Galatians 2:19
19 For [gar] I [ego] through [dia] the law [nomos] am dead [apothnesko] to the
law, [nomos] that [hina] I might live [zao] unto
God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
19 "For through the Law I
died to the Law, that I might live to God. NASB
Paul was raised up in the most traditional Jewish
fashion, Phil. 3:4-6. There were strict
rules for ones conduct and daily living which were prescribed by the volumes of
Levitical regulations that had developed through the centuries after the time
of Moses.
But in the strictest sense, the Law, refers to the
original writing of Moses, and excludes the many modifications and adjustments and
additions that were made long after Moses.
The Law, the Mosaic Law was the original
compilation of rituals from the first five books of the Bible. These included not only the ritual feasts and
sacrifices and ten commandments, but also the sabbath rules, the sanctuary
rules, the dietary rules, hygiene rules, social rules, work rules, marital
rules and so forth.
The whole of the content of the Levitical Law in
summary, points to the depravity of humanity, his weaknesses, limitations,
inability to handle or deal with life and especially death. They point to the need for something or
someone higher than man who can intervene in behalf of man, in order to lift
man out of the bondage of these limitations, especially death.
So, through the Law, we all have died. Through the Law, we all can see our
limitations and inabilities and helplessness.
Therefore, in order to live in a better environment
or experience, which we call eternal life, then we must die to, or be separated
from the Law. The Law is the total
embodiment of the world and its limitations.
This is accomplished through Christ. He lived the Law to perfection and therefore
there was no complaint that could be filed against Him. That qualified Him to become our redeemer. A redeemer is one who can purchase a slave, out
of slavery in order to set him free.
And Christ did that by means of his work on the
Cross.
On the Cross, He was punished for mans sins. Therefore, when you believe in Him, which is
to say that you believe in who He is, what he did, and accept His work, then
you receive the promise of eternal life by means of your acknowledgement in His
work and in effect testify or confess or recognize you own deficiencies in
life.
You cannot live by the rules of the world, namely
the rituals or traditions or beliefs that originate from the world, and also
live by means of Gods work.
The two lifestyles are mutually exclusive. They cannot be mixed, or compromised, or mingled
together in any way shape or form.
When you do a wrong thing in the wrong way, it is
wrong.
When you do a wrong thing in the right way, it is
wrong.
When you do a right thing in the wrong way, it is
wrong.
You can only do a right thing in the right way, for
it to be right.
