July 3, 2024

Galatians 3:19-29 (HCSB)
The Purpose of the Law
19 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one. 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 22 But the Scripture has imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Before this faithcame, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Sons and Heirs
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

Sherry Dorris
As I was studying to write this devotion, I came across this explanation of the law from Tony Evans. “The law is like a mirror. When you look in the mirror, it shows you that you need to comb your hair, fix your clothes, wash your face. But it cannot do any of those things for you. The mirror shows your faults, but it can’t fix them. That is what the law does for sinful people. It reveals our problems, our disobedience. But it can’t enable us to obey.” What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see a Christian that is living in faith and trying to grow stronger in that faith every day? To grow in our Christian lives requires only faith in Christ Jesus. The Galatians didn’t need anything else! Only Jesus! Through faith in Christ, we are adopted into God’s family and receive the Holy Spirit. Are you enjoying being a part of the family of God?