BEE Training Day 5

Objectives:

Demonstrate God’s promise to Abraham was not cancelled by the law.

Be able to understand and value the laws purpose

Promise Not Annulled by Law (Gal 3:15-18)

Introduction:

(Paragraph from bottom of 117)

“In Paul’s scriptural defense of his gospel, he first proves that Abraham was justified by faith (Gal 3:7-9). Then he refutes the arguments of the Judaizers by showing them in the Old Testament that the law can only put people under a curse. But faith in Christ brings redemption from the curse of the law (Gal 3:10- 14). “

Surely you’d think Paul has proved his point by now, but he wants to put to bed anything these Judaizers might say so he begins to compare and contrast the Abrahamic Covenant with the Mosaic Covenant.

A covenant is basically a “contract”.

(Popcorn and write on board what sorts of things would we consider covenants today)

Show of hands:

Ask: How many of you are familiar with “terms and conditions?”

Ask: Who would agree that terms and conditions are important?

How many of you actually take the time to read them before you scroll down and click accept?

(Read 2 strips of paper with funny terms and conditions, any guesses where each is from? Have them read who it is)

The abrahamic and mosaic covenants had very important but very different terms and conditions.

The Abrahamic Covenant was 100% dependent on God, Abraham only had to believe those promises to reap its blessings. It’s eternal.

The Mosaic Covenant (Law) was based on God’s desire to have a relationship with Israel, but its’ promises were completely dependent on Israels abiding by its terms and conditions.

Have the group examine Hebrews 9:18-20 and identify the term and condition listed for 3 minutes and write answer on board.

Have volunteer read Gal 3:14 and answer what is the term and condition to the New Covenant found in Christ?

Read sentence from pg.118

“ The covenant sacrifices, which were animals in the first covenant, represented the death that sealed the covenant and made it effective.”

Look at Q29 on pg.118- Did the covenant of law (Moses) cancel out the covenant of Abraham? NO.

Now, take 5 minutes to read through Galatians 3:15-29. Now lets answer Q31-33 in the workbook on pg.119.

Question 31

This passage suggests that the law partially canceled the promise made to Abraham. False

QUESTION 32

Who is the promised seed of Abraham (Gal 3:16)? D. Jesus

QUESTION 33

Who is included in the promise (Gal 3:29)? (Select all that apply.)

C. All who belong to Christ are Abraham’s descendants.

D. In Him, we are heirs of the promise.

Q34 Was the promise to Abraham canceled when God gave the covenant of the law? Why or why not? (Take 3 minutes to discuss at table.)

Summary: Now lets apply the truths we’ve learned about God’s everlasting promise to Abraham to the New Covenant of Promise in Christ. (Salvation)

Can it be changed or added too? NO. The only requirement for salvation is God’s promise that if we come to him in faith he forgives our sin through the work of Christ.

Law given to Lead Us to Christ. (Gal 3:19-25)

Galatians 3:19–25 NKJV

19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Have Volunteer read paragraph at top of page 120.

“If the law was not given to justify us, why was it given? The Galatians would naturally ask this question after Paul showed them that no one could be saved by the law. If, as was the case with Abraham, faith had always been, and always would be, the basis for justification, why add the law? And if the covenant of law was not to take the place of the covenant of promise, what was its purpose? Is the law against the promises of God? Paul deals with these questions in Galatians 3:19-24. “

QUESTION 36

Galatians 3:19 tells us why the law was given and points out its time limitation. Why was it given?( Because of transgressions )

QUESTION 37

The time limit of the law was until ___________ came. (Jesus )

(Read paragraph in the middle of p.120 direct them to follow along)

The words “because of transgressions” include two answers to the question: “Why was the law given?” First, these words imply that the law was given to restrain fallen human nature. It was given because men are so sinful. God's commands and the assurance of punishment for disobedience help hold men back from evil actions. Second, the law was added to make every evil action a legal offense. The law declared that certain acts were wrong and prohibited them. After that, anyone who committed these acts was guilty of breaking the law. It was then clear that he had disobeyed God and was guilty of sin.

Personal Illustration:

Have volunteer Hold up picture of speed limit sign.

Talk about why speed limit signs exist. They tell us what the speed limit is and restrains us from going any faster. When we violate the sign we get punished.

Tell story of speeding in KY on the way to conference.)

Have volunteer hold up a pic of a speedometer at 80mph)

Imagine a world w/o laws? It would be complete chaos.

Now lets read again:

Galatians 3:19 NKJV

19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

QUESTION 38

Who was the mediator in Galatians 3:19? Moses

QUESTION 39

The law was therefore to be in effect from the time of _________ until ________ came. Moses until Christ

Moses was the middleman between God and the people. The New covenant also has a mediator between God and the people. That mediator is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul tells us in Galatians 3:21 was to show us we were guilty of sin and show us that we needed a savior.

Read myself:

**Tutor or guardian.

This means the law was nothing more than a set of boundaries for Israel to follow . It also taught them God’s way of life and instructed and protected them from being influenced by the pagan cultures that surrounded them. But it was not meant to provide salvation. God’s promise of salvation available to all by faith predates the law. It’s always been God’s desire fro his kingdom to be diverse and different. I for one and very glad about that.