Galatians 3:22 Commentary and Bible Study

Although the law and the promise offer two different means of justification which are completely incompatible with each other, nevertheless within the plan of God they are not against each other but complement each other because they serve different purposes: they cooperate together to bring sinners to repentance and faith. The law brings us under conviction as it exposes our sin and shows us the impossibility of justifying ourselves by our works, and the promise invites us to take hold of God’s gracious provision for helpless sinners offered to us in the gospel through Christ.The verdict of Scripture is the same on all: all the descendants of Adam are in the same state, both Jews and Gentiles. All are said to be under sin, by which Paul means that they are under the power of sin, under the condemnation of sin, and the principle of Scripture which has accomplished this is the law. This is its function within the plan of God and it is very effective at this, and it is for this reason that it was given 430 years after the promise. Before the law comes to us in full force, we may flatter ourselves into thinking that we can keep God’s commandments and that the law presents us with a pathway that leads to acceptance with God. The word translated ‘concluded’ means literally to enclose, as a fisherman encloses fish in a net. The law gives no way out, and whichever way the sinner turns, the net of the law is there blocking every way of escape. It forces men and women to conclude that they are sinners and that they can offer no excuse for all their sin. People will not turn to God in faith while they still hope that they can match up to the requirements of the law. So slow is man to accept he is a sinner that he vainly hangs on to the possibility of improvement and correction even though he is aware of great moral failings. The law must come with crushing force to condemn him otherwise he clings to the tatters of his imagined righteousness. This is the wisdom of the plan of God, for what God intends is that no one should gain righteousness and life except through the promise received by faith. Grace and mercy will take the credit for everyone who is found in heaven.