THE PROMISE

 

Today we are looking at the promises given in Galatians 3.  Paul explains the reason for the law and the promise given to current believers in Christ.

 

15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

 

1.      In Vs 15, Paul calls them brothers and sisters because they are of the same family, and this was a familiar thought in their day as it is ours.  We are in the family of God because of our association and acceptance of Jesus Christ and we have been adopted into God’s family.  We are sons and daughters of the Lord.  Paul gives them an example of everyday life so no one can set aside, excuse, justify or add a human covenant or element that has been duly established as it is in this case.  An agreement in the ancient world was binding in the ancient world.  It could not be broken unless both parties agreed on it.  It was either done by a verbal, handshake, or some form of symbol usually a signet ring.

2.      In Vs 16, The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.  This did not mean many people but to just one person, who is Christ.  Jesus is the fulfillment of all promises given to Abraham.  It is through Jesus Christ that all people would be blessed.  It is through Christ that the fulfillment of Abraham being the Father of many nations would come.  It wasn’t through the law, or priest, it happened through Jesus Christ alone.  It is faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross that all people, nations, tribes, and languages are blessed.  He is the universal savior and that is how all people become descendants of Abraham by faith.

3.      In Vs 17, that the law was introduced 430 years later at Sinai and does not put aside or replace the covenant God made to Abraham or do away with its promise.  The giving of the law did not supersede or replace the promise to Abraham that through his seed all nations would be blessed.  That was the misrepresentation that the Judaizers were making.  They were saying that the law was the covenant made through Abraham which it was not.

4.      In Vs 18, Paul says that if the inheritance and promise given depended on the law then it is not in effect, but God in His grace, mercy and love gave it to Abraham.  Abraham lived in an age we call conscience.  He simply took God at His word, trusted God and in obedience did what God asked him to do.  We live in the age of grace and our world operates the same way.  A way to remember Grace is God’s, riches, at, Christ’s, expense.  We receive the promises of God today by faith because of what Jesus Christ did for us.  That is what communion which we are going to celebrate next month is all about.

 

Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

 

1.      In Vs 19 Paul explains why the law was given.  It was given to show sin and what transgression was.  It was a set of laws and boundaries given so mankind would know what God wanted.  It gave the nation of Israel a framework to operate.  It helped people to understand substitutionary death.  The law showed what sin was and how through the death of another their sins could be forgiven.  The law was given through angels which most people did not see and entrusted to a mediator.  It gave them a practical glimpse of what Jesus would do when He came in the fullness of time and offered himself on the cross. His last words were, “it is finished and all things have been fulfilled. 

2.      Paul in Vs 20, then reveals an incredible truth, a mediator implies more than one party, but God is one.  He alludes to the fact that God is trinity here.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit were working together.  The fact of the matter is the angel talked about here was Jesus Christ.  He is referred by scholars in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord.  Paul is saying that Jesus gave the law, introduced substitutionary death, fulfilled the law, and gave his life so mankind could have the promise of Abraham.

 

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

 

1.      In Vs 21, Paul answers a question brought forth by the Judaziers, “Is the law opposed to the promises of God?”  Absolutely not.  The law was not given to impart life if it did than righteousness would have come by the law.  The law was a school master, it was a boundary or guidebook showing what sin was.  Man, now knows what God requires and what sin looked like.   You might say it was the YouTube of what sin was.

2.      In Vs 20, Paul hits the nail on the head.  Scripture has made it clear that everything is under the control of sin.  God told Cain that he could master sin, but it was looking for an opportunity to master him.  When Cain sinned, all mankind was then subject to sin. All mankind are sinners.  All have fallen short of the glory of God.  However, sins power was destroyed when the promise came who was Jesus Christ.  Now if we accept Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, broken body and shed blood by faith all that was promised to Abraham is now ours.  We have been restored to man’s original state.  All the promises of God are yes, and amen in Jesus Christ.

 

23 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. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

 

1.      In Vs 21, Paul says before the coming of this current age of grace and faith, mankind was held in custody.  You might say in spiritual and natural jail.  We were like prisoners.  This happened until faith that was to come through Jesus Christ would be revealed.  Paul equates the law to doing jail time.  He knew because he was imprisoned in a way of thinking that led him to persecute the church.  Law keeping is a spiritual prison.  Instead of freeing you it binds you.  It is blindness leading to bondage.

2.      In Vs 22, Paul says that the law was a guardian.  A guardian has rights and responsibility, but they are not necessarily a parent.  A parent has a relationship based on love.  A guardian does not always.  They give you boundaries but not freedom.  A parent gives freedom with responsibility.  The law was in place until the law fulfiller Jesus Christ came and through Him, we are justified or declared righteous in the sight of God. 

3.      Now that the age of faith and grace has come.  We are no longer under the guardian or the law we have all the rights, freedom, benefits and inheritances as sons and daughters of God.

 

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

1.      In Vs 26, Paul states his theme of all of us being the children of God.  This being one of his first letters by the time he gets to Ephesians some 13 years later this whole though was complete.  Paul took Jn 3:16, to heart.  God’s love brought Christ into the world to save all mankind. 

2.      In Vs 27, Paul talks about how in water baptism you identified with His death burial and resurrection.  Now you have clothed in Christ.  He says we have new clothing of righteousness.  We have the nature, essence, goals, promises, and character of Christ.  We want to do the will of our Father and bring righteousness, peace, and joy into our world.

3.      In Vs 28, Paul says there is no distinction in Christ we are all one in Christ.  We are all part of God’s family.  Adopted by the same means and method.  Sons and daughters with everything that goes with it.  Eternal and Abundant life.  What the law could not do Jesus who is the fulfillment of the law did.

4.      In Vs 29, Paul puts everyone who has accepted Jesus Christ is the seed of Abraham.  As Abraham came in the time of conscience we do in the age of grace by faith in the promise of God.  Jesus was that promise, and He was that seed.  We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ.  Everything that Jesus secured is now ours.