Grace in Galatians (Part 110): Why God Put Us In Prison

https://youtu.be/9AiEziTZ2X0

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 3:23 TPT)

“But before faith’s arrival, we were all held prisoners under the jurisdiction of the Law, kept under constant surveillance as we waited for the coming faith to be revealed.”

(Galatians 3:23 ERV)

“Before God gave us this faith, we were all like prisoners of the Law. We were locked up and held there until he let us have the way of faith he wanted to give us.”

(Galatians 3:23 NLT)

“Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.”

Supporting scriptures:

(Romans 5:12 NLT)

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”

(Romans 5:20-21 NLT)

“God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

(Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT)

“Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”

(Galatians 3:19 NLT)

“Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.”

(Galatians 3:24 NLT)

“Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.”

Setting the Stage:

Over the past few days, we’ve been building a powerful case for grace! In Parts 108 and 109, we established that ALL humanity was imprisoned by SIN. We were dead in our trespasses, under bondage to the fear of death, and born slaves to sin because of what Adam did. That was the FIRST prison: the prison of SIN.

But today, Paul reveals something even more strategic that God did: He introduced the LAW, which placed humanity in a DIFFERENT prison: the prison of the LAW! This wasn’t random. This was by divine design! God took people who were already prisoners of sin and put them in ANOTHER prison (the Law) to bring them to THE END OF THEMSELVES!

Think about it: because of Adam’s sin, everyone was born into bondage: dead in trespasses, slaves to sin, by nature children of disobedeince (for example, you don’t ever have to teach a baby to say, “NO,” or to lie, they are born with it), and living under the bondage of the fear of death,. But then, approximately 2,500 years after Adam, God gave the Law through Moses. And what did the Law do? It IMPRISONED people even more! It took people who were already in bondage to sin and placed them under the constant surveillance of religious rules and regulations that they could NEVER keep perfectly!

Why would God do this? Because the prison of the Law was designed to EXHAUST human effort, EXPOSE the frailty of our humanity, and BRING people to the place where they would finally say, “I CAN’T DO THIS! I need help! I need a Savior!” 

So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.

1. Because of Adam, ALL Humanity Was Born Into the Prison of SIN.

Before we talk about the Law, we need to understand the first prison. Romans 5:12 says, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” This means that every human being born after Adam inherited a sinful nature and was born into spiritual BONDAGE. You didn’t commit a sin and then become a sinner; you were BORN a sinner because of Adam! You were born this way, into the prison of sin, under bondage to the fear of death, spiritually dead, and separated from God. 

How this applies to you:

— You were born into bondage before you ever committed your first sin! The prison of sin wasn’t something you created; it was something you inherited from Adam. This is why Jesus had to be born of a virgin. By being born of a virgin, He did not inherit Adam’s sinful nature!

— Before you were Born-Again, you were not a sinner because you sinned. You sinned because you were a sinner. You were born that way! So, you needed to be Born-Again!

— The prison of sin meant that every person was spiritually dead from birth. Ephesians 2:1 says we were “dead in trespasses and sins.” You weren’t just sick; you weren’t just struggling; you were DEAD! And a dead person can’t save themselves!

— Hebrews 2:14-15 says humanity lived their entire lives as “slaves to the fear of dying.” The prison of sin wasn’t just about committing sinful acts; it was about being in BONDAGE to death itself! People were terrified of dying because they knew something was wrong, and they had no solution.

— For 2,500 years (from Adam to Moses), humanity was imprisoned by sin with NO LAW. Sin reigned during this time even without the Law!

— When you understand that you were born into the prison of sin, it helps you have compassion for yourself and others. You’re not just “a little messed up”; you were born spiritually DEAD and you needed resurrection life from God!

— The prison of sin was (and still is) universal, unavoidable, and inescapable without God! No one can free themselves. Every human, born in sin, is in the prison of it until they are Born-Again! This remains true to this day!

— But here’s the HOPE: while Adam’s sin put you in a prison, Jesus’s obedience opened the prison door! The same way sin and death came through one man (Adam), righteousness and life came through one man (Jesus)! You’re not stuck in the prison you were born into: you’ve been Born-Again into freedom! Your second birth (being born again) relocates you into Christ’s Kingdom of grace!

2. Then God Introduced the Law, Placing Humanity in a SECOND Prison: The Prison of the Law.

Here’s where it gets really interesting! Humanity was already imprisoned by sin, enslaved to the fear of death, and spiritually dead. You would think God’s next move would be to immediately send Jesus to rescue them, right? NO! Instead, God introduced THE LAW. This was a system of 613 commandments that would IMPRISON people even further! Galatians 3:23 says, “We were all held prisoners under the jurisdiction of the Law, kept under constant surveillance.” This was a SECOND prison. Now people weren’t just slaves to sin; they were also locked up under the constant surveillance of the Law!

How this applies to you:

— God didn’t give the Law to SET people free from the prison of sin; He gave the Law to place them in ANOTHER prison! Romans 5:20 says, “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.” 

— The prison of the Law was characterized by constant surveillance. Under the Law, every action was monitored, every failure was recorded, and every violation brought guilt and condemnation. It was like living under a security camera 24/7!

— The Law didn’t just tell people what to do; it WATCHED to see if they did it, and when they failed (which was constantly), it CONDEMNED them! There was no rest, no peace, no freedom under the Law. All people had was relentless pressure to perform perfectly!

— Think about this: people who were already dead in sin (unable to please God) were now given 613 rules to keep perfectly! It’s like putting a dead man in a prison cell and telling him to escape by obeying all the rules. It was IMPOSSIBLE by design!

— The Law’s prison was more restrictive than the prison of sin alone! Now people weren’t just battling their sinful nature; they were also battling the constant awareness that they were FAILING TO MEET GOD’S STANDARDS!

— This is why Paul says in Romans 7:9, “At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, and I died.” The Law didn’t make him less sinful; it made him more AWARE of his sin!

— Religious people today make the same mistake. They think adding more rules and regulations will make them more holy. But all it does is create a PRISON of constant surveillance where you can never measure up!

— Here’s your HOPE today: Grace has set you free from performance-based anxiety, and you can rest in what Jesus already accomplished!

3. The Law’s Prison Was Designed to Bring Humanity to the END OF THEMSELVES!

Why would God put people in a second prison? Was He being cruel? Was He piling on unnecessary burden? NO! The Law’s prison was a STRATEGIC MOVE by God to EXHAUST human effort and bring people to the place where they would finally admit, “I CAN’T DO THIS ON MY OWN! I NEED HELP!” The Law was designed to take people to THE END OF THEMSELVES so they would be ready to receive grace when faith was revealed in Christ!

How this applies to you:

— The Law was never meant to be a path to righteousness; it was meant to be a MIRROR that showed you your flawed you are as a human. It was designed to frustrate every effort to be righteous through human performance until you finally gave up and cried out for a Savior!

— Galatians 3:24 says, “The law was our guardian until Christ came.” The Law was like a strict schoolmaster that kept you in check until the REAL TEACHER (Jesus and the Holy Spirit) arrived. The Law’s job was to PREPARE YOU TO RECEIVE CHRIST by showing you that you couldn’t save yourself!

— The Law gave people SPECIFIC STANDARDS so they could see, in detail, just how unable they were to please God on their own!

— Romans 5:20 says, “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.” The Law’s purpose was to INCREASE the awareness of sin so that when grace came, people would appreciate it even more!

— Think about it like this: God put people in the Law’s prison to EXHAUST all their self-effort, so that when Jesus showed up, they wouldn’t say, “I’ve got this; I can save myself.” Instead, they would say, “I’ve tried everything, and I CAN’T do it. Jesus, save me!“

— This is why Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

— Here’s some HOPE for you this morning: if you’re at the end of yourself right now, exhausted from trying to be good enough, worn out from religious performance, and frustrated by constant failure, you are in the perfect position to receive grace! The end of your effort is the beginning of God’s power! This is where the Gospel becomes real, and where Jesus becomes your everything!

4. The Arrival of Jesus Freed Us From BOTH Prisons: The Prison of Sin (that was coupled with the fear of death) AND the Prison of the Law!

When Jesus came BOTH PRISONS WERE DESTROYED! Romans 6:14 says, “Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law. You now live under God’s grace.” Jesus didn’t just set you free from the prison of sin; He ALSO set you free from the prison of the Law! The shift to LIVING BY FAITH BROKE BOTH CHAINS!

How this applies to you:

— Jesus dealt with BOTH problems in one fell swoop! He died for your sins (freeing you from the prison of sin), and He fulfilled the Law perfectly (freeing you from the prison of the Law). You are DOUBLY FREE!

— When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” He meant the work of salvation was complete! The prison of sin was destroyed. The prison of the Law was fulfilled. You don’t have to live in either prison anymore!

— Romans 8:3 says, “The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us.” Jesus succeeded where the Law failed!

— You’re not trying to escape the prison of sin through human effort. You’re not trying to obey your way out of the prison of the Law. Jesus already opened BOTH doors! Your job is to walk in the freedom He provided!

— When religious people try to put you back under Law-based rules and regulations, remind them of what Jesus did for us! Now you don’t serve God because you are afraid of going to hell (the prison of sin), and you don’t serve God based on of guilt, shame, or condemanation, like you are trying to make up for how flawed you are (the prison of The Law). NO! Now you simply serve God because He saved you, He covered you with the blood of His Son, He filled you with the Holy Spirit, and He called you to a divine purpose that He gave you before the world began! 

— Enter into this day knowing you are free from the power of sin and the pressure of The Law! Every morning, you get to live as someone who is completely free, fully loved, and empowered by grace to live the life Jesus died to give you!

That's enough for today.

Declaration of Faith:

Father, I thank You that I was born into Adam’s prison of sin, but I was BORN AGAIN into Christ’s Kingdom of grace!

Jesus didn’t just set me free from the prison of sin; He also set me free from the prison of the Law!

I’m no longer under constant surveillance, trying to perform my way to righteousness!

The Law brought me to the end of myself, and grace met me there with the solution: Jesus the Christ!

I’m walking in DOUBLE FREEDOM: free from the slavery of sin and free from the surveillance of The Law!

I’m 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!