The law's purpose for Israel was preparatory: to bring them to Christ by revealing sin and guilt, not to save.
According to Les Feldick, the law was never intended to save Israel. Rather, it served to show them their sin and guilt, acting as a schoolmaster to prepare them for the coming Messiah. The law also pointed forward to Christ through its sacrificial system and was a burden that Israel could not bear, ultimately revealing the need for faith.
Galatians 3:24 — Directly states the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.
The Bible says that the law was given to Israel at Mount Sinai, and it was a severe burden, a yoke of bondage that Israel could not bear (Acts 15:10, Galatians 5:1). The law was not given to save but to show sin: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). The law was a ministration of death (2 Corinthians 3:7), and it shut up all under sin so that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe (Galatians 3:22-24). It also was a shadow of good things to come, pointing to Christ (Hebrews 10:1).
Les Feldick teaches that the law was given to Israel for a preparatory purpose. It was never intended to save, but to show man his sin and guilt. He emphasizes that the law only condemns; it has no power to save. The law was a schoolmaster to bring Israel to Christ, and all the practices of the law—sacrifices, priesthood, tabernacle—were pictures of the coming Redeemer. Israel was to be prepared for a future role in evangelizing the nations, but they failed in that prospect. The law also reached out to all humanity to show that all are guilty before God.
The law was a schoolmaster to bring Israel to Christ. Just as education prepares children for their future responsibilities, the law prepared Israel for the coming of the Messiah. It was a preparatory period where Israel was kept under the law, shut up to the faith that should afterwards be revealed.
The law revealed sin. Les Feldick teaches that the Ten Commandments showed the old Adam how he actually operates—his bent to take God's name in vain, worship idols, be envious, thieve, and such. The law's purpose was to show man his sin, not to save him. It condemned every mouth, making the whole world guilty before God.
Israel was put under the law to make them aware of God's holiness and sovereignty, and to prepare them for a future role in the midst of pagan idolatry. God gave them the law, the priesthood, and the sacrificial system to be a picture of the coming Redeemer. However, the law was never meant to save; it was a ministration of death.
Israel was intended to be the people through whom God would reach the nations. People from every language, tribe, and nation would desire to go with a Jew because they recognized that God was with Israel. This is seen in Zechariah, where ten men from all languages take hold of the skirt of a Jew, saying, 'We will go with you' (Zechariah 8:23). Israel failed in this prospect, but it remains a future event.
Israel's Role in Evangelizing Nations
Les explains that after the law prepared Israel, the nations would seek out Jews, showing Israel's intended role as God's witnesses.
Law as a Yoke of Bondage
Les highlights that the law was severe and a burden, and that righteousness came by faith, not the law.
Law as a Picture of the Redeemer
Les teaches that the entire law system was indicative, foreshadowing the Redeemer and the plan of salvation.
Law Applies to All, For Condemnation
Les shows that the law, though given to Israel, reaches all humanity to condemn, for by the law is knowledge of sin.
Law Reveals Sin, Cannot Save
Les emphasizes that the law does nothing but condemn; no one is justified by the law.
Law Shows Man's Sinful Nature
Les explains that the Ten Commandments reveal man's natural bent to sin, which is the law's only purpose.
Law Was Never to Save
Les clarifies that the law was never intended to save a Jew; it only shows his guilt before God.
Law Given to Prepare Israel
Les teaches that God gave Israel the law to make them aware of His holiness and to prepare them for a future role among pagan nations.
Galatians 3:24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Key verse showing the law's preparatory role.
Romans 3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Reveals that the law's purpose is to show sin, not save.
Romans 3:19: Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Shows the law applies to all and brings guilt.
No, the law was never intended to save. It only showed man his sin and guilt. Even in the Old Testament, salvation was by faith, not by law-keeping.
Les Feldick teaches that believers today are not under law but under grace. The law was fulfilled in Christ and is not the believer's rule of life.
Israel failed to fulfill their role of being a light to the nations. They succumbed to idolatry and rejected the Messiah. However, their failure is not final, as there is a future time when God will use Israel to evangelize the world.
Watch the Teaching: The True Meaning of Israel as a "Peculiar People"