Covenant Promises
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Reading (“Please stand…”)
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.
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. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
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.
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 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, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Pray...
Intro:
Intro:
Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies,
So stop trying to measure up to get whatever from God. Stop hiding from him when you mess up. Stop comparing yourself to other people, wondering if God loves you less because you’re not as “good” as them.
Stop naming the good things you do as righteousness that not only gets you closer to God, but also proves to others that you are.
Just stop asking the law to do what only grace can achieve, and start resting in the fact that you don’t have any moral bills due because Jesus paid them all on the cross. And when you sin, don’t pretend you didn’t, don’t panic, and don’t hide.
Run to Jesus and receive mercy in your time of need, the kind of mercy he paid for you to have. (Paul Tripp)
Summary of this passage:
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.
Our Understanding of Sin
Our Understanding of Sin
Our Sins Revealed
Our Sins Revealed
(“is the law contrary to promise?”)
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.
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.
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.
Our Solutions Exposed
Our Solutions Exposed
(“if law could give life”)
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.
For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Our Understanding of Salvation
Our Understanding of Salvation
According to the Promise
According to the Promise
(“promise by faith”)
But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Contrast Promise and Law
Promise - “I will, I will, I will”
Law - “Thou shalt, thou shalt, thou shalt”
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.
Two claims:
1) the law replaced the promise
2) the law was added to the promise (Judaizers)
Neither is accurate.
The law did not supplant the promise.
The law did not change the promise or add to it.
The law actually clarifies the promise.
How?
(v. 22) “imprisoned under sin”
(v. 23) “held captive under the law”
(v. 24) “the law was our guardian”
The law shows us how trapped we are...
how hopeless we are.
To prove how blessed we are by the promised grace of God.
Our hope of salvation is rooted in the promise to Abraham.
Unity of OT and NT
Each subsequent covenant was further detail of the prior ones.
They didn’t contradict.
They simply added to our understanding.
Theologians have said for centuries that after the sin of Adam,
the Covenant of Grace was instituted.
Gen. 3:15 - Adam
Gen. 9:11 - Noah
Gen. 15:18 - Abraham, Gen. 17:7 - Abe (2)
God remembered - Ex 2:24
Ex. 24:8 - Moses
2 Sam 7:12-13 - David (“covenant” not used)
David’s response - 2 Sam 7:18
Jer. 31:31-33 - New
Matt. 26:38 - Blood of the covenant
Heb. 7:20-25 - Better covenant
In Christ
In Christ
(“faith in Christ” / “those who believe”)
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.
No hope apart from Christ. No solution without him.
“The covenant promise was really for Christ, and when we belong to Christ, the promise belongs to us.” (Philip Ryken)
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Our Understanding of Sonship
Our Understanding of Sonship
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Close in Prayer
Close in Prayer
Closing Song:
Closing Song:
“Only a Holy God”
“Come and behold Him”
“Cry out...”
“Come and worship the Holy God...”
Benediction
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.