The Deciding Factor Galatians 3:15-29
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Sons and Heirs
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case.
Galatians 3: 15NLT Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case.
By Paul using the word brothers and sisters, we can hear Paul’s compassionate love for these Galatians. Because of Paul’s stern rebuke his love might have been in question.
Verse 15b, just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case.
Paul is saying, just as a human agreement should be irrevocable and unchangeable, how much more is God’s covenant.
James 1:17NLT Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
And then Paul begins to show the superiority of the Abrahamic covenant verses the inferiority of the law.
Listen to Galatians 3:16NLT God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children, ” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ.
Paul is pointing out the fact that because these promises were made to Abraham and his descendants, these promises didn’t stop when Abraham died or when the law came.
Genesis 12:1-3NLT The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
Galatians 3:17NLT This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise.
The law served its purpose, to bring people back, to show them their sin; however, the law could never promise what the Abrahamic covenant promised.
God doesn’t lie! Numbers 23:19NLT God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Galatians 3:18NLT For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.
An inheritance is something granted, not worked for, as proven in the case of Abraham.
Listen to Romans 4:14NLT If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.
Galatians 3:19NLT Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.
So what is the purpose of the law? It shows mankind their utter sinfulness, and inability to save himself through works, and their desperate need of a savior.
Romans 7:1-3NLT Now, dear brothers and sisters—you who are familiar with the law—don’t you know that the law applies only while a person is living? 2 For example, when a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her. 3 So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.
What the law can’t do:
1. The law can’t save you.
2. Can’t take you to heaven. But JESUS can do both!
Galatians 3:20NLT Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham.
God alone ratified the covenant with Abraham. ( Say, “God did it.”)
Galatians 3:21NLT Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it.
The law and the promise work hand n hand. The law condemns while the promise saves.
Galatians 3:22NLT But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.
*Paul portrays all mankind as hopelessly trapped in sin, like a school of fish caught in a net.
Romans 3:19NLT Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.
Galatians 3:23NLT Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed.
Paul personifies the law as a jailer of guilty, condemned sinners, on death row awaiting God’s judgment.
Faith alone releases people from bondage of the law. Romans 2:14-16NLT Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. (We are hopelessly lost without Christ.)
Galatians 3:24NLT Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian (tutor) until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith.
The word ‘Tutor’ escorted the children to and from school and watched over their behavior at home. The law escorted us to Christ. PTL!
Galatians 3:25-26NLT And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. 26. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
All though believers are still obligated to obey God’s holy and righteous standards, now they abide in the New Covenant. (We live by faith.)
Galatians 3:27NLT And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.
Paul is speaking of a believer being immersed into Christ.
Romans 13:14NLT Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
Galatians 3:28-29NLT There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
All will accept Christ live under His covenant, under His blessings, and His grace!
Prayer.
