Children of God: Galatians 3:23-29

Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.

Before faith came. The phrase marks an epoch. Human history divided: before faith, after faith. Before Christ, after Christ.

We were held in custody. The image is imprisonment. The law was a prison guard, and we were inmates. Locked up. Confined. Unable to escape.

Until. The imprisonment had a purpose, a time limit. Until faith would be revealed. The law's custody was preparation, not destination.