Tempted with Truth

The Law is not the Promise:

Galatians 3:17-18 “...What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise...”

The promise was made 430 years before the law was given on Sinai.

The law did not replace the promise given by God.

The Law is a Guardian:

Galatians 3:24-25 “...So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law...”

If people were perfectly good and always lived correctly, there would be no need for police forces and governmental regulations. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

If people were sinless and always lived correctly, there would be no need for the law.

As a guardian, the law has been in charge - to lead us to Christ

In Christ, we are heirs to the Promise:

Galatians 3:29 “...If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise...”

Those who belong to Christ are heirs because of the promise, not because of following the law.

The Bewitching:

Galatians 3:3 “...Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?...”

Galatians 3:5 “...Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?...”

Do you have a sin issue that you’re determined to overcome?

Has the issue been an ongoing frustration because your efforts have failed?

Are you bewitched?

The Reality:

Romans 3:20 “...because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin...”

John 6:63 "...It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life...”

Romans 6:14 “...For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace...”

If you see your sin, the Law has done it’s job.

If you try to master your sin by human effort, there is no profit - it will master you.

It is the abiding presence of Christ that prevents sin from being master. The presence of Christ changes a person’s heart from the inside, which is vastly different from trying to control actions from the outside.