(21) Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
What a very blessed account Paul here gives of the ministry of the law, and the end of it in Christ. If men, taught of God, would consult those Scriptures, instead of carnal reasoning's, they would discover, that the law, in its highest services, was never intended to higher usefulness in the Church, than as an hand-maid unto Christ. And I cannot enough admire the beautiful figure which the Apostle adopts, of a schoolmaster, when speaking of the law. For, in general, men of this profession, observe one firm, steady, and unshaken purpose, in their plan of discipline. A breach in their commands, is followed by punishment. And as a master, though demanding obedience, on penalty of correction: so, the law is sure to condemn all breaches, but affords no helps to obey. The universal decree which accompanies every precept, is: do this, and thou shalt live. Cursed is everyone which continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Reader! is not this very blessedly preaching the necessity of Christ?
I detain the Reader a moment longer to observe, that when it is said at this verse, the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ; the words to bring us unto are not in the original Scripture. Neither, indeed ought they to have been in the translation. For although the imperious demands of the law, preacheth the necessity of Christ; yet the law never bringeth to Christ. This is the work of God alone to accomplish. And the drawings of the Father, and the teachings of the Spirit, are necessary to this great end! John 6:44-45 and John 16:14
What a very sweet, and blessed conclusion, is made of this Chapter, in relation to the whole family. All are said to be children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Their sonship is defined by their characters in their original constitution, when chosen in Christ and when betrothed to Christ, as well as when redeemed by Christ, and regenerated by God the Holy Ghost. And their baptism, is said to be baptized into Christ. Not outward ordinances, but inward grace. Not mere profession, but vital union. They are said to have put on Christ; not put on a name, but Christ: by the washing of regeneration, and a renewing of the Holy Ghost shed on them abundantly through Jesus Christ our Lord. Titus 3:5-6. And, in this family alliance, all distinctions are lost, and done away. The Jew and the Greek, the bond and the free, are all one in the One glorious Head. For being proved to be Christ's, they thereby prove themselves to be Abraham's seed, and all equally included, in the privilege of children. Oh! the blessedness of being Christ's, and heirs according to the promise.