THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY
SCHOOL CLASS
APRIL 17TH, 2005
THE LAW IS A
SCHOOLMASTER
I. Before faith, the Law was a well
guarded prison (23).
A.
All unsaved men are “kept under the Law.”
- The Law has us under lock and key.
B.
We are “shut up unto the faith” of Christ.
1.
We cannot escape our confinement by climbing over some imaginary wall of
our own (John 10:1).
2.
We are confined for our past sins, and every other sin adds to our
condemnation.
C.
The purpose of the Law was to hold us “under the law” until the promised
seed of Abraham was revealed.
II. The Law functioned like a schoolmaster
(24-25).
A.
A “schoolmaster” was a slave who was responsible for the education of a
child, and watched over the child’s behavior.
1.
The purpose of the Law is NOT to lead people to itself, but to lead
people to the Promised Seed, Christ.
2.
The reason that the Law leads people to Christ is “that we might be
justified by faith” (24).
B.
After Justification (being declared innocent) we are no longer under the
Law.
- We are now living by faith in Christ.
C.
At no time are Christians excused to live morally loose lives simply
because we are no longer under the Law.
(see I Corinthians 9:21)
III. After salvation, we become full grown
children, no longer under a schoolmaster (26).
A.
Before salvation, we are like rebellious children in a reform school
1.
The Law is our schoolmaster attempting to point us to Christ.
2.
We are rebellious and deserve to be punished.
B.
When we are justified “by faith in Christ Jesus”, we become “children of
God.”
1.
Children have t he nature of their parents.
2.
Children are immature, and need to be taught.
IV. What is spiritual baptism? (27)
A.
All believers have “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:5)
1.
At the moment of conversion, a believer is justified and baptized in the
Holy Spirit.
2.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit places us in the one body of Christ (the
Church).
- see Ephesians 1:22-23 and I Corinthians
12:12-13).
B.
What is the purpose of spiritual baptism?
1.
It unites all believers into one body.
2.
It places the believer “in Christ.”
C.
When we are placed “into Christ,” Christ is placed around the believer
like clothing.
- “have put on Christ.” (27)
1.
See the following verses: Romans 13:14, Ephesians 4:22-23, and
Colossians 3:9-10
2.
Being baptized “into” Christ, and putting Christ on, implies a very
close relationship with Christ.
3.
This verse is telling us: when God
sees us He sees His Son.
Conclusion: While the Law condemned us, it also pointed us to the One who could free us - Jesus Christ.