Galatians 3:10-26 and Israel—a stab at a difficult question

Perhaps one of the most potent ways to divide Evangelicals is to talk about the role of Israel. Of course there is a political discourse but the theological debate is just as heated. Those who speak about present day Israel are persuaded, in part, by Israel's 'miraculous' existence despite continuous persecution. Another component emphasized is the primary role played by Israel in the Old Testament. When these two realities converge a powerful argument is made for a dispensational bent for Israel's continued prosperity. But the debate is more complicated. The Apostle Paul, who endlessly interpreted the Old Testament in the New Testament seems to suggest an alternate view. 

When I read Galatians one continuous theme strikes me, justification is through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul's primary argument is the affirmation of the "Abrahamic Covenant" over and against the Law. Point one for Paul is that the promise given to Abraham preceded the Law, thus making it a promise of greater value which cannot be added to. This is the point of his "human illustration" in verse 15. At this point few disagree with the premise of the Abrahamic Covenant. The rub comes when questions about the role of the Law—and Israel—are inserted into the conversation. Paul knows this and provides an answer to the Galatians (vv.19-26). Here is the passage and several points which he makes about the Law:

• It was added until the One to come arrived because of transgressions (v.19) In other words, in real time, God had to deal with the sin of his chosen people (v. 22).
• The Law was a mediator (v. 20). 
• The Law is not contrary to the promises of God (e.g. Abrahamic Covenant), but the Law is not life giving (v.21). Faith must always precede the Law or else the Law is legalism.
• The Law was a guardian until Christ (v. 24). 

Paul does not go out of his way in this passage to suggest how those living under the Law could know God. What is lucid is that God's plan to redeem the world through Jesus Christ works eschatologically forward and backward. Galatians 3:8 says, "Now the Scripture foresaw that God would justify  . . . by faith and foretold the good news to Abraham saying, 'All the nations will be blessed in you.'" Jesus is always the barometer for a right relationship with God. 

So what about Israel? At least for the Galatians Paul acknowledged the role of Israel as the barer of the Law. The Book of Romans elaborates on this idea further. What Israel was not the barer of, however, is faith in God. Faith in God transcended Israel and included 'gentile sinners.' This theme is apparent in the Old and New Testament. Therefore, at present, the question of Israel has become superfluous because of Jesus Christ. Wuest, a dispensational theologian, turns the focus on God when he says about the Book of Galatians, "sinners were saved in the Old Testament times by pure grace just as they are today, without any admixture of good works." This statement corroborates the idea that Israel could do nothing—even with the Law—to save themselves. I can hear in my head some people throwing their hands up suggesting I am a proponent of Replacement Theology. I am not arguing for Replacement Theology—although the general idea has merit. What I am arguing for is that when a Christian comes to read anything between Genesis and Revelation the primary theme is knowing God through faith because of God's grace. The promise to Abraham began this and Christ affirmed it.