God's Promise Never Changes

Galatians 3:15 ESV

15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.

1. God’s Covenant is Ratified

Ratified = official (legal seal)

God’s covenant is an official decree

Hebrews 9:16–18 ESV

16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.

Will = covenant

Death occurs for a will to take place

Will is upheld because it is ratified

inaugurate - go into effect

Genesis 15:8–10 ESV

8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” 9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other. But he did not cut the birds in half.

blood was shed (death occurred) for the enactment of the covenant - ratified

What was that Covenant?

Genesis 17:7 ESV

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

covenant was ratified by the shedding of blood

All of this a foreshadow of Christ

Why because we could not keep our end of covenant, we don’t fall into submission of God, we rebel

2. Christ’s Death Gives the Promise of the Covenant

Galatians 3:16 ESV

16 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.

Christ fulfills what you couldn’t and gives you that fulfillment

Hebrews 9:16–17 ESV

16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

God’s Will (Legal Document)

2 Corinthians 6:16

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Colossians 1:20–22 ESV

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,