Grace in Galatians (Part 101): Why God Gave The Law
Today, we continue our series entitled “Living the Grace Life,” where we will learn to embrace and walk in God’s unmerited, unearned, and often undeserved favor throughout 2025.
As part of this series, I am teaching a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Galatians.
Key scriptures for this year:
(2 Corinthians 9:8 TPT)
"Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do."
(Galatians 5:4 TPT)
"If you want to be made right with God by fulfilling the obligations of the law, you have cut off more than your flesh—you have cut yourselves off from Christ and have fallen away from the revelation of grace!"
(Romans 6:14 ERV)
"Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law. You now live under God's grace."
(1 Corinthians 15:10 CEV)
"But God treated me with undeserved grace! He made me what I am, and his grace wasn't wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God's grace at work and not me."
Scripture we will study today:
(Galatians 3:19 TPT)
“Why then was the Law given? It was meant to reveal the wrong things we do until the Seed came to whom the promise pertained. The Law was a temporary agreement put in place through angels and administered through an intermediary, Moses.”
Supporting scriptures:
(Romans 5:20 TPT)
“So then, the Law was introduced into God’s purpose to multiply the evidence of people’s sins. Yet wherever sin increased, there was more than enough of God’s grace to triumph all the more!”
(Romans 3:20 NIV)
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”
(Galatians 3:24-25 NIV)
“So the Law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”
(Romans 7:7 NIV)
“What shall we say, then? Is the Law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the Law.”
(Hebrews 10:1 NIV)
“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.”
(John 1:17 NKJV)
“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Setting the Stage:
We’ve spent the last several messages in Galatians 3:18, establishing that our inheritance comes by PROMISE, not by the Law! So, now, Paul anticipates the obvious question his readers are asking: “Okay Paul, if the promise is everything and the Law cannot change the promise, then WHY was the Law given in the first place? If God’s plan was always grace through faith, why introduce the Law at all?” That’s a great question, and Paul answers it with clarity! The Law was never meant to be God’s permanent plan; it was a temporary measure with a specific purpose until Christ came!
Here’s what you need to understand: the Law was never Plan A; the Law was always a temporary parenthesis between the promise given to Abraham and the promise fulfilled in Christ! The Law had a purpose, but that purpose was NEVER to save you, bless you, or make you righteous! The Law was given to reveal sin, increase awareness of transgression, and drive humanity to the Savior! Once Jesus came, the Law fulfilled its purpose, and we are NO LONGER under its administration!
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. The Law Was Given to Reveal Sin, Not Remove It.
Paul says the Law was given “to reveal the wrong things we do.” The Law’s primary function was diagnostic, not therapeutic! It was given to expose the disease of sin, not to cure it! Think of the Law like an X-ray machine; it can show you what’s broken, but it has no power to fix what’s wrong! The Law reveals your need for grace; it doesn’t provide grace!
How this applies to you:
— When you mess up, most Christians, without even thinking about it, immediately attempt to “do better” to fix their standing with God. But the Law already revealed to us that we can’t be good enough! So, our job is not to perform our way back into God’s favor. Our job is to repent and to receive the grace Jesus provided! If you make your recovery performance-based, one of two things will happen. Either A) it will take a long time for you to “feel” like you are righteous again, because you will be dealing with guilt, shame, and condemnation. B) You will focus so much on your performance that you will wear yourself out trying to be right when God is simply looking for you to believe in the righteousness Jesus provided.
— When guilt, shame, and condemnation hit you, recognize that’s the Law doing what it does: showing you your need for grace! Don’t wallow in the guilt; receive the grace! The Law says, “You messed up.” Grace says, “Jesus already fixed it.” Choose to believe grace over guilt!
— Stop comparing yourself to other Christians and feeling like you don’t measure up. That’s Law-based thinking! The Law will always show you someone who prays more, gives more, serves more. But grace says your worth is not based on comparison; it’s based on Christ! You’re complete in Him, not in your performance!
— Stop trying to prove your value through exhausting effort. The Law mindset says, “I must work harder to be accepted.” The grace mindset says, “I’m accepted, so I work from a place of rest and confidence.” You can be productive without being anxious, effective without being exhausted! Actually, when you learn to rest in God and His grace, you will be more productive and effective, because it won’t be you doing it; it will be God working through you.
— When dealing with difficult people, grace gives you the power to respond differently than the Law demands. The Law says, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” Grace says, “Forgive as you’ve been forgiven.” You can extend mercy because you’ve received mercy! You’re not giving what they deserve; you’re giving what grace produced in you!
— In your family relationships, stop demanding perfection from your spouse or kids. The Law exposed YOUR imperfection; grace covered it. Now you can extend that same grace at home! Recepients of grace should become conduits of grace. When your kids mess up, you can correct them from grace, not Law. When your spouse disappoints you, you can forgive from a reservoir of grace you’ve received!
— The point here is that you are aware of the Law. This means that you know when you “miss the mark,” which is what it means to sin. But you don’t have to wallow in it. The Law revealed that you were a sinner. Grace covers your sin and makes you righteous. Now, walk and live as the righteousness of God by faith.
2. The Law Was Temporary; It Had an Expiration Date.
This is crucial! Paul says the Law was “a temporary agreement” that lasted “until the Seed came to whom the promise pertained.” The Seed is Jesus! The Law was never meant to be permanent; it was a stopgap measure between Abraham and Christ! Once Jesus came, the Law fulfilled its purpose, and believers are NO LONGER under its administration!
How this applies to you:
— Stop living with the fear that you’re going to “lose” God’s blessing if you mess up. That’s Law-based anxiety! The Law was temporary and conditional: “Do this and I’ll bless you; fail and I’ll curse you.” But grace is permanent and unconditional! Your blessing is not based on a contract that can be broken; it’s based on a promise that cannot be revoked!
— When you face a challenge, your first response should not be “What did I do wrong?” That’s Law-thinking! The Law gives us the concept that every problem is punishment for breaking a rule. Grace says, “God is working this for my good, and His favor on my life hasn’t changed!” You can face difficulties without assuming God is angry with you!
— Stop trying to “get back” into God’s favor through religious activities after you’ve failed. You never left His favor! The Law-system required you to perform to regain standing. The grace-system says Jesus maintains your standing regardless of your performance! You don’t have to work your way back; you were never kicked out!
— In your daily decisions, stop asking “What’s the minimum I can do?” and start asking “What does grace empower me to do?” Law-thinking focuses on obligation and minimum requirements. Grace-thinking focuses on opportunity and maximum potential! You’re not bound by “do’s and don’ts“; you’re empowered by God’s ability working through you!
— When you see other believers struggling or falling, extend grace instead of judgment. The Law’s job was to point out failure. Your job, as one who lives under grace, is to point people to Jesus! You can help restore without condemning, correct without crushing, and speak truth without destroying!
— In your finances, stop believing that every setback is God punishing you for not tithing perfectly. The Law connected disobedience to curses. Grace has redeemed you from the curse! Financial challenges are not always divine discipline. Sometimes it’s just life, and grace gives you the wisdom and provision to navigate it!
3. You Are No Longer Under the Law’s Administration: You Are Under Grace!
This is the life-changing revelation! Paul says the Law was “administered through an intermediary, Moses.” But you are no longer under Moses’ administration! You are under the administration of grace through Jesus Christ! This changes everything about how you relate to God, how you pursue righteousness, and how you access blessing!
How this applies to you:
— You can approach God directly, anytime, anywhere, without fear. You don’t need to “clean up” first, confess perfectly, or get your life together before coming to Him! Under the Law, the people couldn’t approach God without Moses. Later, the High Priests could not approach God without “being right,” or they would die. But under grace, Jesus opened the way for you to come BOLDLY to the throne! When you wake up in the morning, you can talk to God before you do anything else!
— Stop thinking you have to maintain your salvation through perfect behavior. The Law required ongoing sacrifices because sin kept happening. Jesus’ ONE sacrifice covers all your sins: past, present, and future! Your relationship with God is secure, not because you’re perfect, but because Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect!
— When temptation hits, you can resist it from a position of victory, not fear of punishment. Under the Law, you avoided sin to escape wrath. Under grace, you overcome sin because you have the POWER of the Holy Spirit living in you! You’re drawing from grace’s supernatural strength!
— In your relationships, you can love people with supernatural love because grace has filled you with God’s love. The Law said, “Love your neighbor,” but gave no power to do it. Grace says, “God’s love has been poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit,” and now you can love others FROM that overflow! You can love difficult people, forgive offenders, and serve sacrificially!
— Stop beating yourself up when you fall short. Under the Law, every failure meant starting over to earn acceptance. Under grace, every failure is covered by Jesus’ blood! You confess it, receive forgiveness, and keep moving forward! You don’t lose ground with God every time you stumble; your position in Christ is secure!
— This week, practice approaching God with confidence instead of cowering in shame. When you pray, don’t start with lengthy apologies for everything you did wrong. Start with thanksgiving for Jesus’ finished work! Thank God that you’re accepted in the Beloved, that His grace is sufficient, and that you have direct access to Him through Christ!
4. Grace Provides What the Law Could Never Deliver.
Here’s the beauty of understanding why the Law was given: it shows you how superior grace is! The Law could reveal sin, but it couldn’t remove sin. The Law could show you the problem, but it couldn’t provide the solution. But grace does what the Law could never do!
How this applies to you:
— When you face a habit you can’t seem to break, stop trying harder and start receiving more grace. The Law says, “Try harder!” Grace says, “Lean into God’s power!” You overcome addiction, anger, lust, fear, or any other struggle not by trying harder, but by accessing the grace that empowers the change! Declare, “God’s grace is sufficient for me in this area!“
— In your work life, you can excel without anxiety because grace provides supernatural ability. The Law approach is exhausting: “I must perform perfectly or I’ll be rejected.” The grace approach is empowering: “God’s grace enables me to do this with excellence!“
— When facing a health challenge, grace gives you the power to believe for healing AND the peace to endure the process. The Law says, “You’re sick because you sinned or lack faith.” Grace says, “By Jesus’ stripes you are healed, and even as I’m believing for manifestation, His grace gives me supernatural peace and strength!” You can stand in faith without condemnation!
— In your marriage, grace empowers you to love your spouse even when they don’t deserve it. The Law says, “I’ll love you IF you meet my expectations.” Grace says, “I love you BECAUSE God’s grace has empowered me to love sacrificially!” You can forgive seventy times seven, serve when you’re tired, and choose love when you feel hurt—all because of grace working in you!
— When raising your children, grace enables you to discipline with love instead of anger. The Law approach is harsh: “You broke the rule; here’s the punishment.” The grace approach is restorative: “You made a wrong choice; let’s talk about why and how we can do better.” Grace-based parenting produces security, not fear!
— In your finances, grace gives you the power to be generous even when it doesn’t make sense naturally. The Law says, “Hold on to every penny; you can’t afford to give.” Grace says, “Give, and it will be given to you; God’s grace multiplies what you sow!” You can be a generous giver because grace makes you a supernatural receiver!
That's enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for revealing why the Law was given!
I understand that the Law’s purpose was to reveal my need, not to provide the solution!
The Law was temporary, and its purpose was fulfilled in Christ!
I am NO LONGER under the Law’s administration; I am under grace!
I refuse to live under an expired covenant when You’ve given me a better one!
The Law showed me my need; grace provides what I need!
I don’t earn righteousness through performance; I receive righteousness through faith in Jesus!
Grace gives me the power to do what the Law demanded but couldn’t enable!
I live under grace, not under Law, and grace is MORE than sufficient!
I am Living the Grace Life, and GREATER IS COMING FOR ME!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
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