The Law does not change the Promise Galatians 3 (NKJV) part 3 15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. ****When a normal human contract has been ratified and put into effect it is a rock solid document and cannot be changed by either adding to or removing from it. It stands as written and instituted. Now God made a contract with Abraham and His Seed. The word seed here is not a plural seed speaking of all his natural offspring and descendants but it was directed to a single seed who was to come. The promised that was made to Abraham was reserved for the Messiah who was to come and the law which was instituted over four hundred years later cannot change what was already a binding contract which was in effect. It cannot add to or take away from that initial contract (covenant). You see the inheritance was given by the promise of God and received by the believing faith of Abraham, the law had nothing to do with it. The details were established, sealed and put into motion before the law existed. 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. 20 Now a go-between (intermediary) has to do with and implies more than one party [there can be no mediator with just one person]. Yet God is [only] one Person [and He was the sole party in giving that promise to Abraham. But the Law was a contract between two, God and Israel; its validity was dependent on both]. ****Why then did the law come, why did God give it? It was given because of the unrighteousness of man while they waited for the coming Seed who held the birthright to all the promises and was set to inherit all that was promised to Abraham. I found the Amplified translation of verse 19-20 very helpful “19 What then was the purpose of the Law? It was added [later on, after the promise, to disclose and expose to men their guilt] because of transgressions and [to make men more conscious of the sinfulness] of sin; and it was intended to be in effect until the Seed (the Descendant, the Heir) should come, to and concerning Whom the promise had been made. And it [the Law] was arranged and ordained and appointed through the instrumentality of angels [and was given] by the hand (in the person) of a go-between [Moses, an intermediary person between God and man].” 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. **** Does the Law given by Moses undo or alter the Promise of God. No Way! If we could be saved by following a set of rules it would have been easier than to have to send Jesus to die and it would have been up to us so that we could take credit in how good we are and how well we are doing in following the laws. The scripture said we were al guilty and incapable of saving ourselves and it also said that there were none of us righteous, no not a single one. We needed external help not a list of do’s and don’ts to get to heaven on. When we believe as Abraham believed we enter into the same righteousness that he received and we share in the inheritance and reap all the benefits of the promise which Jesus shares with us. The law was to be used as a set of guide lines like the bumpers they put on the lanes at bowling allies for kids to bowl with so that they stay out of the gutter and in between the lines. Perfect picture of the purpose of the law, stay between the lines, out of the gutter on the straight and narrow. Not that this will get you there, it is only to give you an understanding of how perfect you would have to be to get there on your own abilities. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise ****The promise which was to bless the whole world makes no distinctions between race, gender or social status. We are all equal inside the Promise which is established in Christ.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 18:17:48 +0000
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