God’s Promise Stands

Galatians 3:15–26 CSB

15 Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ. 17 My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God and thus cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise. 19 Why, then, was the law given? It was added for the sake of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not just for one person alone, but God is one. 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.

The Judaizers argued that since the law came after Abraham, then the law had priority over grace (salvation by faith alone.

What God gave to Moses did not negate the covenant made with Abraham or change it - the law was a temporary measure...

Once God seals a promise, it cannot be changed.

Pauls uses the analogy of a human last will and testament. He states that once is is “validated” it cannot be changed.

This goes against what we know - in truth, even back then they could change or revoke a will in view of altered circumstances or reconsidered preferences.

There are 2 time a will cannot be altered - the first is after the one who enacted it died - the second is when the one who enacted prematurely and we have benefitted from both.

The second type is what we see in Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son. The father was still living but divided up the inheritance between his 2 sons while he was still living. In a manner this is what the Jews partook of prior to the coming of Jesus.

But even better for us is that Jesus came and DIED to fully ratify the promise of God.

God’s promise is like our DNA - Every cell in our bodies contain our DNA code. No matter how many cells divide, grow, or age, the fundamental genetic code doesn’t change. That’s how God’s promise works - it’s built in to the very fabric of His covenant nature. Time, sin, and human failure can’t change what God has promised.

To have a share of the promise you must be an heir.

Paul speaks of Abraham’s “seed” - the Jews interpreted this to mean them which is partially true.

Paul points out that “seed” is singular point to a particular seed - Jesus.

To have any part of God’s promise you must belong to Christ.

A promise is often fulfilled in stages.

When President John F. Kennedy promised in 1961 that America would “land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth,” the world laughed. There wasn’t even a rocket yet that could reach orbit, much less the moon. But that promise unfolded in stages: Mercury proved humans could survive space, Gemini tested maneuvers in orbit, and Apollo finally fulfilled the vision in 1969. Connection: God’s promises work the same way. What He declares is certain, but it often comes through seasons of preparation and progress. Every “stage” confirms His word is moving toward completion.

God gave Abraham the promise that all people would be blessed through him - that promise was Jesus.

Until Jesus came the law was given as a down payment.

The law did lead us to Christ but not by taking us from our sins but rather revealing them clearly - this also had the effect of causing them to multiply to the point where we stool before God utterly void of any hope of self-reclamation (we couldn’t do it ourselves).

The law served its purpose - to get us to the Christ - it was a babysitter so to speak, a place holder if you will

But then Jesus came fulfilling the law and giving us freedom from the law.

Faith makes us family.

If you have put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ you are now a CHILD OF GOD!

God’s promise isn’t fragile. The law couldn’t break it, sin couldn’t cancel it, and death couldn’t stop it. Christ fulfilled it - and faith brings us into it - God’s promise still stands.