Grip on Grace
Studies in Galatians Lesson 6: The Promise and the Law Galatians 3:15-25 3:15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
21 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. 22 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.
23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. The Great Promise – Abraham ▲The communication of the promise Galatians 3:15 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. 16 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. ▲The context and contents of the promise Genesis 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 15:1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. ▲The continuity of the promise Galatians 3:17 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. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. ▲The Christ in the promise Galatians 3:16 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. ▲The consequence of confidence in the promise Galatians 3:6 Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” The Great Parenthesis – The Law of Moses ▲The law was provided Galatians 3:19 The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. The administration of angels Deuteronomy 33:1 This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. 2 He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes.
Hebrews 2:2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,
Acts 7:53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.” The mediation of Moses Deuteronomy 5:1 Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them. 2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. 3 It was not with our fathers that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. 4 The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. 5 (At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said: 6 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ▲The law was purposeful Galatians 3:19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions ▲The law was parenthetical Galatians 3:19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. ▲The law was partner with the promise Galatians 3:21 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. 22 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. 23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. The Great Provision – Christ ▲Faith has come Galatians 3:25 Now that faith has come, ▲Freedom has come Galatians 3:25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. ▲Fortune has come to the family of faith Galatians 3:18 ––––– the inheritance ––––– 21 ––––– life ––––– righteousness ––––– 24 ––––– that we might be justified by faith.
GOD’S PROMISEGOD’S The LAW was established by GOD with a LIMITED The PROMISE to Adam – Genesis 3:15 4000.BC? PURPOSE for a LIMITED TIME (from the EXODUS to AND THEIR FAITHTHEIR AND WORKFUTURE A IN GOD OF The PROMISE to Abraham – Genesis 12:2-3 2085.BC CHRIST). The LAW was FULFILLED and FINISHED in CHRIST. The PROMISE to Isaac – Genesis 26:24 John 1:17 For the law was given through The PROMISE to Jacob – Genesis 28:14 Moses; grace and truth came through The PROMISE to Judah – Genesis 49:10 Jesus Christ. The PROMISE thru Joseph – Genesis 50:24 Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not Israel in Egypt 430 years – Exodus 12:40 1870.BC 430 YEARS come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
The Exodus 1440.BC THE LAW Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, AND THEIR FAILURETHEIR AND TO IT KEEP The PROMISE thru Moses – Deuteronomy 18:15 1400.BC who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of The PROMISE to David – 2 Samuel 7:16 1000.BC hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law The PROMISE thru the prophets* with its commandments and regulations. Romans 10:4 Christ is the end of the law so Israel exiled to Assyria 722.BC that there may be righteousness for Daniel exiled to Babylon 605.BC everyone who believes.
Ezekiel exiled to Babylon 597.BC Galatians 3:25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the The Temple destroyed, Judah exiled to Babylon 586.BC law. Zerubbabel returns from exile 536.BC Romans 7:6 But now, by dying to what once Ezra returns from exile 458.BC bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Nehemiah rebuilds the walls 444.BC Spirit, and not in the old way of the written The PROMISE to Mary – Luke 1:30-33 3.BC code. Romans 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in *The PROMISE was individualized the likeness of sinful man to be a sin through the Old Testament prophets. offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful The SEED (many) becomes the SEED man, 4 in order that the righteous (one, that is Christ) as summarized in requirements of the law might be fully met Galatians 3:16. The Old Testament prophets in us, who do not live according to the sinful thus prophesied the coming of Christ. nature but according to the Spirit.
▼Christ will be the descendant of David –Psalm 132:11; Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-16 ▼Christ will be born of a virgin –Isaiah 7:14 ▼Christ will be born in Bethlehem THE –Micah 5:2 ▼Christ will be the Son of God –Psalm 2:7 ▼Christ will be a healer –Isaiah 35:5-6 GRACE ▼Christ will enter Jerusalem on a donkey –Zechariah 9:9 OF GOD ▼Christ will enter the Temple with authority –Malachi 3:1 PROVIDED ▼Christ will be sold for 30 pieces of silver –Zechariah 11:12-13 THROUGH ▼Christ will suffer a violent atoning death THE WORK –Psalms 22, 35, 41, 69; Isaiah 50-53 ▼Christ will be buried with the rich OF OUR LORD –Isaiah 53:9 JESUS CHRIST ▼Christ will rise from the dead FAITH –Psalm 16:10-11 ON THE ▼Christ will ascend to heaven –Psalm 68:18 CROSS ▼Christ rejected will become the Cornerstone –Psalm 118:22-23; Isaiah 28:16
▼Christ’s glorious kingdom will last forever –Isaiah 9:6-7