“I really don’t know what to make of these phrases: ‘Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us’ (3:13); ‘we were kept under the law’ (3:23); ‘the law was our schoolmaster’ (3:24); ‘we are no longer under a schoolmaster’ (3:25); ‘turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements’ (4:9); ‘and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage’ (5:1). ‘Would you be able to help with clarification?’ ”

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us…” (Gal. 3:13). Galatians was written to Gentiles who placed themselves under the law of Moses. This took place when Judaizers joined the assembly (cf. Acts 15:5). Paul is just reminding them that as members of the Body of Christ, they were redeemed from the law’s curse (through Christ), just like we are today. The law, though spiritual (Rom. 7:14), is a curse for everyone because it’s impossible to keep it. We should thank God that the Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty the law demanded for sin.

“…we were kept under the law…” (Gal. 3:23). Backing up to verse 22 helps. Scripture has concluded all under sin—both Jew and Gentile. “But before faith came” (v. 23), both Jew and Gentile were kept under the law. In other words, both (Jews and Gentiles [as proselytes]) would have to keep the law in faith, like the parents of John the Baptist (Luke 1:6) and as the Pentecostal believers in Acts 2.

“…the law was our schoolmaster…” (Gal. 3:24). Before the revelation of the mystery, the law itself could never save because it was (and is) impossible for anyone to keep it perfectly. Its purpose was to show, even under the prophetic program, that no one could keep it. The same is true today; the only purpose of the law is to show our need to trust in Christ alone for salvation.

“…we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:25). Paul was just reminding the Galatians (and us), that we’re not under the law, as Paul writes in Romans 6:14-15.

“…turn ye again…” and “…be not entangled again…” (Gal. 4:9; 5:1). Before they were saved, the law pronounced them guilty before God. Once saved, though, Paul is asking them why they would “turn ye again” to the law that condemns and then commands them to “stand fast” in the liberty that’s in the Lord Jesus Christ.