"But after faith is come, we are no longer under the schoolmaster." Galatians 3:24. Since the schoolmaster is "especially the moral law"[1] , it appears that the ten commandment law is done away as many have argued. But when does this take place? The text states that it is "after that faith is come." When is this? Before faith is come we are under the law. "Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed." Galatians 3:23 NEB.
How then do we arrive at this faith? "So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith." Galatians 4:24 NEB. So it is the law that leads us to Christ and to faith. The King James reads "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Galatians 3:24. Therefore the law has the nice work of bringing or leading us to Christ, and we must then not find any fault with it or we may be guilty of eliminating that which God has designated to accomplish a great work for us.
We also must be careful that we do not expect the law to do something which God never planned for it. We must always remember that the law cannot make us obedient or righteous because it is weak through the flesh. Romans 8:3. It is dependent on our weak human flesh and we are incapable of performing its requirements. Does God leave us in this condition and still demand our obedience to it? No! The law which condemns us is used to lead us or bring us to Christ who has the power which enables us to obey.
The apostle Paul clearly presents the relation between faith and the law under the new covenant. He says: "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh"--it could not justify man, because in his sinful nature he could not keep the law--"God sending 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." Romans 5:1; 3:31; 8:3, 4.[2]
The purpose of the law is to bring me to Christ, but it cannot forgive me for my sins. Instead it condemns me. I cannot change my sinful heart, so it leads me to Christ who is the only one who can accomplish all of this for me.
The terms of the "old covenant" were: Obey and live --"If a man do, he shall even live in them," (Ezekiel 20:11; Leviticus 18:5); but, "cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them." Deuteronomy 27:27. The "new covenant" was established upon "better promises" the promise of forgiveness of sins and of the grace of God to renew the heart and bring it into harmony with the principles of God's law. "This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts ... I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Jeremiah 31:33, 34.
The same law that was engraved upon the tables of stone is written by the Holy Spirit upon the tables of the heart. Instead of going about to establish our own righteousness we accept the righteousness of Christ. His blood atones for our sins. His obedience is accepted for us. Then the heart renewed by the Holy Spirit will bring forth "the fruits of the Spirit." Through the grace of Christ we shall live in obedience to the law of God written upon our hearts. Having the spirit of Christ, we shall walk even as He walked.[3]
When the mind is drawn to the cross of Calvary, Christ by imperfect sight is discerned on the shameful cross. Why did He die? In consequence of sin. What is sin? The transgression of the law. Then the eyes are open to see the character of sin. The law is broken but cannot pardon the transgressor. It is our schoolmaster condemning us to punishment. Where is the remedy? The law drives us to Christ, who was hanged upon the cross that He might be able to impart His righteousness to fallen, sinful man and thus present men to His Father in His righteous character.[4]
Only Christ can forgive, renew the heart, provide righteousness and produce in me the obedience which the law requires.
But when is faith come? When Jesus lived on this earth? When He died on Calvary? According to Paul in Galatians 3:22, "that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." Faith comes when the law leads me to Christ for pardon, help and salvation. This is what Paul teaches. And this happens to each of us at different times, even to members of the same family. The Spirit of God working on our hearts, often for long periods of time, produces the conviction of sin and condemnation of the law, then the law which cannot help me, leads me to Christ and faith in Him for the help which I so desperately need.
This process is described in greater detail in the Great Controversy:
Wherever the word of God has been faithfully preached, results have followed that attested its divine origin. The Spirit of God accompanied the message of His servants, and the word was with power. Sinners felt their consciences quickened. The "light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," illumined the secret chambers of their souls, and the hidden things of darkness were made manifest. Deep conviction took hold upon their minds and hearts. They were convinced of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment to come. They had a sense of the righteousness of Jehovah, and felt the terror of appearing, in their guilt and uncleanness, before the Searcher of hearts. In anguish they cried out, "Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" As the cross of Calvary, with its infinite sacrifice for the sins of men, was revealed, they saw that nothing but the merits of Christ could suffice to atone for their transgressions; this alone could reconcile man to God. With faith and humility they accepted the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. Through the blood of Jesus they had "remission of sins that are past."[5]
Even for those who have been brought to Christ and faith in Him, the law on stone is still needed. Why? Because we can neglect Him in our busy life or grow calloused and distant by neglect of His Word and prayer. We lose contact and wander with almost no relationship to Christ. Worse still, we can backslide. But thanks to God, He does not forsake us. The Holy Spirit is still on the job and the law is still active to again bring us to Christ. When the law was proclaimed from Sinai, God made known to men the holiness of His character, that by contrast they might see the sinfulness of their own. The law was given to convict them of sin, and reveal their need of a Saviour. It would do this as its principles were applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This work it is still to do. In the life of Christ the principles of the law are made plain; and as the Holy Spirit of God touches the heart, as the light of Christ reveals to men their need of His cleansing blood and His justifying righteousness, the law is still an agent in bringing us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.[6]
As we have learned, Christ is also the moral law, the living representation of the law. In Him is found and seen the justice of the law on stone as well as the love embodied there. While we may be convicted of sin by the moral law; often this conviction and our realization of the sinfulness of sin as portrayed by the law on stone is rather minimal and superficial, but when we are brought to Christ and behold His purity and holiness, our sins suddenly appear in their vileness. But this is not discouraging or hopeless. Let us review the experience of Peter at the time when Christ performed the miracle of the great draft of fish.
Peter had known the law all of his life and was certain that he understood it well, but never did he perceive himself as a sinner. For some reason his understanding of the law did not lead him to a personal conviction of sin. On the other hand he seemed quite confident of his righteousness.
Now, in this miracle, Peter perceives in Jesus something that enabled him to see in himself that which had eluded him.
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.' Luke 5:4-9.
That hardened fisherman comprehended the enormity of the miracle of so many fish and He realized the holiness of the Christ. From his lips poured forth spontaneously those words "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." Luke 5:8. Never before had Peter felt like that nor uttered such thoughts. Why?
But Peter was unmindful now of boats or lading. This miracle, above any other he had ever witnessed, was to him a manifestation of divine power. In Jesus he saw One who held all nature under His control. The presence of divinity revealed his own unholiness. Love for his Master, shame for his own unbelief, gratitude for the condescension of Christ, above all, the sense of his uncleanness in the presence of infinite purity, overwhelmed him. While his companions were securing the contents of the net, Peter fell at the Saviour's feet, exclaiming, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord."[7]
It was the "presence of divinity" manifested and perceived by Peter, and the presence of infinite purity. What a contrast between the purity of Jesus and the sinfulness of man. So it is that the presence of Jesus produces a deeper, stronger conviction of sin than the law on stone. This is how Jesus functions as the justice of the moral law.
But the best is still to be seen. The Bible tells us that Peter "fell down at Jesus knees" when he said "Depart from me." Luke 5:8. Desire of Ages adds one thought at that point:
Peter exclaimed, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man;" yet he clung to the feet of Jesus, feeling that he could not be parted from Him."
Why does he cry "Depart" and then hold on to Jesus' feet so that He cannot leave? Because Jesus is also the living ceremonial law -- the sacrifice for all of our sins, -- the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. Peter knew this. Over and over he had seen God's great mercy and grace demonstrated in the life of Christ. The forgiving mercy of God in the ceremonial law and the sacrificial system were a living reality in the daily life of Jesus. Therefore, Peter had faith and hope in the great mercy of Christ and he held on like Jacob of old who said, "I will not let thee go except thou bless me." Genesis 32:26.
How wonderful is the plan of God. In Jesus are both the justice of the law and the mercy of the ceremonial law. But they are both found in the One Great Person. In Jesus we never need feel guilty very long because the same purity which condemns me is part of the mercy and grace which forgives me, accepts me, and counts me righteous. In the old system I remained condemned and guilty until I could find or buy a proper sacrifice, come to the temple, and kill it. In the person of Jesus Justice and Mercy have kissed each other.
Notes: