Many have missed some very important points about the 10 commandments. lets examine what Paul says about them in Galatians.
Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Paul makes the point that Abraham was made righteous by faith in Gods word. And that this same faith would be for the seed of those who come after Abraham through Isaac. Notice what God says of Abraham to Issac before confering or passing the promise on to Him.
Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
So God makes the point that Abraham obeyed the laws and statutes of God. He was literally made righteous by faith in Gods word.
Now lets get to what Paul says about the law concerning the covenant.
Gal 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
So Paul makes the point that a mans covenant can not be added to or taken away from when it is made.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Then he reminds us of the promise/covenant that god made with Abraham and this of course as seen above was by faith. Now notice what Paul does with bringing the law in the next verse:
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
The point is most clear, Paul is saying the law that came in the time of Moses can not change the promise/covenant. In other words the law given by God through Moses does not edit the fact that the covenant made with Abraham and his seed including Israel was a faith covenant not a works covenant.
Meaning that when God added the law it did not change anything. The promise still stood and the covenant still stood. This was not a new covenant with Israel but the covenant with Abraham who obeyed Gods law because of his faith in Gods word.
Paul here destroys this notion that God gave a works based covenant to Israel. For if God did that then he would indeed have nullified the covenant he promised to Abraham and his Seed.
One might well ask then what then is the point of the law being given if it neither adds or takes away from the promise of faith?
Notice the next verse:
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
It was added because of transgression. one might then rightly ask what is transgression and the bible tells us:
1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Transgression is breaking the law so the law was added because people were breaking it and this is sin. So it was added because of sin. Paul puts it this way:
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
So we see that the law was given because people were sinning and it was designed to make them aware of their sin and need of salvation which only ever came by faith from Able to this day there has only ever been one method of salvation.
They should have seen their sin and thus realised their need of faith in Gods promises. This was the point.
It should be noted also that in order to be transgressing it the law had to preexist the giving of it to Moses.
As we have seen Abraham who was of faith did indeed keep Gods law and statutes and judgements and obey His voice. The law was added because of sin, and sin existed from Adam to this day and sin is the breaking of the law.
notice these next words:
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
For all have sinned and fall short of Gods glory. So this law was given so that the promise by faith given to Abraham might be given to all who believe. Notice the next verse:
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
was there only faith after Jesus came after the law? Paul has already shown that Faith existed before the law was given. and what can we say of Hebrews 11 which states the men of Faith beginning at Able. So we know that Paul is not here saying that there was not faith until Jesus came. but rather the context clearly shows that faith had been lost during the time of Israel. Between Abraham and Issac and Jacob to the time of Jesus Faith had been lost. And where there is not faith in God there is no salvation but rather a law that shows sin and all have sinned and thus that law brings only news of an impending death.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The law served its purpose in showing sin and thus a need for saving. But Christ brought that lesson clear. This is not to say that faith only came after Jesus. To the audience this would seem so and is right to say as they in their life had only known law before this. But as mentioned Abraham lived by faith and so did Noah and Abel and many others who discovered trust in Gods word.
God did not give a different method of salvation, but rather those who heard it did not mix it with faith as it is written:
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Notice Paul says it was the same Gospel preached to them. not a different one. The problem was they did not have faith who heard it. The issue was them not what God had said. The promise was the same as given to Abraham and they were part of His seed. The oath confirmed in Christ.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Notice the Gospel of faith was preached to Abraham. It was always by faith. The law did not change that fact. It was not works God gave to Them but they in their unbelief tried to work for their salvation. as it is written:
Rom 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
The Gentiles who had faith actually became obedient to the law just like faithful Abraham. But Israel failed because they tried to do it themselves.
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
But to the Gentiles who like Abraham had faith and was said to obey the law so Paul says of the Gentiles:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another
The Gentiles who did receive the law by faith do by nature the very things contained in the law, In other words like faithful Abraham they kept the law because by faith it was written in their heart.
Faith does not take the law away, it establishes the law Just like those Gentiles and Abraham who lived by faith in the word of God:
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
One could keep going but hopefully this will clarify some things for people. blessings.
Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Paul makes the point that Abraham was made righteous by faith in Gods word. And that this same faith would be for the seed of those who come after Abraham through Isaac. Notice what God says of Abraham to Issac before confering or passing the promise on to Him.
Gen 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
So God makes the point that Abraham obeyed the laws and statutes of God. He was literally made righteous by faith in Gods word.
Now lets get to what Paul says about the law concerning the covenant.
Gal 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
So Paul makes the point that a mans covenant can not be added to or taken away from when it is made.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Then he reminds us of the promise/covenant that god made with Abraham and this of course as seen above was by faith. Now notice what Paul does with bringing the law in the next verse:
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
The point is most clear, Paul is saying the law that came in the time of Moses can not change the promise/covenant. In other words the law given by God through Moses does not edit the fact that the covenant made with Abraham and his seed including Israel was a faith covenant not a works covenant.
Meaning that when God added the law it did not change anything. The promise still stood and the covenant still stood. This was not a new covenant with Israel but the covenant with Abraham who obeyed Gods law because of his faith in Gods word.
Paul here destroys this notion that God gave a works based covenant to Israel. For if God did that then he would indeed have nullified the covenant he promised to Abraham and his Seed.
One might well ask then what then is the point of the law being given if it neither adds or takes away from the promise of faith?
Notice the next verse:
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
It was added because of transgression. one might then rightly ask what is transgression and the bible tells us:
1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Transgression is breaking the law so the law was added because people were breaking it and this is sin. So it was added because of sin. Paul puts it this way:
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Rom 7:13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
So we see that the law was given because people were sinning and it was designed to make them aware of their sin and need of salvation which only ever came by faith from Able to this day there has only ever been one method of salvation.
They should have seen their sin and thus realised their need of faith in Gods promises. This was the point.
It should be noted also that in order to be transgressing it the law had to preexist the giving of it to Moses.
As we have seen Abraham who was of faith did indeed keep Gods law and statutes and judgements and obey His voice. The law was added because of sin, and sin existed from Adam to this day and sin is the breaking of the law.
notice these next words:
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
For all have sinned and fall short of Gods glory. So this law was given so that the promise by faith given to Abraham might be given to all who believe. Notice the next verse:
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
was there only faith after Jesus came after the law? Paul has already shown that Faith existed before the law was given. and what can we say of Hebrews 11 which states the men of Faith beginning at Able. So we know that Paul is not here saying that there was not faith until Jesus came. but rather the context clearly shows that faith had been lost during the time of Israel. Between Abraham and Issac and Jacob to the time of Jesus Faith had been lost. And where there is not faith in God there is no salvation but rather a law that shows sin and all have sinned and thus that law brings only news of an impending death.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The law served its purpose in showing sin and thus a need for saving. But Christ brought that lesson clear. This is not to say that faith only came after Jesus. To the audience this would seem so and is right to say as they in their life had only known law before this. But as mentioned Abraham lived by faith and so did Noah and Abel and many others who discovered trust in Gods word.
God did not give a different method of salvation, but rather those who heard it did not mix it with faith as it is written:
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Notice Paul says it was the same Gospel preached to them. not a different one. The problem was they did not have faith who heard it. The issue was them not what God had said. The promise was the same as given to Abraham and they were part of His seed. The oath confirmed in Christ.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Notice the Gospel of faith was preached to Abraham. It was always by faith. The law did not change that fact. It was not works God gave to Them but they in their unbelief tried to work for their salvation. as it is written:
Rom 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
The Gentiles who had faith actually became obedient to the law just like faithful Abraham. But Israel failed because they tried to do it themselves.
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
But to the Gentiles who like Abraham had faith and was said to obey the law so Paul says of the Gentiles:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another
The Gentiles who did receive the law by faith do by nature the very things contained in the law, In other words like faithful Abraham they kept the law because by faith it was written in their heart.
Faith does not take the law away, it establishes the law Just like those Gentiles and Abraham who lived by faith in the word of God:
Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
One could keep going but hopefully this will clarify some things for people. blessings.