Note 1 at Gal. 3:26: Paul is continuing the comparison begun in the previous verses. In the same way that children grow out from under the authority and control of their PAIDAGOGOS (schoolmaster-see note 10 at v. 24, p. 1070), so we have come out from under the authority and control of the law. We now have liberty, privilege, and rights as full grown children.

This does not mean that we are lawless any more than it means that a child no longer does what is right once he is on his own. But it does mean we have the right to choose now without being motivated by fear of punishment prescribed by the law. We should live righteously because it's the best way to live, not because we'll be punished if we don't.

A child is taught to look both ways before crossing the street for his own safety. But until the child is on his own, disobedience to that rule is dealt with by punishment. So, at a young age, the child follows this rule, not to keep from getting hit by a car, but to keep from being punished. When an adult, he should continue to walk by the same rule, but fear of punishment should not be a part of his reasoning.

Likewise, the Old Testament law gave standards which were enforced by punishments. Many interpreted these punishments as God's hatred for sin instead of His love for His children. Just as we all heard our parents say, "This spanking is going to hurt me more than it hurts you," even so, the reason the Lord gave the punishments of the Old Testament law was to turn us from self and sin for our own profit. Now that we are full grown sons, He is not punishing us. We may punish ourselves through bearing the consequences of our sins, but our Heavenly Father is not punishing us.