In Week 5 of our series through Galatians, Pastor Jeff Dye explores Galatians 3:19–4:9 and answers an important question: If following the law cannot save us or make us righteous, what is the purpose of God’s law?
The Apostle Paul describes the law as a “guardian” that points us toward our need for Jesus Christ. Pastor Jeff explains that the law functions in three important ways: as a guardrail, protecting us from the destructive consequences of sin; as a mirror, revealing how far we fall short of God’s standard of righteousness; and as a compass, showing believers how to live lives that honor and please God. The law cannot change our hearts or produce righteousness—that transformation comes only through the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Through faith in Jesus, we are not simply forgiven; we are adopted into the family of God. Paul declares that those who are in Christ are sons of God, heirs who receive the inheritance of the Father. The Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out, allowing us to cry out to God as “Abba, Father” and giving us a new desire to live according to His Word.
Ultimately, true freedom is not found by escaping God’s boundaries but by living within the life for which He created us. We were created by God and for God. Through the Gospel, Jesus frees us from slavery to sin and the things of this world so that we can live in obedience, experience the love and grace of our Heavenly Father, and enjoy the freedom found in fully surrendering to Christ.