The law was our guardian UNTIL

What do you call it when someone else decides what you can and cannot do? There are two answers to this question. The first is being in jail and the second is being a child . The difference is that Dad and Mom will only tell you what to do until you grow up, and what we tell you is for your good. Did you know that God's rules are like that? All the rules God has given us in the Bible tell us what we can and cannot do. But they are not a prison because they are only over us until a special time. And guess what...the special time has already come! While you have to grow up before Dad and Mom will not be in charge of you, you do not have to wait to be a “big guy” in God's kingdom. If you believe in Jesus—that he died for your sins and rose to life for you—then you are God's “big guy.” That means that you do not think of rules when you think of God, but you just love him. You do not need to wait for God to say “do this”—you can just do what you know will make him happy. Why are God's rules not like a prison? What does it mean to be God's “big guy?” Do you love God according to rules, or freely as God's “big guy?”

notes

Main point summary

The law was a prison to us and therefore a temporary guardian, until the coming of Messiah; but now in Jesus we are all adult heirs of God.

Bracket

Galatians 3:23-26

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Now before faith came,

Πρὸ τοῦ δὲ ἐλθεῖν τὴν πίστιν

we were held captive under the law,

ὑπὸ νόμον ἐφρουρούμεθα

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imprisoned

συγκλειόμενοι

until the coming faith would be revealed.

εἰς τὴν μέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι,

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So then, the law was our guardian

ὥστε ὁ νόμος παιδαγωγὸς ἡμῶν γέγονεν

until Christ came,

εἰς Χριστόν,

in order that we might be justified by faith.

ἵνα ἐκ πίστεως δικαιωθῶμεν•

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But now that faith has come,

ἐλθούσης δὲ τῆς πίστεως

we are no longer under a guardian,

οὐκέτι ὑπὸ παιδαγωγόν ἐσμεν.

for in Christ Jesus u you are all sons of God, through faith.

Πάντες γὰρ υἱοὶ θεοῦ ἐστε διὰ τῆς πίστεως ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ•

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Comments

Steven Long

Hi Andy, great use of the devotional for the children. I have a quick question. My children are varied ages: 14, 11, 3, 2. How would I do a devotional that fits all their needs? It struck me as I was watching the video in the first Didactics lesson. Thanks.

Andy Hubert

Good question. I have thoughts, but would love to hear others' thoughts as well as my experience is limited with 4, 6 and 8 year olds.

I personally aim first at my oldest child, and then think how to simplify further for the younger (and insert more depth for my wife as well). And in this way I try to rotate with fitting questions between them. Besides this, I also at times ask older children to re-explain the truth to the younger. This let's me see how much the older get it and also makes the time I am speaking to the younger children still participatory for the older.

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