Paul and the Law pt.1

So many christians today have what could almost be called a hatred for God's law. Most likely it comes from not understanding the Scriptures in the right context. Unfortunately we've been taught that the Law is bondage for such a long time that we have a difficult road to travel just to get back to a correct understanding of God's loving instructions for us. It's intrigued me for several years now that so many people go to Paul's letter to the church in Galatia and make it out as an anti-Torah/Law book - that couldn't be further from the truth. One of Paul's main points is that a person can't be saved by keeping God's law, but that doesn't negate the fact that without the Lord's commandments we'd be unable to understand true holiness. Since God tells us to be holy, just as He is holy (Leviticus 11:44, 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16), then I'd say it's a pretty big deal to follow His instructions. One of the verses that's always used is Galatians 3:25 which says, "But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (speaking of the law). So many have taken this and ran with it saying that it means the law is dead to us now that we are in Christ. In reality Paul is pointing out that the law no longer has dominion over us if we are in Christ. Like a child when they have grown, leaves the authority of a tutor, so we who are in Messiah have left the "supervision" of the law once we've come to faith in Him and can now delight in His Torah as we walk in the Spirit. We realize that we are no longer condemned by the law and are free to learn from the Lord's loving instructions which teach us about the things He desires for our lives (Romans 2:18). Looking at the overall context helps: one can understand what Paul was saying in Galatians if we look at some of his other statements about the Law. In Romans 7:22 he says, "for I delight in the law of God according to the inward man." If this was Paul's attitude towards God's law, then why would he 'condemn' it in his letter to the Galatians. Also he says, "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."(Romans 8:4). And, "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law." (Romans 3:31). Establishing the law? Through faith?! Who'd have thought?! Obviously God did not throw away His laws for us once His Son died for our sins. The opposite is true, since He writes His laws on the hearts and minds of every follower of Messiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34/Hebrews 8:7-13). That's the part of the New Covenant that most Christians today don't even acknowledge. However, He is always giving us the opportunity to meet with Him in the truth of His Word. It is our choice whether or not we accept His invitation.