Galatians 4:1-7

Starting in Galatians 3, Paul has shown us three arguments as to why salvation does not come by keeping the Old Covenant ("the Law"):

1. Galatians 3:1-9 -The Galatians received the Spirit by faith - not by keeping the OT Law;
2. Galatians 3:10-14 - The nature of the OT Law curses everyone who is not perfectly obedient to all the Law.
3. Galatians 3:15-18 - God's promise of salvation is inconsistent with the nature of the OT Law, which operates by works. The prior promise is not annulled by the later Law.

Thus, the purpose of the Old Covenant was to guard and prepare the nation of Israel for the coming of Messiah. Now that Messiah has come, there is no longer the need for the Old Covenant and for the nation of Israel. What then is the status of Israel today? How are we to understand the New Covenant?