Hi! Man, has work had me busy or WHAT?!!
Anywho, I couldn't help but reply to this particular thread and expound upon some of my previous replies to this topic...
No. Paul doesn't contradict himself. God's word never contradicts itself. I believe that wholeheartedly. But, it's one thing to say it, and another to understand it to be true. In this matter, it's important to fully understand the Law.
The Law was given, simply, to point to a Savior to come. It was both
provisional and
prophetic in nature. Provisional, in that it satisfied God's demanded payment for sin. "Without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sin." The Law provided an understanding for the sacrificial system God had designed. It pointed to the sin of mankind, and God's provisionary atonement for that sin to make a relationship with Him possible. One
believed God, and was saved. One
obeyed the Law to enjoy the relationship God had made possible, through the observances and sacrifices.
The Law was prophetic, in that it pointed to a need for a completed sacrifice. Each sacrifice of the Old Testament Law dealt with sin, but did not remove sin. Each sacrifice was a picture of what Christ would do one day for mankind. A study of the sacrifices is quite humbling, and one I highly recommend. The Law, as I said earlier, was simply given to point to a Savior to come, and man's inherant need of His salvation.
When Jesus came, He said that He'd not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. Simply put, the Law had been incomplete; and while sacrificially acceptable, was not a complete dealing with sin. When Jesus died on the cross He completed the Law. He completed each sacrifice in a very final way. No previous sacrifice was left wanting - hence, "...there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins..." Hebrews 10:26b - for better context Hebrews 10 (NOTE: Herein lends strong support to those who hold to the OSAS position).
Because Jesus completed the Law, there is no Law that we are under. There is no Law we need obey. The God Who gave the Law in order that man might see his need of salvation to have a relationship with Him, has provided the salvation once for all so that we
can have a relationship with Him. The relationship with God under the Law was in large part on the shoulders of man. The relationship with God under Grace is all Him. Yes, He leads. Yes, we must follow, and obey His will. But make no mistake - WE ARE UNDER THE GRACE OF OUR GOD
NOT UNDER THE LAW. To believe that we are is to nullify what Jesus did on the cross. Hence Paul warns:
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith-- just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"-- so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[ nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 3
Just a thought...
