God's Enduring Promise (Part 2) Series

God’s Enduring Promise

(Part II)

Galatians 3:15-25

I once heard a story about the country singing group “Alabama”. In the early days of their musical career they played the circuit in different clubs, fairs and theatres. When they received their record deal and “hit it big” so to speak, they were offered opportunities to perform in sold out arenas and amphitheatres. There was only one problem; they already had a full schedule of dates in smaller venues. From what I understand they honored each and every one of their prior commitments. This spoke of their integrity because the pay was much, much less than they would have received if they had went back on their promises to others.

If we are honest, sometimes we want to break our promises, and sadly sometimes we do just that. But as we saw this morning and will continue to see tonight, when God makes a promise …THAT PROMISE WILL ENDURE! We find in Genesis 12 and here in Galatians 3 that God had made some fantastic promises to Abraham. And Paul is in the midst of revealing that those promises had not …nor could they be broken. The great benefit for us in studying this text is the comfort and assurance that comes in knowing that ALL the promises God has made to us in His Holy Word, WILL NOT BE BROKEN! Let’s return to Paul’s epistle to the Galatians and see some more facts about “God’s Enduring Promise”

In the AM service we examined The Origination and The Illustration of God’s Enduring Promise.

As we continue we will see:

iii. God’s Enduring Promise: An Explanation

iv. God’s Enduring Promise: The Intention

v. God’s Enduring Promise: The Application

In verse 15 Paul shares an illustration that shed some light on the endurance of God’s promise. He used the example of a contract that had been ratified and was legally binding between two individuals. Once a contract is ratified it must be fulfilled and cannot be broken. In verses 16-18 he continues to describe the details of the Abrahamic Covenant. Notice with me if you will:

III. God’s Enduring Promise: An Explanation v16-18

A. The Recipient Of This Promise - v16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

By now we know that God made a covenant with Abraham. Along with the personal promise to Abraham, we find that there was a promise to “his seed” - Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

The term “seed” has far reaching implications but ultimately this refers to the greatest of Abrahams’ descendants, Our Savior Jesus Christ. - This is evident in the genealogy of Jesus Christ found in - Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren (and on and on it went until the birth of the Messiah)

Those who are saved are “in Christ” and we are “heirs to the promise”. Through faith we are recipients of the promises that were made to Abraham. This concept is reaffirmed in this very chapter! - Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

This promise is as much ours as if God spoke to us literally as He did to Abraham!

- Through Christ we are the “Recipients Of This Promise”. Notice also:

B. The Resilience Of This Promise - v17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

God’s covenant with Abraham was not nor could it be canceled by the Law that God gave to Moses. There was a time span of 430 years between the inception of the covenant and the giving of the Law. Paul states that the Abrahamic covenant was “Confirmed before of God” - This means that it was officially ratified by God and could not be annulled by anyone or anything!

Paul wanted the Galatian believers to understand that the Mosaic Law could not and DID NOT void the covenant that God made with Abraham. If the Law could have provided justification in itself, this would have voided the promise that God made to Abraham. The Law did not fulfill God’s promise to Abraham… The Law did not do away with God’s promise to Abraham… But our Savior fulfilled the Law and God’s promises to Abraham! God’s promise is resilient! It is just like He is…NEVER CHANGING!! Regardless of what the Judaizers taught the Galatians and regardless of what you may hear from some legalist… WORKS CANNOT SAVE YOU! And your works CANNOT KEEP YOU SAVED!! But your faith in Jesus can do both!!