The Law vs Faith

Gal 3:22 But the scripture says that the whole world is under the power of sin; and so the gift which is promised on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ is given to those who believe.
Gal 3:23 But before the time for faith came, the Law kept us all locked up as prisoners until this coming faith should be revealed.
Gal 3:24 And so the Law was in charge of us until Christ came, in order that we might then be put right with God through faith.
Gal 3:25 Now that the time for faith is here, the Law is no longer in charge of us.
Gal 3:26 It is through faith that all of you are God's children in union with Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 You were baptized into union with Christ, and now you are clothed, so to speak, with the life of Christ himself.


"The law kept us locked up as prisoners":
This means the law was a sort of 'watcher in advance'; it means that it mounted guard; hemmed in, to protect.(phoureo)
It held us under, especially in an inferior position or condition and specifically covertly. (hupo)
The law being the regulation and prescribed principles.(nomos)
"in charge of us":
This is the word 'paidagogos' - meaning being led by a servant whose office it is to take the children to school; a tutor; instructor; schoolmaster.
So, the law hemmed us in and mounted guard over us with regulations to keep us in an inferior condition and position, and that done covertly, to lead us bound, in a sense, to school to learn and be tutored.
But why?

It was only till Christ would come and we could believe in His completed work for us. The law held us in bondage, till faith came. Jesus revealed the power of faith when He walked on the earth. Never before had man been able to live by the power of his own faith. Jesus fulfilled all the law and took its curse (Gal 3:13), thereby giving us the ability to live by our personal full persuasion, moral conviction of truth; especially reliance upon Christ for our salvation, and then the constancy in the profession of our faith; assurance, and belief. This is what FAITH is. (pistis)

Just like the Pharisees who wanted to keep people under the bondage of the law even though Christ was the Redeemer, so even today, we have those who use the 'law' of regulation to manipulate and control as many as they can. The Judiazers insisted that the gentile believers be circumcised as they were, but Paul the apostle refuted this as a 'frustration' of the grace Christ has brought us.
We cannot 'control' peoples behavior, much less their personal belief system. We can persuade and influence through the Word, but not 'control'.
The Bible tells us that "without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Heb11:6) and that "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom 10:17).
Laws and regulations will only leave you spiritually in a place of inferiority and bondage. Your condition will always be one of hemmed in feeling of being 'watched' at every move you make. But Christ came and with Him the time of faith. Now we receive the promise on the basis of faith because we believe.

Galations 5:1
"We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So, stand strong. Do not change and go back into the slavery of the law. 2. Listen, I Paul tell you that if you go back to the law by being circumcised, Christ does you no good".

The freedom we have through faith is because Christ set us free.
Freedom: eleutheria: legitimate, chiefly moral or ceremonial: - liberty.
Made us free: eleutheroō; to liberate, that is, (figuratively) to exempt (from moral, ceremonial or mortal liability): - deliver, make free.
Stand strong: stēkō; to be stationary, that is, (figuratively) to persevere: - stand (fast).

Christ has delivered and liberated us from moral or ceremonial liability, and He made it a legitimate liberty so that we are free and can stay free. In fact, we are to persevere in that liberty. If we don't, we end up back under the entanglement and snare of being yoked or brought into servant hood and slavery and bondage to laws and obligations to the ceremonies, regulations of this yoke. Its the yoke of being 'balanced', judged and brought into the ensnarement. (enecho; zugos; douleia) You are never sure of your ability to do it right or fulfill its obligations. In fact, you cant!
Only believing in Christ, walking by the faith of the Son of God, do you experience knowing that all is fulfilled because of Him and now you can walk in all of it because of Him.
When men are 'laying' on you the 'law' of regulations, you too feel as if nothing you do is right or enough, leaving you to try and obtain your promise through the fulfilling of your ceremonies and regulations.
You may even be applying this personally. Because you cannot 'believe' Christ would do it all for you , you feel you need to give Him some 'help'. But you don't realise you are bringing yourself into a snare of bondage, slavery to your own 'works'.

Eph 2:8 For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.

Christ has brought us freedom and legitimate liberty, so that we may walk in faith in His total complete work for us and receive His promised gift. No more slavery, no more yokes of bondage.
All is Christ.
Everyone needs to be brought to faith so that they may receive. Personal and individual.

Questions:

1. Are you constantly 'striving' in your faith walk to try and be good enough or accepted?
2. Do you feel you are 'good enough' to receive what Christ purchased for you?
3. When leaving meetings, do you feel you not good enough and the standard is too high for you?
4. Do constantly feel you need to please someone to 'earn' your acceptance?

Confess today:
I walk by faith and not by sight. Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law. Its not by my might or the power of my own effort that I receive and enjoy all that Jesus died for for me, but by His grace and by my faith I enjoy all. Today I stand strong in His freedom for my life purchased with His blood. I am free to worship and free to receive. My faith works today. No more bondage for me.