Learning Grace Lesson Two But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. -Galatians 3:23-24 NKJ I. Learning and Living The Study of Grace should be a lifelong process. When we cease learning, we cease living! II. The Guardian and the Rabbi A. The Guardian -The Law was only a tutor (paidagogos in Greek, or pedagogue) to bring us to Christ 1) Defined: paidagwgo,j (paidagogos) {pahee-dag-o-gos'} 1) a tutor i.e. a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood [Bible Works]. 2) Understanding “tutor” or “schoolmaster” – not our traditional understanding. This was more like a morals police, a constant nanny, a conscience companion, like “Jiminy Cricket” appointed by the Blue Fairy to serve as the official conscience for Pinocchio. 3) New Living Translation, Galatians 3:24 – “Let me put it another way. The law was our _________ until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.” 4) John Brown (1784-1858), Professor of Exegetical Theology at the United Presbyterian College, Edinburgh: “A pedagogue, a tutor, was anciently ... a servant or slave to whom the charge of the children was given while they were under age, and whose business was not solely, or chiefly perhaps, to instruct them, but to keep them from mischief and danger. ... The law acted to us the part of a tutor or pedagogue, restraining, chastising, and protecting us, and preparing us by its discipline for a higher and better order of things.... The leading idea in the word tutor or pedagogue is not teaching, but custody -restriction -correction.... The law restrained, commanded, and punished, but it did not justify.”1 Growing in Grace Lessons to bring application to the principles of God’s Grace Pastor Terry R. Baughman 1 John Brown, The Giving of the Law: Part I. http://members.aol.com/RSISBELL/law1.html, Online accessed February 18, 2007.B. The Rabbi 1) The Law was given through Moses, but _________ and _________ came through Jesus Christ. John 1:14-17 -Verse 16, “The expression grace for grace probably means ‘grace upon grace’ or ‘_________ grace.’”2 2) There were many Rabbis … many teachers in the time of Christ. Ray VanderLaan, in The Dust of the Rabbi, teaches about the tradition of the times: a. House of the Book, Bet Sefer -young children (6–10 years old) would learn how to read, write and memorize from the Torah. By age 10, many would have large portions of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy memorized. b. House of Learning, Bet Talmud -Children who demonstrated great ability to memorize the Text and interpret it would move on to the next level. Those who did not move on would take up the family trade and would attend the synagogue periodically to learn from the rabbis, but their formal and full-time education was complete. Those students partaking in Bet Talmud would continue to memorize the remainder of the Text, called Tanakh [our Old Testament]. By age 13 or 14, many of them would have memorized Genesis to Malachi. c. House of Study, Bet Midrash -When the boys reached age 14 or 15 they would seek to move on to the next level. At this point everyone except the most talented had discontinued their studies and returned to the family trade. The instruction moved from memorizing the Text to understanding and learning the interpretations of the deeper meanings of the Text. In this level the potential disciple would approach a rabbi and ask, “Rabbi, can I follow you?” The rabbi would then examine the disciple to determine if the potential disciple had what it took to become like him. In reality most of those who approached a rabbi would be turned down, but a few would be accepted by the rabbi, who would say, “Come, follow me”; or in other words, “Come, be like me.” 3) Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee and called ordinary fishermen, those boys who had returned to the family trade, “Come, follow me!” Not only did Jesus select those who had returned to the family trade but also Jesus chose His disciples, they didn’t choose Him (John 15:16). Matthew 4:18-22 Growing in Grace Lessons to bring application to the principles of God’s Grace Pastor Terry R. Baughman 2MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson: Nashville4) Disciples of the Rabbi a. The disciples “spent three years of intensive training at the feet of the Master Teacher. Rabbi was more than a position; it was recognition of his authority. The officers charged to arrest Jesus recognized it and noted, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man!’ (John 7:46)” (Baughman, 18). 1. Mark 6:2 ... "Where did this Man get these things?” 2. John 7:14-18 ... "How does this Man know _________, having never studied?" 3. John 16:12-14 ... “He will not speak on His own _________,” ... b. Paul instructed by the Lord, in the wilderness of Arabia. He was a Pharisee that converted to Christianity. He was also taught by “Rabbi Jesus!” 1. Galatians 1:15-18 “... called me through His _________” 2. 1 Corinthians 15:3-11 “...one born out of due _________” III. School of Grace -The education of the Spirit’s school. a. Grace is lessons to be learned and a course in which to enroll b. Learning the lessons – not all the lessons are easy ones! i. Grace is a teacher John 14:26 "... He will _________ you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 "My grace is _________ for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." ii. Taught by Grace Titus 2:11-13 “... the grace of God ... _________ us ...” c. Teaching Grace -Teaching has a prominent place in Scripture. “Go and teach” KJV Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and _________ all nations, … NKJ Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make _________ of all the nations, ... _________ them to observe all things that I have commanded you...” Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be _________, you need someone to _________ you again ... 2 Timothy 2:2 “... be able to _________ others also.” d. Classes with no graduation in mind “Pentecostals, in the school of grace there are no graduations – only commencements. The only graduation from the school of grace will be when we stand in his presence and hear him say, ‘Well done!’” (Baughman, Grace is a Pentecostal Message, 20) Growing in Grace Lessons to bring application to the principles of God’s Grace Pastor Terry R. Baughman