Grace is a Promise

Galatians 3:15–18 ESV

To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

A Promise: The Abrahamic Covenant (3:15-18)

What is a Covenant? (v.15)

Galatians 3:15 ESV

To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.

Covenant as a Will

Covenant much Stronger

What was the Promise of the Abrahamic Covenant? (v.16)

Galatians 3:16 ESV

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

God promised Abraham 3 things: (1) innumerable descendants, (2) land (of Canaan), and (3) to be a blessing to the nations

Apostle Paul points out that “seed” (or descendants) is a singular noun. So, the promise was actually made (spiritually) to Jesus that he would be the blessing to all the nations.

Galatians: Verse by Verse The Promise Given to Christ as the Seed of Abraham (3:16)

The thrust of this verse is that all of these promises to Abraham have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ and channeled through him to those who by faith are united “in Christ” and have thus become the new seed of Abraham, the church.

Abraham and his descendants were used by God to bring the Messiah, Jesus, into the world to bless the world. Jesus was the ultimate promise to Abraham, and to whom the promise was ultimately made to.

Paul’s point: Cov’t of Abraham was made by a promise of God, and it becomes fulfilled in Jesus. As such, all believers in Jesus (whether Jew or Gentile) are Abraham’s true descendants.

The Judaizers objection: But then what about the Law of Moses? The Covenant at Sanai? Did it not replace the Abrahamic Covenant in importance, so we now must follow it? So, isn’t following the Law necessary to be saved?

Was the Abrahamic Covenant Nullified?(v.17-18)

Galatians 3:17–18 ESV

This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

Cov’t of Promise takes precedence because (1) Law came 430 years later, (2) promises of the cov’t were still intact (not fulfilled yet), and (3) inheritance is not by Law bc God made it by promise

Take-Aways

The Abrahamic Cov’t was given by a promise of God

The Abrahamic Cov’t was in effect up through the coming of Jesus

The Abrahamic Cov’t was fulfilled in Jesus

Hebrews 1:2 (ESV)

But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

1 Peter 3:22 (ESV)

[Jesus] has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

We are recipients of the blessings of the Abrahamic Cov’t

1 Peter 1:3–5 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The Law: The Mosaic Covenant (3:19-23)

What was the Law?

What was its Purpose? (v.19-22)

To point out sin (v.19)

Galatians 3:19 ESV

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.

1 Timothy 1:8–10 ESV

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

Not to save (v.21-22)

Galatians 3:21–22 ESV

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

What were the Effects of the Law? (v.23)

Galatians 3:23 ESV

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

We were imprisoned.

There are many people today who feel the weight of their guilt, failures, sin.

But there is good news: grace and faith:

Grace: A Covenant of Promise (3:24-25)

What are the Promises?

Justification by Faith:

Galatians 3:8 ESV

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

The Holy Spirit

Galatians 3:14 (ESV)

. . . so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Illustration: YouTube video about hit and run. Tell it, and then modify it with the victim making a promise before it occurs.

God never made a promise that was too good to be true.

Dwight L. Moody

We are no longer under Law (v.24-25)

Galatians 3:24–25 ESV

So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

Guardian as someone who oversees a child walking to and from the market.

The law served its purpose: it pointed out that we were in need of a solution to our sin problem. It acted as a guide to lead us to Jesus.

Today's Best Illustrations, Volumes 1-4 (Humor: Odd Laws Still on the Books)

Odd Laws Still on the Books

Young girls are never allowed to walk a tightrope in Wheeler, Mississippi, unless it’s in a church.

In Blackwater, Kentucky, tickling a woman under her chin with a feather duster while she’s in church service carries a penalty of $10.00 and one day in jail.

No one can eat unshelled, roasted peanuts while attending church in Idanha, Oregon.

In Honey Creek, Iowa, no one is permitted to carry a slingshot to church except a policeman.

No citizen in Leecreek, Arkansas, is allowed to attend church in any red-colored garment.

Swinging a yo-yo in church or anywhere in public on the Sabbath is prohibited in Studley, Virginia.

Turtle races are not permitted within 100 yards of a local church at any time in Slaughter, Louisiana.

—Robert W. Pelton in The Door. Christian Reader, Vol. 33, no. 5.

Perhaps there were good reasons for these laws, but they have lived out their purpose and no longer in effect.

We do not use the law or commands of God to be saved or to stay right with God. They are merely to point out that we are sinners.

If you are trying to stand in right relationship with God, be saved, etc. by the law and works, you will be miserable—you’ll be left guilty and condemned.

We are not saved by making promises to God but by believing the promises of God.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Hebrews 12:18–24 ESV

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.