Galatians (10) by Schreiner, Thomas R - Arnold, Clinton E [Hardcover (2010)] Quotes

“Eschatology, then, plays a vital role in Galatians, for the Judaizers were attached to the old age and failed to see that the new has come. Their error, however, was not merely eschatological; there were anthropological corollaries and causes, for those who are attached to the old age cling to it because they desire to establish their own righteousness instead of receiving the righteousness from God (cf. Rom 10:3).”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“Paul makes a salvation-historical argument here, for those who are led by the Spirit do not belong to the old era of redemptive history when the law reigned.27 To be “under law,” as was noted previously (see also 3:23; 4:21), is to be “under a curse” (3:10), “under sin” (3:22), “under the custodian” (3:25), “under guardians and managers” (4:2), “enslaved under the elements of the world” (4:3), and in need of redemption (4:4–5). If one is “under law,” then one is not “under grace” (Rom 6:14–15). Paul’s argument here is illuminating and fits with what he says in Romans 6 as well. Those who are directed by the Spirit are no longer under the law, and therefore they no longer live in the old era of redemptive history under the reign of sin. Freedom from law does not, according to Paul, mean freedom to sin; it means freedom from sin. Conversely, those who are under the law live under the dominion of the sin. Hence, for the Galatians to subjugate themselves to the message of the Judaizers would be a disaster, for it would open the floodgates for the power of sin to be unleashed in the Galatian community. The answer to the dominion of sin is the cross of Christ and the gift of the Spirit. If the Galatians follow the Spirit, they will not live under the tyranny of sin and the law.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“The problem with the Judaizers is that they wanted to turn the clock back in salvation history. But their fault was not merely chronological. It is not as if their only problem was that they didn’t know what time it is. The era of the law is one of slavery to sin. Freedom and life only come through Christ and the Jerusalem above. Those who are part of the old era are dominated by the flesh instead of the Spirit. Hence, Paul’s problem with Judaism was not, contrary to Sanders, merely that it is not Christianity. Returning to the law is fatal for Paul because it lands one under the dominion of sin, so that one is subjugated to its tyranny.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“The fundamental root of all persecution is resistance to the gospel. The world despises the cross, for the cross pronounces a thunderous no to all human goodness. The cross lays us bare before God and exposes our wickedness and evil. The cross reminds us that the solution to the human problem is death and resurrection, while we as human beings think that we can be reformed and transformed with education and civilizing influences. When the message of the cross breaks upon the human consciousness, we either repent or are enraged at such an affront to our egos. We long for a gospel that commends us, makes us feel good about ourselves, and exalts us. The cross, however, renounces human potential. It teaches us to relinquish our hope that human beings can construct a just and good society. The new creation only comes through the cross, but the cross is not the last word; the last word is resurrection.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“Paul has labored to demonstrate that believers are no longer under the Mosaic covenant and the law and that they live in the days when the promise given to Abraham has been fulfilled. Therefore, in both 3:26–29 and 4:1–7 he emphasizes that believers belong to the family of Abraham. They are God’s sons and heirs. In 4:8–11, however, Paul explains why he fears that his apostolic labors may be in vain. The Galatians are relapsing back into paganism, but in a most remarkable way, for their relapse manifests itself in their desire to subject themselves to the Mosaic law.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“Believers are no longer minors, living in the old age of redemptive history, slaves under the tyranny of sin. They have now reached full adulthood as God’s sons. They have been redeemed from the law and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Since they are sons, they are also heirs. The promises of Abraham are theirs.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“God’s plan that human beings would be delivered from the power of sin has been realized in the sending of his Son. He has redeemed “those under law” so that believers are now God’s “sons.” Paul consistently depicts the power of sin with the “under” phrases in Galatians. Those who are “under law” (3:23; 4:4) are “under a curse” (3:10), and “under sin” (3:22), and “under [a] custodian” (3:25), and “under the elements” (4:3). Sin has placed people under its tyranny and mastery. As noted in v. 4, Jesus lived under the law and took its curse on himself as the true and perfect Son of God, and hence he redeemed and freed those who were under the authority and dominion of sin.28”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“Not only was Jesus fully human; he also lived under the law. Those who live under the law, as noted previously, live under the dominion and tyranny of sin. Jesus, however, is the exception that proves the rule. He is the true offspring of Abraham (3:16), the true Israel (cf. Exod 4:22), the true Son of God. He lived obediently to God’s law, whereas all others violated God’s will.27 As the one who lived under the law, he took the curse of the law on himself (3:13) so that he could liberate and free those who were captivated by the power of sin.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“If Peter and Paul, in seeking to find justification in Christ, are found to be sinners outside the covenant just like the Gentiles, then is Christ responsible for their sin? Paul dismisses such an idea as nonsense (2:17). On the contrary, restoring the law as the basis of one’s relationship with God (2:18) would indict them as sinners, for the new age of salvation has arrived and with it the dissolution of the old covenant. Now all believers have died to the law and live to God. In other words, Paul (along with all believers) has now been crucified with Christ (2:19). His new life is lived in faith in the Christ who gave himself for him on the cross (2:20). It follows, therefore, that if Paul (or any other person) required the Gentiles to keep the food laws, he would be rejecting the grace of God. In returning to the righteousness of the law, he would be teaching that Christ died for nothing (2:21).7”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“The central truth in this paragraph is that right standing with God does not come from keeping the law (since everyone sins), but only through faith in Jesus Christ. Thus, all those who revert to the law only display their own sinfulness in returning to a covenant that has passed away, and hence they end up rejecting the grace of God given in the cross of Jesus Christ.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“The conclusion of the letter is marked by Paul taking the reed pen from the amanuensis and writing the conclusion in his own hand.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“If they rely on circumcision for salvation, they cannot lean on Christ for the same. No middle way exists between circumcision and Christ. If the Galatians turn to circumcision, they lose Christ and all his benefits.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“The law, which preceded Christ’s coming, revealed the power and depth of human sin, and thus the greatness of the redemption accomplished in Christ Jesus is set in bold relief.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“John Piper refers in a sermon to a poem of John Bunyan that beautifully captures the difference between the law and the gospel:48 Run, John, run, the law commands But gives us neither feet nor hands, Far better news the gospel brings: It bids us fly and gives us wings.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“Our only hope is the gospel, for there we rest on what Christ has done for us instead of boasting in ourselves.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“We live by faith alone, casting ourselves entirely on the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ is our righteousness; his cross is our only hope in the day of judgment.”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians

“This verb refers to God’s verdict of not guilty on the day of judgment (Rom 2:13). God’s eschatological verdict has now been announced in advance for those who believe in Jesus Christ.13 Those who have been justified by the blood of Christ will be saved from God’s wrath at the eschaton”
― Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians