Faith Revealed!

Galatians 3:23-25 (KJV)

“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

The word “Revealed” in Galatians 3:23 means to take the cover off.

Faith had to be revealed, but under the law it was concealed and so people couldn’t believe because they were trapped in unbelief through the accusations of the law against them. When the law was removed men were now able to believe God! Paul said I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, Sin revived and I died (Rom.7:9). Before the law was given at Sinai, we were alive to believe because we didn’t have the law to condemn sin in us, and by the law condemning sin in us, it also condemned us in the process: Romans 7:8, 10-11 says “But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead…And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.”

The law magnified sins offense, but sin fights against that which is just and right to God. Sin became more powerful in our flesh because the law magnified its offense. The Bible says the strength of Sin was the law, but Jesus took sins strength away by nailing the law to the cross. And now faith has come by Christ Jesus which causes me to live a life pleasing to God without sin in it.

Jesus said if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me (Jn.12:32). How will they come? Through faith. Hebrews tells us that He that comes to God must believe that he is!!!

The law is not of faith, and whatsoever is not of faith is sin. The law is not sin; but if you try to be justified by the law you become a sinner just by the simple fact that the law is not of faith. You can’t operate in faith if you are under the law.

The law keeps you from faith, but faith without the law leads you to Grace.

How can man come to Christ if they are spiritually dead? The law caused us to be dead in sin. Without the law Sin was dead in us. The law had to be removed so faith could come alive in us again! Jesus died so we could be dead to sinful desires, and change us from being dead to God in sin. We were alive to sin when were dead in sin; but now in Christ we are alive to God and not alive to the sinful desires in our flesh.

Before the law I was able to hear God calling me, and I was able to respond. Abraham was able to hear God through Faith: Romans 4:3 says “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

And here is the sum of what we’ve discussed today: your will could not choose God, because you were dead in trespasses and sins. God made faith available to you by removing what made you dead; the law of Moses! Paul says we were alive without the law once, but when the commandment came sin revived and we died. The strength of Sin was the law, but without the law Sin was dead! He uses being an innocent baby and being alive without the law, but when the law of Sin comes alive in our flesh by the law of Moses; then death comes in our flesh. He uses this as an analogy to describe that before the law entered man was able to walk in faith, because you were justified by faith, or made innocent, that is, just as if we didn’t do it. It is here that we understand that we are made alive through the forgiveness of sins through water baptism by faith, but it was faith that made us alive to God because Christ removed the law that caused us to be dead to God.

Faith comes by hearing the Rhema word for you in your situation. Faith causes you to come near to God. God uses faith to come to him. No man can come to Christ unless drawn by the Father. Let Him draw you!

Song of Songs 1:4 says “Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.”

Jeremiah 31:3 also says “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Anthony D. Booker