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"I through the law died to the law..."

Text: Galatians 2:19a

THE LAW- A MOST SENSITIVE SUBJECT

The apostle Paul could not avoid making mention of the law. It was out of their understanding of the law that the Jews chose not to relate to Gentiles. How should the law be understood, interpreted and applied?

MULTI-ASPECTS OF THE LAW

Paul did not discount the significance of the law. Jewish thought in the days of Paul included the following understanding:-

1. It had religious implications.

a) It governed worship.

b) It contained vital tenets of faith and religious practice.

2. It had social implications.

a) Pertaining to familial relationships.

b) Pertaining to social interaction (including relating to Gentiles).

3. It had judicial implications.

a) Jewish laws were based on the laws of Moses.

b) However it must also be said that many other bye-laws were added to their judicial code.

PAUL’S PERSPECTIVE

Paul’s perspective is to be carefully studied in the following text he wrote.

For I through the law died to the law
that I might live to God.

Galatians 2:19

1. “I through the law died”

a) The law highlighted the fact that no one can fully keep the law.

b) But according to the law when a person sins, transgresses, commits iniquity, he is to be adjudged guilty and he perishes.

c) Paul accepted that he was guilty and thus he “died” according to the law (not literally though).

2. “Died to the law”

a) By implication.

b) Since a person is “dead” he cannot be expected to keep the law!

3. “That I might live to God”

a) But “death” was not the end of the story.

b) Through justification by Christ there is new hope and new life to be found in the Lord.