The Changeless Promise
July 4, 2024
Commentary
The Judaizers thought they had Paul backed into a corner. If salvation does not involve the law, then why was the law given in the first place. Our faith is a logical faith and can be defended on rational grounds. Paul uses a logical argument that the law cannot change the promise (vv. 15-18). The Judaizers had been saying that the law was given and this changed the original covenant of promise.
Paul said that once two parties make an agreement, a third cannot come along years later and change it. The only person who can change the original agreement are the two people who made it: God made a covenant with Abraham that all of the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3) and this included being justified by faith. God did not lay down any conditions for Abraham to fulfill. The law did not replace the promise but was to be used as an instructor to teach man of his sinful condition. Furthermore this promise was not only made to Abraham but it was also made to Christ “and to thy seed which was Christ” (v. 16). Just as a “last will and testament” stands regardless of what happens, so did God’s promise made to Abraham (vv. 17-18). Circumstances may change but God remains constant and does not break His promises. He has promised to forgive our sins through Jesus Christ and we can be sure He will do what He has promised.
The law had two functions: On the positive side it reveals the will of God and shows people how to live. On the negative side it points out peoples sin and how it is impossible to live a sinless life.
Application
Circumstances may change but God remains constant and does not break His promises. He has promised to forgive me of my sins through Jesus Christ, and I can count on Him doing just that.
Galatians 3:15– 18 (NET)
15 Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, “and to the descendants,” referring to many, but “and to your descendant,” referring to one, who is Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: The law that came 430 years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.
Illustration: Unknown Riches in An Old Family Bible
Some time ago an elderly man living in New Jersey made an unusual discovery as he leafed through an old family Bible. Many years earlier, his aunt had died and left it to him. Part of her will read: “To my beloved Steven Marsh I bequeath my family Bible and all it contains, along with the residue of my estate after my funeral expenses and just and lawful debts are paid.” When everything had been settled the nephew got a few hundred dollars plus the old volume mentioned in the will. After the money was used up, his only support was a small pension, and for more than 30 years he lived in poverty. Then one day he cleaned out his attic in preparation for a move to his son’s home where he hoped to spend his old age. There in a trunk was the family Bible he had inherited. Opening it, he was amazed to find bank notes scattered throughout its pages. He counted over $5000 in cash. Within his reach were riches he could have been enjoying all along. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations – #4593).