Galatians 3 can be a challenging passage of theology, but it breaks down into some fairly simple truths. Perhaps one of the best ways to understand it is to use an analogy.

Many of us have children in our life, either our own, or nieces and nephews, or the children of good friends. We celebrate the births of babies and the graduations of 18- year-olds, the entrance into Kindergarten and walking down the aisle of marriage. Through those first 20-25 years or so (and I realize this is a generalization) there are various stages of development and accountability.

I remember my husband and I considering having a somewhat "strict" (in the eyes of some) approach early in our son's life, eventually loosening the reigns as he became more and more responsible. By God's grace through our imperfections, our son, a young adult now, has a lot of freedom yet demonstrates character, responsibility and maturity. He makes decent choices in spite of having imperfect parents.

In Galatians 3, Paul alludes to a similar approach God has taken with His people. For many years, the Jews followed the law, much of which is outlined in the Old Testament. The law was a reminder that there was something beyond themselves to which they were accountable. Many of the laws were protective and applicable to the culture of the time.

When Jesus came, He fulfilled the law, and took away the legalist need to follow it to be accepted in God’s sight. Before Christ, people honored God's laws out of faith for the Messiah to come. Looking back, we now honor God through faith in what Christ did to essentially complete what the law was originally doing--helping people stay in tune with God.

Just like there tend to be more rules on children that are younger, and hopefully, an extension of grace as they get older, Jesus has now provided us a way to God that doesn't require our keeping of lots of laws. The very existence of laws provides order to society, but those who are filled with love for God and others will naturally tend to avoid breaking laws anyway. (If, for example, you truly love others, would you even think to rob them?)

This is why Paul was so adamant that the Galatians not be tricked back into adding the following of certain laws to their simple belief in Christ and what He did for them. He knew that would put them back in bondage.

Are you in bondage to certain laws you give yourself? Are you unable to accept God's free gift in Christ, thinking instead you must somehow earn it? Paul would strongly tell you not to put yourself back in chains!