Current Positional Truth

 

In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!

 

The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [a non-meritorious function: an illustration of faith in Christ] the one Spirit [What God the Holy Spirit provided for us at salvation with emphasis on the Baptism of the Spirit.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”

 

Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth.  As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [through procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).

 

Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life]. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins for judgment to Jesus on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and His righteous.

 

Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels [fallen or elect] nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!

 

Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers: whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritual adults, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ [an expression for faith in Christ], their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit. Current Positional sanctification is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.

 

Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.

 

Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his production, having been created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good accomplishments [experiential sanctification] which the God has pre-fabricated, that we in them may walk (pattern our lives).”

 

Even though a Christian may die the Sin unto Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation.  In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin unto death’, he has not lost his salvation.  

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Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:

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1. Eternal life: 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”

 

John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”

 

2. Perfect righteousness: 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (Father) made him who knew no sin [the impeccability of Jesus] to be sin [paying the penalty of all sins] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.

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3. Election: Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world, that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].

 

4. Destiny: Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us [in Christ] for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”

 

5. Sonship: Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

 

6. Heirship: Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”

 

7. Sanctification: 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”

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8. Priesthood:  Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement but on the basis of indestructible life. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ who became a royal high priest. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”

 

Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once and for all when He offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever.”

 

9. Royalty: 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race, a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests what Israel was intended to be], a  people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the cosmos systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”

 

10. New Spiritual Species: 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.]."

 

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What positional truth is not?

 

 1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.

 

 2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.

 

 3. It is not related to human merit or ability.

 

 4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.

 

 5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.

 

 6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.

 

 7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.

 

 8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done. It occurs at salvation before any Christian experience.         

 

Through union with Christ, Christ becomes our new husband.

 

1. As believers we all have an ex-husband, the old sin nature, also we have a new husband, the Lord Jesus Christ. The believer has died to his first husband through divorce though the sin nature is still very much alive. Thus, there will always be an inner conflict between the two husbands as long as we are on this earth.

 

2. At salvation the believer through the Baptism of the Spirit is no longer under the sovereignty of the old sin nature. Retroactive positional truth constitutes a divorce. Identification with Christ in His spiritual death is rejection of the first husband; identification with Christ in His physical death and burial is separation and divorce from the first husband. Identification and union with Christ are proofs of the believer’s marriage to the second husband.

 

3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.  

 

4. At salvation the believer becomes subject to the power and sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ through current positional truth. Therefore, at least theoretically, we are living to please our new husband. But our new husband has policies which must be understood.

 

5. The analogy of the context, then, is obvious. The believer is analogous to a married woman who prior to salvation has been under the authority of the first husband, the old sin nature, but now, after salvation, the believer is placed under the authority of the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ.  

 

Galatians 3:15

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Brethren, I speak in terms of a human illustration: even though it is only a man's covenant [a contract between human individuals], yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.

 

Ἀδελφοί, κατὰ ἄνθρωπον λέγω· ὅµως ἀνθρώπου κεκυρωµένην διαθήκην οὐδεὶς ἀθετεῖ ἢ ἐπιδιατάσσεται.

 

A man’s covenant namely a contract is an agreement between two members of the human race. Even though it is only a contract between humans, no one changes it. In other words, once the contract is ratified or confirmed or signed then no one takes away from it and no one adds to it.

           

There is a threefold implication from this human illustration. The illustration, remember, is taken from Paul’s day. In that day a contract was a contract. Firstly, if mankind [an unbeliever] will not alter a contract without permission then certainly a righteous God will not do so. We are talking about the Abrahamic covenant which has as its foundation justification by faith. Along comes the Mosaic Law which is not an unconditional covenant. A conditional covenant never abrogates an unconditional covenant, an unconditional covenant goes on and on and on; it is eternal in nature.

 

The Judaizers implied that the when the Mosaic Law came, it abrogated the Abrahamic covenant. This is a false implication for the Abrahamic covenant was not abrogated by the Mosaic Law. How did the Judaizers imply the abrogation of the Mosaic Law? If one states that a person is saved and is spiritual by keeping the Mosaic Law, then that would abrogate the Abrahamic Covenant and Abraham’s salvation by faith alone in Jehovah Elohim (the Lord Jesus Christ).

 

The Mosaic Law is temporary whereas the Abrahamic covenant continues in time and in eternity. The Mosaic Law started at the time of Moses and was discontinued as of the crucifixion, but the principle of the Abrahamic covenant, justification by faith, keeps on going forever. The Abrahamic covenant is still in force because it is an unconditional covenant and it depends entirely upon the work of God, never upon the work or the merit or the ability of mankind. Hence, any unconditional covenant such as the Abrahamic or the New covenant is never void, it will never be abrogated, it depends upon the character of God, not upon human ability.

 

Galatians 3:16

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Now the promises [the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant to Jewish believers living in the Age of Israel and the concept of blessing to all believers in association with Abraham through Christ] were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds [Jews by physical birth]," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ [The promises to Abraham and to Christ, the actual seed and to all his spiritual seed namely all Old Testament believers and  all those in union with Christ of the Church Age including the Galatians].

 

τῷ δὲ Ἀβραὰµ ἐρρέθησαν αἱ ἐπαγγελίαι καὶ τῷ σπέρµατι αὐτοῦ. οὐ λέγει, Καὶ τοῖς σπέρµασιν, ὡς ἐπὶ πολλῶν, ἀλλ’ ὡς ἐφí ἑνός, Καὶ τῷ σπέρµατί σου, ὅς ἐστιν Χριστός.

 

Remember that the seed of Abraham is both real (the Lord Jesus Christ) and spiritual (all believers who are in union with Christ including the Galatians). As Gentile believers in Christ, the Galatians are the seed of Abraham, and now they have gone back to the Mosaic Law which can only curse. No one has these promises by natural birth, only by the new birth.

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Abrahamic Covenant:

 

The unconditional covenant (agreement, disposition) between God as party of the first part in favor of Abraham and his progeny as the party of the second part is the Abrahamic covenant. (Unconditional means there are no strings attached. Like all covenants, it is a part of the divine decree.)

The justice of God is free to fulfill this covenant to Abraham at the point of his adjustment to the integrity of God through the attainment of his spiritual maturity.

 

The Original Declaration of the Covenant is found in Genesis12:1-3, "Now Jehovah [God the Son] had spoken to Abram, `Go with reference to yourself from your land, and from your relatives, and from the place of your birth, to a land which I will cause you to see; (2) and I will manufacture from you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will cause your person to become great; therefore, you will become a blessing, (3) and I will bless those who bless you, but the one who curse you, I will curse, and all the races shall be blessed through you [the Savior would come through the seed of Abraham]."

 

Verse 1 emphasizes Abraham's necessary isolation and separation from Ur for the fulfillment of the covenant, for the development of the new race, and for the development of his spiritual advance. In addition, he is to separate from his family to avoid personal distraction. Verse 2 states Abraham's logistical grace support necessary to fulfill this promise and the blessing that would come to him as he advances spiritually even his historical impact. Verse 3 is miscellaneous because it has three clauses namely blessing by association, a curse on anti-Semitism and a Messianic blessing clause.

 

The Land promised in the Abrahamic Covenant, Genesis 13:14-16, "And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, `Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give to you and to your progeny forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if anyone can count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted."

 

This is amplified in Genesis 15:18-21, “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, " To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt [the Nile] as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: (19) the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite (20) and the Hittite [western Turkey] and the Perizzite and the Rephaim (21) and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite." Today, that would include all of Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman, and a nice chunk of eastern Africa, everything east of the Nile River.

 

The mechanics of the Abrahamic covenant demanded sexual prosperity in spiritual maturity as per Genesis 17:1-7, “Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless. (2) I will establish My covenant between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly. (3) Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying, (4) As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And you will be the father of a multitude of nations. (5) No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. (6) I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you. (7) I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.”

 

This covenant was confirmed to Isaac, Genesis 26:3-4, to Abraham's grandson Jacob, Genesis 35:12, This is why the title of Jesus Christ is so important as "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." It was confirmed at the time of the Exodus, Exodus 6:2-8. This was the time for the formation of the Jewish nation.  This covenant was the basis on which God delivered the Jews, a race in slavery, and caused them to become a nation.

 

Amplification of the Covenant after Abraham passed Evidence Testing, Genesis 22:16-19, “and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, (17) indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. (18) In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice. (19) So, Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba.”

        

Galatians 3:17

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What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise [of the Abrahamic Covenant].

 

τοῦτο δὲ λέγω· διαθήκην προκεκυρωµένην ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ὁ µετὰ τετρακόσια καὶ τριάκοντα ἔτη γεγονὼς νόµος οὐκ ἀκυροῖ, εἰς τὸ καταργῆσαι τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν.

 

In other words, the promise of  the Abrahamic covenant, does not become void because of the coming of the Law which came four hundred and thirty years after the Abrahamic Covenant. Even though the Mosaic Law came afterwards chronologically, it neither abrogates nor adds to the Abrahamic covenant. They are separate and distinct.           

 

Galatians 3:18

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For if the inheritance is based on Law [let’s assume it is true], it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it [for the Abrahamic Covenant was based on justification by faith and spiritual growth by faith] to Abraham by means of a promise.

 

εἰ γὰρ ἐκ νόµου ἡ κληρονοµία, οὐκέτι ἐξ ἐπαγγελίας· τῷ δὲ Ἀβραὰµ δι’ ἐπαγγελίας κεχάρισται ὁ θεός.

 

Inheritance of eternal life is not based on the Mosaic Law. The Rich Young Ruler as found in Matthew 19:16-22 wanted to inherit eternal life with God based on the Law. The rich young ruler approach Jesus Christ in arrogance for he assumed that inheriting eternal life is obtained by one’s own righteousness; in his case, by keeping the Mosaic Law (which he assumed to have kept perfectly), and many of the Jewish traditions found in the Mishnah as well. This man did not come to the Lord to seek salvation, but to receive confirmation from someone whom he and many others considered an authority regarding theological matters. (Many people ask questions not because they are seeking answers, but to have their own beliefs substantiated by another authority.)  

 

This religious man had great pride related to his pseudo self-righteousness; he was a legalist, a person who believed in earning salvation through keeping moral and religious laws; and above all he was a person who considered himself perfect, though the Lord will soon reveal him as imperfect. His pride based on his pseudo righteousness had made him completely anti-grace in his thinking and orientation. 

 

He should have recalled that Abraham was saved by faith in Jehovah Elohim, the name for the Lord Jesus Christ in the Hebrew Old Testament. He should have known that Abraham was the pattern for salvation and advancing in the spiritual life through faith. The Abrahamic Covenant was promised to Abraham, an eternal reward not based on his keeping the Law since the Law did not even exist at that time. Even so, the Rich Young Ruler desired to inherit eternal life through the Law.

 

Matthew 19:16-22, “Now behold a man came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good shall I do to obtain eternal life?” (17) And He replied to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good [What good shall I do]?  There is only one [Jesus, the only person born without a sin nature and so without the imputation of Adam’s sin] who is [intrinsic, absolute] good [a reference to both Christ’s deity and humanity and so qualified to provide salvation]. If you desire to enter into [eternal] life [through your self-righteousness and your pseudo perfection], and you do [an implication of the first-class conditional sentence], then keep the commandments [impossible for any member of fallen mankind, sinful man with a sin nature to keep God’s commandments perfectly, Matthew. 19:26b]. (18) The man inquired, “Which ones [in response to the command in verse 17]?”  Jesus replied, “You shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness [in court]; (19) you shall honor your father and mother, and you shall love your neighbor [those in your periphery; the ones a person has contact with on a daily basis] as yourself.” (20) And the young man answered, “All these, I have guarded [not true for he did not love his neighbor as himself].  What do I still lack?” (21) And Jesus said to him, “If you desire to be perfect and you do [though it is impossible since you are not the God-Man], go and sell all your possessions, and give them to the poor, and [He will not do since he didn’t love his neighbor as himself] you will have treasure in heaven [This seems to be a prophetical statement; it is quite certain that in 70 A.D. this man did lose all of his possessions; after which he believed in the Lord Jesus Christ] and [return] here and follow Me [in regeneration: Matthew 19:28a, “And Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I say to you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration]. (22) After the young man heard the instruction, he departed grieving for he possessed a lot of property”

 

Galatians 3:19

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Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions [The Mosaic Law presents the sins which transgress God’s law.]. It was put into effect through angels [Angels taught Moses some of the details of the Mosaic Law not taught by the Lord on Mount Sinai and in the Holy of Holies. Also, found in Acts 7:53.] by the agency of an arbiter [Moses with the help of the 70 elders], until the seed [the Lord Jesus Christ] would come to whom [to Abraham], the promise had been made [The Abrahamic Covenant was based on a promise to one person and so neither needed a mediator in the technical, theological sense nor an arbiter.].

 

Τί οὖν ὁ νόµος; τῶν παραβάσεων χάριν προσετέθη, ἄχρις οὗ ἔλθῃ τὸ σπέρµα ᾧ ἐπήγγελται, διαταγεὶς δι’ ἀγγέλων ἐν χειρὶ µεσίτου.

 

In other words, the Law was added to make men understand their sins as transgressions. Everyone has failed somewhere in the Law, but a person cannot understand these transgressions apart from a statement of divine law. Thus, the need for the Mosaic Law.

 

The Mosaic Law was put into effect through angels teaching Moses the details not taught by the Lord. Hebrew 2:2, “For if the word spoken through the angels [to Moses] proved steadfast, and it did [became permanent], and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense [punishment] and it did.”

 

The Greek word mesites has both a general meaning and a technical meaning. The general meaning refers to anyone who arbitrates, one who gives advice. The technical meaning refers to Jesus Christ in hypostatic union as a mediator between God and fallen  mankind. In this passage, it refers to Moses as the arbiter of the Mosaic Law.

 

Moses, not Jesus was the arbiter of the Mosaic Covenant. Jesus Christ could not function as mediator of this Covenant since He was not yet in hypostatic union. Jesus Christ first became a mediator at his birth but did not function in that capacity until the cross. Since the Mosaic Law was given to Israel in 1441 B.C., Moses functioned as the umpire, the arbiter of the Mosaic Covenant between God and the people of Israel.

 

Unconditional covenants do not require an arbiter. On the other hand, conditional covenants require an arbiter (a mediator in the general sense), and since the Mosaic Law was conditional, Moses was made the umpire. Whereas the unconditional covenants such as the Abrahamic, Land and Davidic required neither an arbiter nor a mediator.

 

That is the significance of the subjunctive mood in Galatians 3:19, “The seed [ the Lord Jesus Christ] should come.” The subjunctive mood says that it depended upon the volition, the divine sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ, as to whether He would come or not. The seed is first mentioned in Genesis 3:15. The woman’s seed is the title for the Lord there. Jesus Christ is first promised as savior in Genesis 3:15 where He is the seed of the woman who bruises the head of the serpent. He bruises the head of the serpent by dying on the cross, and the serpent bruises His heel at the same time by having a part in putting Him on the cross.

 

The Law was a shadow; the reality was the person of Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. Hebrews 10:1-10, “For the Law, possessing a shadow of coming good things [pertaining to salvation] not the real image of the events of the Cross, is never able by means of those sacrifices, which they offer year after year perpetually, never able to cause perfection [bring to completion] to those who drew near [those who approached the altar with their sacrifices]. [Thousands of sacrifices were offered by the Levitical priests on the brazen altar but no one was ever saved by those sacrifices; they were shadows pointing to Christ. Every time an animal was sacrificed it was a picture of Christ dying for sins, it was the preaching of the gospel but it didn’t save anyone. It presented Christ and then people believed in Christ for salvation.] (2). Since, if they really did perfect [bring to completion], but they didn't, then would they not have ceased being offered?  Why?  Because the worshipers [believers under the law] having been once and for all cleansed, not one, no longer would be having a conscience of sins. [Since they didn’t stop offering sacrifices indicated that the sacrifices in themselves were shadows pointing to the reality but not the reality in itself.] (3)  But in those [Levitical offerings] a reminder of sins year by year. (4). Therefore, impossible for the blood of bulls and he-goats to take away sins. (5). Therefore, when he entered into the world, He said, You, God the Father do not desire sacrifice and offering, but you have prepared for me a [human] body [a quote from Psalm 40:6-8]. (6) You have not been propitiated by whole burnt offerings and sacrifice for sins. (7) At that time [in a feed trough] I said [from his Hypostatic Union], Behold, I have arrived (in a scroll of a book [Old Testament passages about this occasion] it stands written concerning me) to accomplish your will [plan, purpose, design] O, God [God the Father, the author of this plan]. (8) Above [quoted from Psalm 40] when He cited, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings, and concerning sin offerings You do not desire, nor have You been propitiated by them, which sacrifices [category of shadows] are being offered according to the Law. (9) At that time [in the feeding trough] He said, ‘Behold, I have arrived to accomplish your plan, purpose and design’. He [Jesus Christ] has abrogated the first [the shadow sacrifices of the Old Covenant namely the Mosaic Law) in order that He might establish the second [the New Covenant to the Church]. (10) By means of which will, [purpose and design] we have been sanctified [set-apart, earmarked for blessing] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all [His substitutionary spiritual death].”

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The next verse is a transitional verse transitioning from an arbiter to a mediator.

 

Galatians 3:20

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Now, an arbiter [The Greek word mesites used in the non-technical sense as found in Greek literature] does not represent just one party [but two conflicting parties] whereas God is [represents] one party [In the technical theological sense, Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant to the Church and the New Covenant to Israel].  

 

ὁ δὲ µεσίτης ἑνὸς οὐκ ἔστιν, ὁ δὲ θεὸς εἷς ἐστιν.

 

In the Mosaic Law there was no equivalency. Another words, Moses was not equal with God and man. Therefore, there was no mediator in the technical theological sense, but in the general sense of an arbitrator. Moses was the arbiter, the umpire of the Mosaic Law.  

 

In in its technical sense, a mediator must be equal with both parties regarding integrity. Jesus Christ as God has perfect divine integrity and so has equivalency with both God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ in His birth had equivalency with Adam as he was created perfect. Furthermore, Jesus remained impeccable during His entire life and so exceeded the integrity of the 1st Adam.

 

Jesus only is a mediator of the New Covenant to the Church and the New Covenant to Israel. A mediator was needed to mediate between God and the human race [at salvation] and the Church where every believer is a priest under the New Covenant to the Church. Also, in the beginning of the Millennium, every Jewish person is a believer and will be the recipients of the New Covenant to Israel.

 

Galatians 3:21

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Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a Law had been given which was able to impart eternal life, but it wasn’t then imputed righteousness would indeed have been based on Law, but it wasn’t. (This is a contrary to fact conditional sentence.)

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Ὁ οὖν νόµος κατὰ τῶν ἐπαγγελιῶν [τοῦ θεοῦ]; µὴ γένοιτο· εἰ γὰρ ἐδόθη νόµος ὁ δυνάµενος ζῳοποιῆσαι, ὄντως ἐκ νόµου ἂν ἦν ἡ δικαιοσύνη.

 

Galatians 3:22

 

But the Scripture has shut up [jailed] everyone under sin [Deuteronomy 27:26], so that the promise [of salvation] by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

 

ἀλλὰ συνέκλεισεν ἡ γραφὴ τὰ πάντα ὑπὸ ἁµαρτίαν ἵνα ἡ ἐπαγγελία ἐκ πίστεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοθῇ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν.

 

Deuteronomy 27:26a, “Cursed is everyone [who tries to use the Mosaic Law either for salvation or the spiritual life] who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them."

 

Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned [true at the point of receiving Adam’s Original Sin at birth] and fallen short of the glory of God [with emphasis on God’s righteousness].”

 

Galatians 3:23

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But before faith came, we were kept in custody [jailed] under the Law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.

 

Πρὸ τοῦ δὲ ἐλθεῖν τὴν πίστιν ὑπὸ νόµον ἐφρουρούµεθα συγκλειόµενοι εἰς τὴν µέλλουσαν πίστιν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι.

 

Galatians 3:24

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Therefore the Law has become our school bus to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith [declared righteous and qualified to live with God forever].

 

ὥστε ὁ νόµος παιδαγωγὸς ἡµῶν γέγονεν εἰς Χριστόν, ἵνα ἐκ πίστεως δικαιωθῶµεν·

 

The Pedagogue was a Greek slave who accompanied children to school to ensure their safety. The Law is not a school teacher, the Law is a pedagogue. A pedagogue was not the teacher but was a slave that escorted the children to school so that they would not be kidnapped. In other words, a school bus. The Law was our school bus that took us to Christ. The Law couldn’t save us but the Law could take us to Christ; “that we might be justified”

 

Galatians 3:25

 

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of ] a school bus.

 

ἐλθούσης δὲ τῆς πίστεως οὐκέτι ὑπὸ παιδαγωγόν ἐσµεν.

 

Galatians 3:26

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For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

 

Πάντες γὰρ υἱοὶ θεοῦ ἐστε διὰ τῆς πίστεως ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.

 

Galatians 3:27

For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ.

 

ὅσοι γὰρ εἰς Χριστὸν ἐβαπτίσθητε, Χριστὸν ἐνεδύσασθε·

 

Galatians 3:28

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There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]

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οὐκ ἔνι Ἰουδαῖος οὐδὲ Ἕλλην, οὐκ ἔνι δοῦλος οὐδὲ ἐλεύθερος, οὐκ ἔνι ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ· πάντες γὰρ ὑµεῖς εἷς ἐστε ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ.

 

Perfect equality in the spiritual life of the Church Age; we are all members  of the royal family and are all priests.

 

Galatians 3:29

 

And if you belong to Christ [by being in union with Christ], and you do, then you are Abraham's seed [not racial Jews but spiritual descendants], heirs according to the promise [of the Spirit through faith].

 

εἰ δὲ ὑµεῖς Χριστοῦ, ἄρα τοῦ Ἀβραὰµ σπέρµα ἐστέ, κατí ἐπαγγελίαν κληρονόµοι.

 

Galatians 3:7, 9 14, “Therefore, know that those who are of faith [those who express faith in Jesus Christ] these are sons of Abraham [spiritual sons]. (9) So then, those who are of faith [those who express faith in Christ] are blessed with Abraham, the believer [the believing one]. (14) in order that in Christ Jesus [Positional Sanctification] the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we [Paul and the Galatians] would receive the promise of the Spirit [the Filling of the Spirit] through faith.

 

“That the blessing of Abraham [justification by faith in Jesus Christ] might come to the Gentiles.” The Gentiles are personally benefited by being saved in the same manner that Abraham was saved. This is how the blessing of Abraham comes to the gentiles.

 

The great issue for the believer in the Church Age relates to the Filling of the Spirit. Is he filled with the Spirit or not? If he is not filled with the Spirit, he is failing to represent Jesus Christ, and if he is filled with the Spirit then his life will count. Every believer as a part of his salvation package gets the Filling of the Spirit at his salvation “that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”