Christ and the Law

TEXT: Matthew 5:17-20; Romans 8:3-4; Galatians 3:19-29

The word schoolmaster comes from the original Latin word paedagogus or pedagogue—the entrusted servant who watched over a boy until he was grown. The pedagogue’s duty was to protect the boy in all his activities. A schoolmaster held an important place but it was not intended that the schoolmaster be retained after the young man came to maturity. Thus it was with the Law of Moses. It was given by God and was good; it was needful for Israel until Christ came. But when Christ came, the days of the schoolmaster (the time of the Law) were completed.

QUESTIONS

1. For what reason was the Mosaic Law given? See Galatians 3:19.
2. For whom was the Law made? See 1 Timothy 1:9-10.
3. The rituals of the sin offering as found in Leviticus 8:15 and Hebrews 9:19-22 pointed to sin. How did these also point to Christ? See Hebrews 13:11-12.
4. What did Jesus mean when He said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil”?
5. The observance of the Law required more than ceremonial sacrifices. In Galatians 3:22-26, what is the key word used in every verse? Why was that word significant in the salvation of those under the Law, as well as in the salvation of us today? See Habakkuk 2:4 and Romans 1:17.
6. What does it mean to be justified? Considering Galatians 2:16 and Galatians 3:24, by what are we justified?
7. How does righteousness, which is by faith, operate? See Romans 10:9-10.
8. What was one of the indirect results of the Law? See Acts 10:28. How was this indirect result abolished through Jesus Christ?