Lesson 3, October 10-16
Sabbath Afternoon
Memory Text: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy 6:5
Read for This Week’s Study: Deuteronomy 6:5; 31:9-27; Romans 3:19-23; Revelation 12:17; 14:12; Mark 6:25-27; Hebrews 5:8.
In warning the Galatians against legalism, Paul wrote: “for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law” (Galatians 3:21). Of course, if any law could have “given life,” it would have been God’s law. And yet Paul’s point is that, for us as sinners, even God’s law can’t give life. Why? “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” (Galatians 3:22).
However, if the law can’t give life to sinners, what’s the purpose of it, other than to show us our need of grace? Is the law, then, only negative in function, only there to show us our sins?
No; the law is also there to point us to the way of life, which is found only in Jesus. This is also what true education should be about, pointing us to a life of grace, of faith, and of obedience to Christ. That’s why this week we will study the role of God’s law in the whole question of Christian education. As we do, let’s see what the law, though it cannot save us, still can teach us about faith, about grace, and about our God’s love for fallen humanity.
