HydroMan: this has always been something difficult to understand
The Old Testament: Did the Law Save God’s People? 3
The Bible tells us that we are
(1) not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14) (2) saved by grace and not works (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9) (3) justified by grace and not the law (Galatians 5:4, Titus 3:7)
This has led many Christians to believe that salvation falls under two categories; law and grace (the Old Testament was about the law and works, while the New Testament is about grace and not works). However, the Old Testament way of salvation was the same as the New Testament way, which is by grace and through faith in God, that is, to trust in God and His grace to save a person (salvation has always been brought about by God's underserved kindness to those who place their trust in Him; both in the Old Testament as well as the New). In other words, the Law (which required work and effort) never saved anyone (its purpose was to expose sin and point to Christ – not save people through the basis of works). Even before the Law existed, “if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but… Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:2-3)
So, if this is the case, then why does the NT say the Israelites are not under the law, but under grace? Doesn't this imply that the Israelites were not saved by grace (not under grace)? In order to answer this question, we need to know what it means to be ‘under the law’;
But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:23-29)
In the Greco-Roman world, the son of a wealthy man would be cared for by a tutor, a slave who was given the responsibility of watching over his master’s son. This guardian would watch over the boy constantly; taking him to school, keeping him out of trouble, guiding him, guarding him, and teaching him. In the life of a young boy, a tutor was a good thing. However, when the boy became a man, he no longer needed a tutor. He was set free from this tutelage – something that was set by his father (see Galatians 4:1-7). Thus, Paul is saying that the law was the same as a tutor, that is, to be under the law was to be under a tutor. The law guided, guarded and watched over the Israelites in order to keep then out of trouble. But eventually, the time would come when the Israelites would no longer need the law (tutor) because they were ready (mature and old enough) to accept Jesus (John 1:17; 2 Timothy 1:9). This would allow them to be under grace rather than under the law (the end-goal of the law was to bring the Israelites to a state of maturity and lead them to Christ so that they would no longer need the law as a tutor)
Thus, those who were under the law (not ready to be without a tutor and are waiting) needed to trust and depend on God and His underserved kindness to save them (saved by grace, but not under grace). And those who are under grace (ready to be without a tutor and no longer waiting) still need to trust and depend on God and His undeserved kindness to save them (saved by grace, and under grace)
The Old Testament: Did the Law Save God’s People? 3
The Bible tells us that we are
(1) not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14)
(2) saved by grace and not works (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:8-9)
(3) justified by grace and not the law (Galatians 5:4, Titus 3:7)
This has led many Christians to believe that salvation falls under two categories; law and grace (the Old Testament was about the law and works, while the New Testament is about grace and not works). However, the Old Testament way of salvation was the same as the New Testament way, which is by grace and through faith in God, that is, to trust in God and His grace to save a person (salvation has always been brought about by God's underserved kindness to those who place their trust in Him; both in the Old Testament as well as the New). In other words, the Law (which required work and effort) never saved anyone (its purpose was to expose sin and point to Christ – not save people through the basis of works). Even before the Law existed, “if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but… Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:2-3)
So, if this is the case, then why does the NT say the Israelites are not under the law, but under grace? Doesn't this imply that the Israelites were not saved by grace (not under grace)? In order to answer this question, we need to know what it means to be ‘under the law’;
But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:23-29)
In the Greco-Roman world, the son of a wealthy man would be cared for by a tutor, a slave who was given the responsibility of watching over his master’s son. This guardian would watch over the boy constantly; taking him to school, keeping him out of trouble, guiding him, guarding him, and teaching him. In the life of a young boy, a tutor was a good thing. However, when the boy became a man, he no longer needed a tutor. He was set free from this tutelage – something that was set by his father (see Galatians 4:1-7). Thus, Paul is saying that the law was the same as a tutor, that is, to be under the law was to be under a tutor. The law guided, guarded and watched over the Israelites in order to keep then out of trouble. But eventually, the time would come when the Israelites would no longer need the law (tutor) because they were ready (mature and old enough) to accept Jesus (John 1:17; 2 Timothy 1:9). This would allow them to be under grace rather than under the law (the end-goal of the law was to bring the Israelites to a state of maturity and lead them to Christ so that they would no longer need the law as a tutor)
Thus, those who were under the law (not ready to be without a tutor and are waiting) needed to trust and depend on God and His underserved kindness to save them (saved by grace, but not under grace). And those who are under grace (ready to be without a tutor and no longer waiting) still need to trust and depend on God and His undeserved kindness to save them (saved by grace, and under grace)