Promise of a Prison Break

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Gal 3:15-23.

Paul continues his teaching on being made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ. Thus showing the futility of trusting in the yoke of bondage called the Law

The agitators who Christian stuck in Judaism, still believing that it was necessary for their salvation, pointed to the history of the Law to solidify their claim

However, Paul argues from even older historical figure and system: Abraham and the promise

In doing this Paul addresses what might have been a natural question that came up; what purpose does the Law serve?

He as already made it clear in 3:11, “No one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law” (NLT)

There is a curse on anyone who fails to obey ALL of the Law

Christ took care of that curse, by becoming a curse (hanging on a tree)

This was done not to go back to the Law, but to be blessed by the promise

God promised to break us out of a prison and He’s done it through Jesus Christ

#1 The Doctrine of the Promise (vs. 15-18)

This is the promise he proceeds to expound on from vs. 15

Galatians 3:15 “15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.”

Notice how he addresses them, “brethren” - as serious as this matter was Paul saw what really mattered - we are brethren!

Even though Paul is shocked and appalled at their choices - we are brethren

Even though they are acting as fools (someone who knew what the right course of action is and fails to take it) - we are brethren

Every disagreement and disturbance must be met with wisdom, study, care but we must never forget - we are brethren; CHRIST died, so we can be called brethren and we dare not cast that aside flippantly

What Paul does in his argument is to establish the binding and permanent nature of a man’s covenant, once it’s set its terms are recognized as binding and all parties submit to that

If that’s the case with a covenant between men, how much more in the covenant of God.

With this in mind, Paul further states,

Galatians 3:16 “16 Now the promises [take note of this word] were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.”

Genesis 22:18 “18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.””

God was prophesying, declaring, and announcing that the blessing/salvation/the Holy Spirit would come through a singular source and that source is Christ!

Today, this is something that needs to be announced when we share the gospel with others, there is salvation in no other name but the name of Jesus

The Bible makes salvation exclusive to Jesus

Paul goes further in his explanation

Galatians 3:17–18 “17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance [take note of this, remember the promise in vs. 16] is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.”

The Law came and met a promise/covenant that was already confirmed

And God doesn’t break His promises

God is faithful even when can’t be faithful - God cannot deny Himself.

Additionally, Paul assures his audience that you cannot claim the inheritance by human effort, it’s by faith alone.

APPL. You must keep believing

#2 The Blessing of the Promise (vs. 19-23)

The blessing exposes a dilemma that is addressed by Paul which in turn shows us how the promise blesses

If the promise predates the Law, if Abraham predates Moses, if belief is paramount to works - why was the Law given in the first place?

Galatians 3:19 “19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.”

What the Law did was show you your sin

This was to spark in the individual a need for something that will save you from your sin

For the Jews it was to get them to long for the Messiah

The Law revealed the holiness of God which He called man to live by (Lev 19:2)

It prevented a bad situation from getting any worse, but it could not deal with the situation - hence the need for the promised seed

APPL. Your merit, might curb, mitigate, lessen, calm things down - but it’s not going to really with your situation what you need to do is get back in the arms of Jesus!

To the Romans Paul explained that he knew sin through the Law, now freed from the law he can live in the Spirit (Rom 7:5-8)

Rom 5:20. The word “came in” lit. means came in by a side road. The Law is effectively the side road but the promise is via the main road. The Law served a subordinate purpose to the promise. Meaning the Law wasn’t the main thing.

These Jewish Christians made the wrong thing the main thing

Merit remains the wrong thing to be made the main thing. Faith in Jesus Christ will always be the main thing

In understanding the reason for the law I could now see clearly why being free is reason to rejoice

The law was meant to get you to the seed, Jesus Christ - why do I need to get to the seed, the child, Jesus? This is something Paul gets to momentarily.

Galatians 3:20 “20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.”

For human transactions, a mediator is needed

For the Law, a mediator was needed

For the promises, “God could swear by no one greater, so He swore by himself” God needed no mediator for that one.

Now we are heirs, we don’t need a mediator to come to the “seed” Jesus, like Moses needed a mediator to get the Law/God.

Galatians (2) The Purpose of the Law (3:19–25)

Paul’s point was this: the promise to Abraham came directly from God, not through angels, nor by means of a merely human mediator such as Moses.

Galatians 3:21 “21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.”

If the law could give life, righteousness could be gained through the law

The law doesn’t contradict, because the Law was never the means to justify mankind, that was the purpose of the Messiah

Galatians 3:22 “22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”

This is the promise of the prison break

Theologically, ALL are in the prison of sin

This tells us how bleak the situation is for humanity, and it heightens the need for Jesus

This why we need to be clear on the teaching of sin - it’s not a figment of the imagination, it’s not a way to control/oppress people

Sin had us in prison but thankfully Jesus stepped into our situation

John 1:29 “29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

1 Timothy 1:15 “15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”

1 John 3:8 “8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”

That was Your Prison Break

Sin puts you at enmity with God.

Your prayers are not the way out

Your morality is not the way out

Your good works are not the way out

ONLY JESUS is the way out!!!

Turn to him, confess to Him, repent of those sins

Your merit didn’t get you out and it’s not going to keep you out; that’s what your faith does.

You don’t pray, serve, worship, give, study FOR God to love you

You do these things because God loves you and you love God

Application

We should be a people of Gratitude - in everything give thanks

We should be fueled to make disciple/evangelism

We should be ready and excited to worship/serve the God that broke us out

We should share your testimony - we had a varied charges in our “sin prison” - some people might not see a way out until they see you!

We should be a people ready to do anything we are called to do for the person that gave us a Prison Break.