cross (the new covenant in my blood) both man and God are eternally united. Following are some of the important truths that come out of the understanding of the covenants of God.
1. The law covenant was a shadow of things that are going to happen,
whereas the new covenant is the substance. The outcome of the law
covenant is that the payment for sin was anticipated under the new
covenant. It is realized and under the law covenant the sacrifices were
provisional. And recurring with new covenant the sacrifice of the death
of Jesus on the cross is eternal and totally sufficient. Through the law
covenant the lambs of men could only cover sin (Hebrews 10.4). But
through the new covenant the Lamb of God (Jesus) is able to take away
sin (john 1.29)
Christian Angelology
29
2.The new covenant has completing and forever superseded the old
covenant (Mosaic Law) that is the law covenant need not be equated
with the word of what humanity has chosen to call the Old Testament
scripture. The Abraham and mosaic and Davidic covenants are so to say
unconditional and still in effect. The new covenants were in no way
superseded the Abraham and Davidic covenants. But they have
continued in full saving. The common idea that the Old Testament was
for Israel and has no direct implication for biblical Christianity is really
great error. That has robbed the church; of crucial truth and also biblical
balances. The fact is that to understand the major part of the New
Testament requires first the understanding of the Old Testament. That is
to say there is link between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Thereby we can understand the fact that a sincere pastor will certainly
preach from old and New Testaments. Jesus is the true seed from the
loins of Abrahamic, who brings blessings to all men and women of faith.
Jesus is also called the son of Davidic in whom the covenant promise of
a throne and a kingdom forever will be literally fulfilled.
3.In the present days believers are not under a law system of life, and also
our life has become easy going and we are not restricted to a Sabbath
day’s journey (probably three fourth of a mile) nobody is bringing the
animal to the temple to sacrifice like olden days on pass over time. And
also there is no high priest in the temple to sacrifice a goat on our behalf
on the Day of Atonement, stoning of adulterous women to death as per
the Mosaic Law was completely stopped. People are not treated as
servants according to law system, but give cheerfully and willingly as
sons and daughters under mercy of the New Testament since the law
was a total package men could not chose correctly. It was all nothing but
a conditional covenant. As Israelites could not keep the condition of the
law, Christ has become an end to that law, so at present men and women
are not under any obligation to observe the Sabbath as required by law.
Christian Angelology
The new covenant has a better priesthood (melchizedec). It has a better high priest like Jesus Christ himself. It has a permanent sacrifice (the Lamb of God Jesus Christ himself) and finally rests upon better promises. The new covenant is embodied with a perfect righteousness. The new covenant will perfectly and eternally unlike men with God. The law appears to be unbiblical and illegal and also unfruitful. Which goes down to the land of beggarly elements. Apostle John while speaking in the context of the law heralded the greatest of all messages with only 13 words. If the son therefore shall make ye free ye shall be free indeed (John 8.36)
The true church is the body of Christ which is quite different from the nation of Israel. And the promises given to the nation will be fulfilled undoubtedly through the believing remnants of the Jews, at the end of the age. And so there will be continuous relationship between Israel and the church. However, we must realize and the respect the fact that every blessing the true church experiences is only from the Abraham covenant. So all the believers are the spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham and therefore spiritual Israelites. As Abraham was accepted by God men and women must keep their faith in his word. But it is said the New Testament believers cannot stand in the place of Israelites because the church does not inherit the promises of blessing given to the nation of Israel for obedience.
And also it does not receive the promises of cursing for disobedience. In nut shall we can see the church is the church and Israel is Israel. They are entitiled in a different way. But at the end both will be blessed by God. Therefore, to understand the covenant is nothing but understanding of the human history correctly. By faith we must enter into the provision of the new covenant through Christ alone. It is a true experience of life with God eternally and nothing is better than this.
***********************
Christian Angelology
31
4. SHOULD CHRISTIANS OBSERVE MOSAIC LAW?
It is said some believers of God have advised their fellow believers to observe the principles of Mosaic Law, with the exception of animal sacrifices. Those laws are clearly mentioned in the first five books of the Old Testament called Pentateuch. The Evangelistic church members have been also trying to convince the fellow believers to practice the Mosaic Law. If that is the case, they must become one Jewish to practice like eating kosher (clean food) observing Jewish Sabbath which requires to attend synagogue or church either on Friday night or Saturday before sunset. But undoing circumcision and observing all these principles means one must become Jewish in the name of Jesus into Hebrew as Joshua and names of both Joseph and Mary as Joseph and Miriam In addition to that the believers have to observe two Jewish high holy Jewish holidays. They are Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) and yonkippur (the Day of Atonement)
One thing is more important in this context. The teaching that Christian should follow the Mosaic Law is being done by the Jewish believers of Jesus and also propagated by gentile believers such teaching was upheld by the Denominations primarily by seventh day Adventists. The church members of this set observe not only the Sabbath (Jewish) but also Christmas and The ten commandants. There are some more churches also tried to follow the life of Jewish people. But they totally oppose the teaching of the New Testament scriptures. Then we have to question ourselves how far it is necessary to follow Mosaic Law. To understand this properly it is better to look into some passages from the New Testament. It is a fact there is nothing new about the issue of the church because it was as old as the truth of church itself in the first century. So, whether to follow Mosaic Law or not became a burning issue among the church members of Galatia. There is a common word used for such people who must on observing the Law are called Judayeres. Some false teachers polluted the church atmosphere and the congregation without peace. Though this problem caused some conflict among the church goers. Apostle Paul taught them that salvation would come only through
Christian Angelology
faith but not through work. And to provide his salvation to all mankind Jesus came to this world. He declared that he achieved that salvation by his death burial resurrection and finally ascendance to his father. Paul wrote a letter to the Church of Rome saying “But now righteousness of God without Law is manifested being witnessed by the Law and the prophets (Romans
3.21) Paul taught Mosaic Law was insufficient to being men and women to God. What he actually wanted to say was instead of the Mosaic Law the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ would be sufficient. Instead of following the rules of the law for the acceptance of God Paul further said the permanent sacrifice of Christ on the cross for the sin of mankind would be enough for atonement and acceptance of God for salvation. In essence Christ became the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law. So what was going on in the church of Galatia became a burning problem to Paul He showed his disinclination towards the foul teaching of some selfish believers in the church here, Paul was referring to the false teaching of Judayers as another gospel. As condemned their teaching and said it was foreign to the truth upon which the church of Jesus was built. Added to that the judayers were misleading the church and the church and the gospel.
Paul became antagonistic towards them and dumb founded at the congregation which was feasting on their foul teaching. He tried to bring them back and put them on the correct track. He wrote to the believers of Galatia “O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you”? (Galatians 3.1). He appeared to be rude and intolerant toward the judaisers but it was wrong. He was frustrated at their attitude. He was like a loving father whose son had gone astray. Paul used to grab the children of Galatia by their shoulders and shake them vigorously, trying to awake them from their deep slumber. He tried his best to put them on the right track or the correct logical ground. He called them foolish Galatians and passionately requested them to come to normal position and reminded them that the Mosaic Law is nonsense. He politely asked them to think about the Law reasonably and logically. Paul hallowed this with simple direct and without any argument. He wrote this only would be
Christian Angelology
33 learning of you” Received ye the spirit by the works of the Law or by hearing of faith. The Galatians should have known the answer to this question. The answer is quite clear. We are saved by faith through the spirit. Paul really loved the Galatian church and did not want to hurt them anymore. The only thing he was surprised at their foolish thinking and disappointed at their lack of correct Judgment. His impression about the Galatians was that they were saved by the grace of God, a work of the Holy Spirit and in such condition they need not turn round a line of salvation by their physical work successfully.
Paul then began to question them in this way. Is circumcision going to save you? Is eating of kosher (clean food) going to save you? The answer is no. He called Galatians my beloved Christians stop all that nonsense and return to the basic teaching. Paul had strong faith that the Galatians would certainly abandon the Mosaic Law and look for salvation. According to him if anyone would suggest the Mosaic Law as the grace of salvation, it is deadly and curse. Paul said no man is justified by law in the sight of God and it is quite evident. The justice shall live by faith. He stressed more that salvation is through faith and it is unquestionable and undisputed faith. It is only through faith on Jesus Christ salvation can be achieved, but not through the observation of the Mosaic Law.
What must be the opinion of Jesus Christ regarding Mosaic Law? Once Jesus was travelling in his ministry through towns and villages in the region of Galilee. He came to the area of mountains and sat at a higher place. It was a customary to a Jewish rabbi to sit at a higher place, before the audience or students. Jesus also did the same before His disciples and others that gathered there. He had the wonderful attention of a group of Jewish humble fishermen, silversmiths, farmers, bakers, carpenters, and housewives etc. There were some Roman soldiers also probably to maintain peace. The crowed had finally settled and all their attention was drawn toward Jesus Christ. As he understood the pulse of the audience, he began through speak. He said that those who were poor in spirit would be blessed for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. He said those who mourned were
Christian Angelology
assured of comfort. He promised them that they would inherit earth. He assured to those who were seeking righteousness would certainty find it. He told the merciful that they would receive mercy in return. He said the faithful who followed him and suffered, for such people the earth would become hostile and heaven temporarily because the people always signed and this sacrifice was to continue and the permanent solution was found finally that you himself provided a permanent alternative. He offered his only begotten son Jesus Christ as he lived a flawless life with virgin birth and with sinless existence.
Jesus possessed all the criteria to be human permanent sacrifice for sin. So, we must accept him as our saviour and Lord as he pardoned our sins and assured eternal life. So, from the time Jesus was sacrificed, dead, buried, and resurrected for the sins of humanity. We have to remember one point in this connection. God never declared regarding blood sacrifices were no longer required. As we see in the bible this blood sacrifice had been continued from the time of Adam and Eve till the time of the coming of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. Jesus by shedding his blood on the cross provided blood requirement for the sacrifice. Then the only required is that all men and women should accept Christ as their savior. It is a technical point further believers to understand the moral value of the Mosaic Law even though it was explained by Jesus Christ. The fact is Jesus Christ had fulfilled all the technical points of the laws and asked us to stop the practice of that Law.
The technical points in that law were, the sacrificial system, deadly laws observing of Jewish holidays undergoing of circumcision, eating of Kosher (clean food ) etc. Though the Jews practiced the law they were far away from love. Hence the law was like school master that led the Jewish people to Christ so that they might be justified by faith. Jesus Christ protected the humanity from the practice of the Mosaic Law principles. So, we are no way bound to keep the physical requirement, though the moral principles continue. For the fulfillment of things like to sacrifice dietary system holidays observance, kosher food circumcision all those things are to be followed.
Christian Angelology
35 But all those things are accomplished in the life sacrifice of Jesus Christ, through his resurrection. By accepting Jesus as our savoir and lord as our final sacrifice for sin takes the place of the Mosaic Law, what Paul wrote in this regard “for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone that believe” (Romans 10.4)
The final result is that the believers must forget about the Mosaic Law because whatever was needed for salvation Jesus Christ fulfilled that. Regarding Sabbath day observance there were still some believer who wanted to follow the correct time of the Sabbath that would start on Friday after sunset and ends before Saturday sunset, we have to study whether they were right in their thinking. We have to look into the New Testament also if it is encouraging to Christians to observe Sabbath day like Jews. Jesus in his ministry on the eve of his Sermon on the Mount happened to go into green fields with his disciples on Sabbath day. He plucked some green and Pharisees. Some pharoses saw that and accused Jesus and his followers for breaking the Mosaic Law. They said behold thy disciples for that which is not Lawful to do on Sabbath day. (Matthew 12.2) if Jesus was unmindful of the situation and breaks the law of God then we can say he committed sin and did not lead a perfect life. As a result Jesus would have been considered disqualified as a sacrifice for sin.
Before concluding about the remarks of Pharisees, let us think for a while about the period in which they lived. In these days the Pharisees revolved bed some Laws of their own even without giving priority to the moral values. The Jews during the time of Jesus in Jerusalem had very peculiar traditions. For example, the Pharisees said the Jews should not carry any burden on the Sabbath day. The burden was like carrying the pieces of roper horse hair wax, a piece of broken earth ware, animal food, dead fig etc. If any one of the Jews carries any one of the above mentioned items, he would be treated as committed sin against the God of Israel. In addition to that the Israelites should eat only food specially made for Sabbath day. If a hen laid egg on Sabbath day accidentally, it should not be eaten by them. However, if the hen was kept for becoming fat then the egg of such hen might be eaten.
Christian Angelology
Healing the person was permitted only when the person was in life and death condition. But making of a discourse on the Sabbath day caused the Pharisees to attack Jesus. So, every event like that made the Pharisees to attack Jesus. For eating the green also made them to attack. Then he made their mouths shut by telling the story of king David, Which occurred about 1000 years ago David ran from the presence of king Soul and all the tabernacles and shew bread” which was meant for the priests. When he was disparately hungry Jesus reminded to Pharisees how the priests in the temple polluted the Sabbath and are blameless. According to Jesus the priests in the temple works like sacrifices, lighting insence on the Sabbath day.
Jesus then told the Pharisees if he had known what this meant, I will have mercy and not sacrifice we would not have condemned the guiltless. Jesus addressed again in the Sermon on the Mount not about the artificial, physical aspect of the Law that concerned, to the moral objections. His compassionate aspect of the Mosaic Law in their blindness condemned the one who was even greater than the temple. Jesus affirmed his lordship and fulfillment of the mosaic laws assured the son of man is lord even on the Sabbath day. To say more clearly, the Mosaic Law is nothing but the shadow of good things to come but not the image of things. A shadow as we see is nothing but an image created by some objects.
So, we can draw a conclusion that the Mosaic Law is only shadow of Jesus Christ. The shadow was real but not a permanent one and this Mosaic Law was an indicator of the real objects and here coming savior Jesus. He came to this world and replaced the shadow and fulfilled his work. So, giving away the life of Jesus means fulfilling the requirement of Sabbath. We can put this in some other way briefly. To trust in Christ means fulfilling the requirement of the Sabbath this particular point might cause the readers to have another genuine doubt. How can a man trust in Jesus by observing the Sabbath?
According to the Bible God created everything in six days and took rest on the seventh day. But the Israelites declared Saturday as Sabbath day
Christian Angelology
37 and seventh day. God also took rest on that seventh day after the creation. It means men and women have to take rest from their regular work and devote their time to the loving God whether the work involves physical sense or meditation on him. As a result there would be peace of soul and sharing of goodness. And for the confirmation the writer quoted the following words there are meant therefore you rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest he also hath rest from his own works as God did from His own. What is the nature of the rest according to the writer? The write was speaking about the rest one needed theologically by a searching soul continuously striving to find out acceptance from God. As soon as striving soul reaches Jesus Christ the labour is over. Then Jesus would say “take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11.29-30)
In fact no striking of soul is coming to Christ and also there are no works to be accomplished in order to secure the salvation of God. It is also said salvation is obtained by people in a very simple way. So, we confess with our mouths, then the Lord Jesus Christ believes our hearts, that God would rescue us from the dead, those shall be saved. In the promise of salvation in Christ there is rest for the soul. Since the body needed physical rest, from his labour on the Sabbath day, the soul would find spiritual Sabbath, rest in Christ. In nut shell Christ is our Sabbath and Christ is our rest. The believers can understand now that Christ is their spiritual Sabbath and satisfy all their requirements.
Apostle Paul gave an explanation of Christ regarding Sabbath. “Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink or in respect of holiday or of a new moon or of the Sabbath day” (Colossians 2.1-6) what must have made Israel to say these words because the judayers were interested on the church members of Colossians who desired some Mosaic law practice like some requirements, holiday celebration and the Sabbath. Paul attacked them boldly and said Jesus by dying on the cross and rising from the dead blotted out the handwriting of the Mosaic Law. In other words the law of Judaism and tradition that led to salvation according to them, were dead
Christian Angelology
and buried. So, the only thing we have to do is that we must have sincere faith in Christ since that was the outcome of the Mosaic Law Christians need not doubt as Christ is the embodiment of Sabbath and every day observances.
Eating of kosher (clean foods):
It is really unfortunate because many Christians wished to eat kosher and observe dietary systems which were the customs of ancient Israelites. Other believers used to think about these believers who would never sustain their claim.
They should question among themselves whether the New Testament is demanding them to eat kosher. The Pharisees confronted with Jesus again in galilees when he halted with disciples. They went to Jesus with some teachers of law, and questioned him why his disciples transgressed the tradition of the elders by not washing hands before eating. The system of washing hands was created by some rulers and in course of time became regular. But Apostle Mark pointed out that this practice was probably the tradition of the elders. For the question of Pharisees concerning the washing of hands Jesus answered them in the following lines. Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded saying. Honor the fathers and mothers and he that corset father and mother let him die the death, but ye shall say to his father and mother, it is proper to method honor, not his father, or his mother he shall be forced. This have ye made the commandant of God not effect by your tradition “some of the Jewish leaders hatched a plan to circumvent the law of God like the fifth command honor thy father and mother. They declared a precious item as a dedication to the lord and kept it in their houses instead of turning it over to their parents. Jesus confirmed this action as adious and regarding this remark Jesus took the Pharisees to task. He contrasted the physical observance of the law, and tradition with far more significant with moral and compassioned necessaries of the laws while the argument was going on a good number of people gathered around them
Christian Angelology
39 and watched them. Then Jesus turned toward the mob and said not that defileth but that which cometh out of the mouth defileth a man”
Mark added to the above said statement purging all meal or purging all foods, in the modern version of the bible is in this way. Jesus declared all foods clean. Jesus took the opportunity and proclaimed that there were no unclean foods with the abolishing of the Mosaic Law. And Jesus said no food would defile the human soul. To understand this clearly whatever was eaten by anyone would not reflect one’s character or spirit or soul with all the explanation, if became for the Jewish people of the time of Jesus; Particularly promises to understand the revolutionary changes the fanatic attitude of those people towards the Mosaic Law did not allow them for effective thinking regarding the teaching of Jesus. The main reason was most of the ancient Israelites refused to know the true identify of Jesus that he was the messiah of the Jews and the son of God.
Any way all the teachings of Jesus were recorded in the bible for the future guidance of the believers. They would become free from the future of dietary requirements of ancient Israelites. That was not the only occasion God declared all the foods were clean. In the book of Acts chapter 10 the bible readers can find the story of vision Peter got. According to the vision Peter saw the heaven was opened, and a big vessel descended towards him. It was a big sheet with four corners and full of different beasts and fowls. “Then a voice came from heaven rise peter kill and eat” But as a Jew peter was the close observer of Mosaic Law. So he replied Not so lord. I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. For that God replied, what God hath cleansed that could not become a common food. It is said the vision was repeated two times to peter became he could not comprehend the exact meaning of it.
The vision of Peter was for two purposes it was confirmed that Israelites dietary law was stopped The Jews were eating now freely. They began to treat the gentiles equally and understand that they were in no way inferior to them. And Peter also made this point clear before some gentile believers. As confessed that God showed him not to look down upon others, calling anyone unclean.
Christian Angelology
Apostle Paul also confessed and declared that all the food is clean for the people of God. He said this in the book of Romans. Paul humbly requested the believers not to judge one another because God is the judge of all.
According to him all are equal and foods are clean all the worlds of Jesus touched hearts of the believers. They began to eat whatever is available. They kept the Mosaic Law aside and no way concern to kosher. Regarding the made of the idols was also proved null and void because the idols had no life and vision manmade objects. Paul was more concerned about the strong believers unto might try to harm and check the weak believers in faith. The strong believers who were following Mosaic Law regarding the dietary system, we cannot take it for granted, that they did not correctly understand the bible and the teachings of Christ.
The impact of circumcision:
In Romans 2.28 Apostle Paul clearly pointed out that it is faith and obedience to God for the identification as the children of God but not the Mosaic Law. Regarding the circumcision Paul said it was an act of spiritual purification. He quoted for he is not a Jew who is out word in flesh that is though a Jewish man is physically circumcised that act does not make him believer in God by faith and righteousness. If a man undergoes circumcision when he was only eight days old.
It is no doubt the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law, and the act would make him to identify himself as a Jew. But this act would not serve the purpose of salvation. Here Paul worked different types of circumcision that is pure heart called spiritual circumcision Paul continue his idea in verse 29 about circumcision. “But he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the least in the spirit and not in the letter. He added an Israelite was asked at the time of Jesus he would have said that a Jew was a physical descendant of first patriarch Abraham an observer of Mosaic Law and circumcision his opinion about a Jew was that he would have to obey him in everything as he was a descendant of Abraham. Circumcision for him spiritually purified in heart the seed of human emotion and conscience
Christian Angelology
41 and Paul emphasized true circumcision was not concerned to the body but springs from the soul in faith, Love and obedience toward Almighty God.
The outcome of this is that man required only spiritual circumcision and physical action was not at all a requirement for salvation. He further said circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping in mind and honoring the Ten Commandants of the Law and not the physical aspects. If the Jews still unable to understand the aspect or circumcision and mosaic law Paul advised to such people to look into Galatians 5.6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth Anything nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love”. If anybody thought of circumcision even after salvation through Christ it is nothing but laughing at the grace of God. It entangles in such unfortunate souls, Paul somehow brought the topic of circumcision for discussion and in his address to church members in Galatia told them whether one was a Jew or gentile God would live in anybody and people will have everything they needed in Christ for salvation. This is what Paul wanted to tell the believers. He further explained clearly that circumcision had a symbol of believers’ new spiritual entry into the eternal life with Christ.
Conclusion:
Paul put every big question here to the believers of Galatians church. The question was whether they would get the salvation through the deeds they accomplish. From the Mosaic Law or through the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ. The answer is crystal clear. All have saved through faith but not works. So the law had nothing to do and no way concern to the modern Christianity. Yet with all tros and cons the Mosaic Law had its own importance why because it was initiated by God himself. It was meant for redemption of humanity from their sin.
But this Mosaic Law could not provide salvation as people were unable to believe and practice it perfectly. So Paul said but before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards
Christian Angelology
be revealed. 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. (Galatians 3:23-25)
In the above said passage the Pharisees like “keep under and shut up” are used to describe the life of Mosaic Law. To its credit the law would work as our school master or as our road map to reach our goal. Now that goal provided some means and showed redemption. As the goal showed some means there is no necessity of following the law, which acted like the school master. That was the appeal of Paul. The fact is that law in the Old Testament or covenant, appeared to be good, understanding and which achieved, the good faithfully and effectively. But the new covenant or testament was replaced by the grace of God. For detailed truth one can look into the book of Hebrews. There is one more point people have to understand from the law. On one occasion Jesus was talking with Pharisees and Sadducees. Just at that time a lawyer came and asked Jesus, what the great commandment was in the Law. The lawyer actually wanted to know what the greatest of the law was. Jesus replied “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, this is the first great commandment. And the second is thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self and these two commandments hang all the laws and prophets. But Paul quoted a similar law “bear ye one another burdens to fulfill the law of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:2)
All the believers must walk with Jesus with faith, love and humble submission to the Mosaic Law. By doing so, they would become closer to the law. Paul’s final answer to this controversial issue was mentioned in the book of Romans 8:3-4
For what the law could not do in that is was weak. Through the flesh God sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us. Who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.
***********************