Contrasting the Two Covenants: Identifying the "schoolmaster" in Galatians. Examples 5 and 6

This blog is a continuation from the two previous ones subtitled "Married to Another" - a blog series contrasting the two covenants.

Example 5: - The faithful Roman Centurion 

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy for you to come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. – Matt 8:8

Now we will consider the faith of a man who experienced the everlasting covenant to whom Jesus – “the Prince of the Holy Covenant” – encountered and commended. The self-distrust and firm belief exemplified in the Roman army officer are two essential qualities for entering the New Covenant. The gospel of Matthew recounts the story of a Roman centurion whose servant was very sick. One day as Jesus, the great Teacher, entered into Capernaum a Roman approached Him to present his case (Matt 8: 5-10). The Teacher responded decidedly and positively with, “I will come and heal him”. The man didn’t feel worthy enough for the Teacher to come under his roof but said, “speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed” (Matt 8:8). He recognized the great Teacher/healer possessed extraordinary divine authority – more authority than he possessed over 100 Roman soldiers. The Centurion’s response was an expression of faith, an indication of a strong belief that the Teacher marveled at and publically commended. Jesus described this non-Jew, non-Seventh-day Adventist, as a man possessing “great faith”. Jesus did not find this kind of faith amidst the Seventh-day [first] Adventists of Israel (See Matt 8:8, 5-10). And what was his faith based on? Implicit trust in God’s Word: - “the Word only”. Unlike the proud self-righteous Jews, the Roman officer humbly acknowledged his own unworthiness and FULLY believed there was ultimate authority and life-changing healing power in God’s Word (See Matt 8:9). (Keep in mind, that faith, firm belief, humility and self-distrust are essential character attributes of the New Covenant.) He believed if Christ said it, it was so. The Word of the Living God is the rock we will build upon (Luke 6:48; 1 Cor. 3:10).  Obviously this study contains more than just Scripture. I do think however, you would have found that my comments harmonize with the Scriptural references. The study was not built on the shifting sand of human speculation (Luke 6:47-49). We can believe whatever God’s Word says concerning the Covenants is so. It is not make-believe gospel fiction it is a definite reality. (See Gen 15:6; Isa 55:11).

In my own experience of meeting the non-churched, when I have shared truth from God’s Word I have sometimes marveled at their faith and acceptance of it. They recognize their unworthiness and seem so free of theological traditions, inhibitions and resistance. I have felt that, like in the case of the centurion, some of these people manifest greater faith than many of us in spiritual Israel. It could be said, “Truly I have not found so great faith no not in all Israel”. It reminds me of the illustration Jesus drew upon in describing the reception of truth. He said; “And no one puts new wine into old bottles [wineskins]; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins." (Mark 2:22).

Life Application: This is saying, the pure unfermented truth of the gospel (the new wine) is best imparted to people (new skins/vessels/bottles) whose hearts and minds are open and willing to hear and retain the truth (2 Cor. 4:6,7; John 2:6,7,9; Luke 11:31,32; 21:31,32). It is more likely to be preserved when shared with those whose hearts are not dried up contracted and stubbornly closed due to years of influence from misleading erroneous traditions – and I hope and pray that is not any of us! A huge part of the everlasting Covenant is saving grace. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost . . . be careful to maintain good works.” – Titus 3: 5, 8. In this article I have affirmed and repeated “constantly” (Titus 3:8) the essence of the two Covenants: “We are saved by grace through faith, and not of ourselves . . . . not of works lest any should boast” (Eph. 2:8). Through the renewal of the Spirit (new birth) we are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (See Eph. 2:7-10). We are not saved by “works”, but we are to “maintain good works” and we should clearly understand the difference.

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Example 6: - Absentee school kids

There are two aspects of the Old Covenant.  Firstly, it served to illustrate the whole plan of salvation under shadowy types as a God-ordained temporary system to point out moral sin (Rom 3:20; 5:20). Secondly the eternal law contained in the Old Covenant Sanctuary is intended to guide, protect, preserve and bless us (Matt 5: 17-19; Psm. 119:142; Rev 11:19). Yet when it was broken, which was too often the case, it became what the apostle Paul referred to as “a schoolmaster” to bring us to Christ. Before Christ’s beloved lady entered the Covenant of faith she oftentimes manifested a lack of moral and relational maturity and instead behaved like little absentee (disconnected/distanced) children.  These kids needed to be disciplined by a truant officer and guided back to the Teacher.   

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. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. – Gal 3:23-26

“Kept under the law”: Firstly, it is important to recognize in the original Greek, the word “kept” in the passage is not altogether a negative expression. It means, “to guard, to protect by military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight . .  to keep by watching and guarding to preserve one for the attainment of something”. The law protects us from the enemy and serves to preserve us for the attainment of the promised inheritance. So even though a person may be legalistic in their Christian experience, because he or she respects God’s law, and is conscious of its claims, he or she will be somewhat protected and guided (kept) by it. Yet “after faith is come” into one’s life, when they start living IN Christ, they are then “no longer under [under the discipline and guidance of] the *schoolmaster”. This is not to say Christians no longer revere or remain subject to God’s law. No, no! It means they are no longer enslaved to it, no longer held morally captive under the continual condemnation shame and guilt of a broken law/broken Covenant.

 They are now under grace – forgiving and empowering grace, under the liberating “law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus”. They find “delight” in His law and in His strength they obey it (Gal 3:25; Rom 6:14)

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*Identifying the schoolmaster: In 1888 there was much confusion and considerable debate over exactly what the schoolmaster in Galatians referred to. Some emphatically insisted it was the ceremonial law and others, A.T. Jones particularly, suggested it was the moral law. Interestingly Ellen White said it was “both”. At another time she said the schoolmaster was “especially the moral law”. (Sunnyside, Cooranbong June 6, 1896.) I accepted the word of inspiration here yet in my own mind I couldn’t understand why she, along with Jones came to that conclusion until one day the lights came on. I read a S.O.P. quotation that connected the schoolmaster with the sacrificial service way back from Abel to Christ’s day. Then it all began to make sense to me. I began to see the moral law in the context of the desert tabernacle/sanctuary and in that context the moral law was a broken law/covenant (sin/disconnection)– and that’s what Christ death took care of (Isa 59:2). It reconciles us to God and takes care of the sin problem. Sin - the consequential result of disconnection from God- is a schoolmaster to bring us to faith in Christ: “The law is broken but cannot pardon the transgressor. It is our schoolmaster, condemning to punishment. Where is the remedy? The law drives us to Christ, who was hanged upon the cross that He might be able to impart His righteousness to fallen, sinful man and thus present men to His Father in His righteous character.” - Ellen G. White, 1SM 341.

The moment we disconnect from Christ and start depending on our own righteousness, (Rom. 10:3), like many of the Israelites, we instantaneously move back into the Old Covenant experience –sometimes subconsciously! When we disrespect or hurt our neighbor in any way, we come back under the schoolmaster. In direct or subtle ways the people we offend might directly or indirectly let us know of our neglect or offense. This brings shame and guilt to our conscience and serves as a schoolmaster! Perhaps to our shame and embarrassment, people sometimes pull us up when we fail to represent Christ in word or deed. They notice our inconsistencies when we happen to be selfish, momentarily disconnect ourselves from God and neglect to think and care for our neighbor’s welfare in the Spirit of Christ-like love. As born-again Christians we may at times disconnect from God or others and fall, but in such cases God does not cast us off.  We are to confess our sins to God or others we may have wounded and lovingly reconnect with them! “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1: 9). Under the influence of the New Covenant, with God’s infinite mercy, love and forgiving empowering grace, the trend of our old life and habits are forsaken and radically changed (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Rom. 6:4; 8:11; 12:2).

The Purpose of God’s *Schoolmasters: The broken 10 Commandment law served “especially” as a schoolmaster. But there was another schoolmaster in addition to this - the ceremonial (sacrificial) law.

“Christ was the foundation for the whole Jewish economy. The death of Able in consequence of refusing to accept God’s plan [gospel/covenant] in the school of obedience to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ typified by the sacrificial offerings pointing to Christ. Cain refused the shedding of blood which symbolized the shedding of blood for the entire world. This whole ceremony was prepared by God, and Christ became the foundation of the whole system. This is the beginning of its work as the schoolmaster to bring sinful human agents to a consideration of Christ the foundation of the whole Jewish economy.

All who did service in connection with the sanctuary were being educated constantly in regard to the intervention of Christ in behalf of the human race. This service was designed to create in every heart a love for the law of God, which is the law of the kingdom.” – Ellen G. White, Manuscript Release -3 Oakland, California, Cir. 1900 

Life Application: The continual shedding of blood of harmless helpless feeling creatures (lambs, rams, goats, calves, bullocks etc.) taught people with sensitive consciences and eyes to see and ears to hear, the high cost of sin: - it cost life! The nature of the transgression will determine the degree of emotional consequences such as depression, unrest, guilt, shame and regret. Rom 6:23. (For us today, the wages of sin is still all of the above and eventual death, however Christ has bridged the gulf and through His sacrifice given ALL both sinner and saint present probationary life (John 3:16; Rom 5:18; 1 Tim 4:10; Rom 5:6, 10). We are no longer under condemnation. Why? Because condemnation is equivalent to shame and guilt and shame and guilt is the result of a broken law. So when we come to Christ we are “delivered from the law”(Rom. 7:6) – not “the law of liberty” of course but “the law of sin and death”! We are no longer under the law of condemnation (Rom. 8:3; John 3:17; 8:11) no longer “under the curse of the law” (Gal 3:10,13), no longer under “the law of sin” (Rom 7:8, 23, 25; 8:2) and therefore no longer constantly under the guidance, discipline and correction of the schoolmaster. Now we are under someone greater than the schoolmaster, we are “under grace” (Rom. 6:14,15), under the leading and guidance of Christ, the great Teacher of righteousness, friend, Savior and “everlasting Father” of our redemption. Now they are not afraid of the schoolmaster (the law) but get along much better with him and his wisdom and counsel pointing to the great Teacher is written in their heart.

When children have a different motive for school, when they love and respect their teacher, they are no longer treated like naughty little girls and boys that wander off and wag school and need the truant officer to guide them back to the teacher. As God’s professed children, we may have wondered off from the school of Christ and been led into sin. But the purpose of the schoolmaster (“especially the moral law”) along with the convicting Holy Spirit, are there to quicken our consciences (John 16:8) and bring us back to faith, back to Christ, back to the school of righteousness. We are now at the feet of the Master - Christ the great Teacher of righteousness and day-by-day grow in love and grace.   

For many a good reason it was the will of God, under His “eternal purpose”, to bring in the New/Everlasting Covenant of righteousness Psm. 119:142; Dan 9:24; Eph. 3:11. As we have been repeating, it was generally the case that in the Old Covenant people tried, in and of themselves, to obey God and live righteously (Luke 18:9). This of course always resulted in failure and disappointment (Heb. 8:8; Ex. 19:8; Gal. 2:16, 3:2, 5). That’s why the apostle Paul used strong perhaps exaggerated terms to make a point. He stated that the law (broken law)  “worketh wrath”, “slays” the guilty and “killeth” and leads the guilty to be “cursed” or separated from God (See 2 Cor. 3:6; Rom. 4:15; 7:13; Gal 3:10).

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

                                                                                        – John Bunyan (1628-1688)

 When we are IN Christ (synonymous with Christ is IN us) God’s principles and laws are seen and felt in a different light: “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors” (Psm. 119:24) they bless the obedient and function as a lamp and a light to guide in the way of life. (James 1:25; 2:12; Prov 6:23)