The Promise

Let’s Make an Example in Everyday Life

When Jill and I were in our early 30’s we thought it was necessary for us to each have a Last Will and Testament. We had the boys, debt and a dog. Our Will’s set the conditions for what we had, and what was to be done with it if we died. It even directed Jill’s sister on some conditions about the boys and how they would be raised, it even specified that it was out preference that they have a dog or other pet. It also established what was to happen with our Life Insurance and who was to manage our money. Because we had so much MONEY!!!

This became the legal document, filed with the Clerk of the Courts. I was legally our covenant with the State of Washington and with our family members...

“Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.” (, NIV84)

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Galatians Understanding the Promise (3:15–18)

In Galatians 3:15–18 Paul uses a similar legal document to illustrate the nature of the Abrahamic covenant: Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case (v. 15). This “irrevocable trust agreement” that God made with Abraham is described in terms of the beneficiary of the trust (v. 16), the date of the trust (v. 17) and the condition for inheritance (v. 18). Our study of these terms of the Abrahamic covenant will enable us to appreciate the gracious, unconditional nature of God’s love for us.

The Message of Galatians Abraham, Moses and Christ (3:15–22)

The apostle Paul is still expounding ‘the truth of the gospel’, namely that salvation is a free gift of God, received through faith in Christ crucified, irrespective of any human merit. He is emphasizing this, because the Judaizers could not accept the principle of sola fides, ‘faith alone’.

“The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.” (, NIV)

The promises of the law are made to the person of every man; the promises of the gospel are first made to Christ, then by him to those who are by faith ingrafted into Christ

The earliest promises given and God acting in concert with himself for the people of His first covenant occurs in

The earliest promises given and God acting in concert with himself for the people of His first covenant occurs in

“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.” (, NIV)

The promises spoken were words spoken to Abraham and his seed they are equal to a covenant

“When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—” (, NIV)

17When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces.

18On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates—

“Covenant” implies relationship, promise and expectation. Within the biblical tradition the covenant points to the unique relationship Yahweh established with the world through with His people. Early Christianity understood its relationship to God in covenantal terms. In and through the sacrificial death of Jesus, God had once and for all demonstrated his covenant faithfulness.

Carey C. Newman, “Covenant, New Covenant,” ed. Ralph P. Martin and Peter H. Davids, Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997), 245.Early Christianity understood its relationship to God in covenantal terms. In and through the sacrificial death of Jesus, God had once and for all demonstrated his covenant faithfulness

Carey C. Newman, “Covenant, New Covenant,” ed. Ralph P. Martin and Peter H. Davids, Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997), 245.

“What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.” (, NIV)

430 years? This is roughly the time from when Jeremiah was written to now… What does Jeremiah have to say about this?

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (, NIV)

“For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.” (, NIV)

God uses the word “Promise” some 212 times in the Old Testament and 78 times in the NT talking about the “Promises” in the OT. This promise/covenant is really something special to the people who loved and followed Jesus.

“Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.” (, NIV)

“Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.” (, NIV)

Why? Paul’s point here is that God’s plan also was for a Redeemer. That he would come at a particular time with a mission to redeem the world on his own shoulders.

“A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.” (, NIV)

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 3

This verse is notoriously difficult to interpret. Regardless of the precise meaning, Paul seems to be emphasizing unity. In Gal 3:16, he contrasted the many with the one to show that Christ fulfills the promise given to Abraham. Similarly here, the law mediated by Moses leads to divisions (i.e., Jews and Gentiles), rather than to one family of faith worshiping the one true God. See v. 28 and note.

So what do we make of all of this. This was another fairly technical passage that doesn’t lend itself easily to application, but it is another building block in Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith. It is important that we understand as we move forward.

So what do we make of all of this. This was another fairly technical passage that doesn’t lend itself easily to application, but it is another building block in Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith. It is important that we understand as we move forward.

Our posture with God has to be one of being poor in spirit. And again, to be poor in spirit is to realize we have nothing to offer, that we are spiritually bankrupt. God doesn’t want people who can pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, he wants people who are completely dependent on Him. When I lose that sense of being poor in spirit, that’s when I begin to mix works and grace, that’s when I become legalistic, that’s when I climb on the performance treadmill. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus didn’t say God helps those who help themselves. That saying was taught to me in my formative years as though it were scripture. Its nowhere in the Bible and is the opposite of being poor in spirit.

Another thing that comes to mind is the idea of blessing and being a recipient of God’s blessing through the promise. When we read, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith, that the promise is given to those who believe, and it is those of faith who are children of Abraham,

“Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.” (, NIV)

The law does not give life… it does not counteract God’s covenant but provides a base for the covenant and a place for people to live in Grace.

“But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.” (, NIV84)

This is the best that I have seen, explanation of the law, of Faith and differentiating those who believe and don’t believe.

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (, NIV84)

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (, NIV84)

If you have heard nothing since we have begun this series Grace + Nothing , Hear this loud and clear… Because of your faith you have as much reward, as much inheritance, as much connection with God as any Jew, Gentile or Christian from whatever age in the past.

“What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.” (, NIV84)

You are that person if you are a follower of Jesus and you have faith.

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” (, NIV84)

In this respect we are one like him. If you are a follower of Christ you are redeemed!!! If you are NOT a follower, you are not redeemed and subject to the law, without Grace and without the Mercy of God. Today needs to be the day that you become a follower and just a spectator in the workings of Jesus and His Grace and His Mercy.