gave the law as a pledge of the fulfillment of the promise. The law serves as a forerunner of Jesus Christ. Once Jesus Christ came, the law was finished because Jesus Christ was the end and consummation of the law. Jesus Christ confirms the strength of the law because the law leads us to Jesus Christ. But once we have arrived in Jesus Christ, the way of the law ceases, because we have entered into Jesus Christ and faith. The law is finished as a way but is not destroyed and abolished. To the contrary, the law helps us see Jesus Christ and his perfection. The law is reunited in the end and perfectly consummated where all becomes one in Jesus Christ.
For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise. 19 Why, then, the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. (Gal 3:18–19)
Our inheritance comes from God and our inheritance is God. God promised an inheritance to Abraham and the inheritance is Jesus Christ. This promised faith gives us the Jesus Christ.
We see that the gift of Jesus Christ did not come to us through the law. If Jesus Christ were given to us through the law, he would have been the reward and recompense of the law. God made the promise before the law; the promise is not the reward of the law.
But why, says Paul to himself as an objection, is the law given to us, if the law does not give Jesus Christ? The law, he responds, has been given to stop sin; the law is given as a way to view sin and a way to lead us to Jesus Christ, since the law introduces the person to the faith and this communicates Jesus Christ. Therefore the law must be given first and the person was initially subject to the law, so that sin was clearly seen. The law shows sin but cannot completely destroy it. The law was prepared and given to humanity by angels. These are not communications made by Jesus Christ but by the intermediaries of ministering angels.
Yet this subjection to the law was absolutely necessary. This is the narrow door that holds the person still in order to prevent sin while God purifies the soul. The reason for this is that the people use their choices for sin so God wants to abolish sin so the person will return to God. The law provides a necessary purification through the mediation of angels.
But this state of servitude that appears perfect will never communicate Jesus Christ himself who is the Son of the promise. Only Jesus Christ gives us himself.
This law is the way of introduction, since it leads the soul to the pure faith, where it may never enter unless purified by the way of the law. This law helps us grow by keeping us captive and still. This law holds the person in an interior state that does not waste its energies externally. The external law regulates everything and takes away false pleasures. Later faith takes the place of the law. This faith puts the person in the freedom of Jesus Christ therefore you have died to the law through the body of Christ (Rom 7:6). Now the person is freed to make good choices without malice or sin.
The effect of Jesus Christ’s redemption is that he ransoms us not only from the wrath of God, but also from the wickedness and iniquity communicated to us through malice and sin.
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