Untitled Sermon (1)

Law and Promise (3:15–18)

More importantly, Paul clarifies the identity of the recipient of God’s promise to Abraham. Ultimately, he says, the recipient isn’t Israel, nor is it even the Church. According to this passage, the true recipient of God’s promise to Abraham is God’s single seed, Christ. “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” (3:16).

Here, then, is the key point about God’s promises: Christ Jesus is the one true beneficiary of all of God’s promises. God has given everything to Christ. Every blessing God wants to give to the world, and to you and me, has already been given to Jesus. Thus every blessing we seek, every good thing in the world, is to be found in Christ. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Law and Sin (3:19, 20)

Law and Life (3:21, 22)

What does that mean? It means that the Law cannot provide you with the motivation to do what the Law calls you to do. It can certainly guide you in doing God’s will, but it cannot motivate you to want to do God’s will. It can tell you how to channel your desires in a way that honors God, but it cannot give you God-honoring desires

The Law and Us