A Challenge to the Churches (Gal 3:6-4:9).
Christ Is the Source (Gal 3:1-29)
GIVING OF THE LAW DID NOT NULLIFY THE PROMISE
Galatians 3:15-29
Reading:
Songs:
Theme:
INTRODUCTION
A. The problem with promises people make is you can’t count on them with complete confidence. Even with contracts a lawyer can be sought to find loop holes. In showing the confidence God wants us to have in his promises, the apostle Paul
B. In chapter three, verses one through fourteen, Paul showed that the law produced condemnation, that Christ died to redeem from the curse of the law and to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham regarding the Gentiles, that is through Abraham would come one that would be a blessing to all nations. Regarding salvation by faith, Paul went on to emphasize that the giving of the law did not nullify the promise. Paul showed the superiority of the gospel over the law, challenging the saints at Galatia to remain faithful to the gospel over the law.
Discussion
I. CHARACTERISTIC OF COVENANTS (3:15-18).
Adherence To Covenants
A. Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto (3:15).
KJV
15 Brethren <80>, I speak <3004> (5719) after the manner of <2596> men <444>; Though it be but <3676> a man’s <444> covenant <1242>, yet if it be confirmed <2964> (5772), no man <3762> disannulleth <114> (5719), or <2228> addeth thereto <1928> (5736). {covenant: or, testament}
Textus Receptus
15 adelfoi <80> {N-VPM} kata <2596> {PREP} anyrwpon <444> {N-ASM} legw <3004> (5719) {V-PAI-1S} omwv <3676> {CONJ} anyrwpou <444> {N-GSM} kekurwmenhn <2964> (5772) {V-RPP-ASF} diayhkhn <1242> {N-ASF} oudeiv <3762> {A-NSM} ayetei <114> (5719) {V-PAI-3S} h <2228> {PRT} epidiatassetai <1928> (5736) {V-PNI-3S}
1. Paul pointed out that in covenants, testaments or wills made by men, confirmation (probated) of them by all parties concerned, thereafter prohibits anyone from adding to them or taking form them..
a. Without the full approval of all the signatories (a party that has signed an agreement) of a contract, one party to the contract cannot change the terms of the contract and expect that the others will abide by it.
b. In having such a deep regard for the covenants of men, we should hold a higher regard for a covenant with God.
(1) As in the Old Testament, so in the New Testament, God has set out the terms of his covenant and if we desire the blessings of it, we must remain faithful to the terms of it.
(2) Men may think they have the ability to change the terms of it and suppose in teaching contrary to it that they have changed it but all they manage to do by it is break the covenant, thereby, losing out on the desired blessings of it.
The Application
B. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, ... which is Christ ... (3:16-18).
16 Now <1161> to Abraham <11> and <2532> his <846> seed <4690> were <4483> <0> the promises <1860> made <4483> (5681). He saith <3004> (5719) not <3756>, And <2532> to seeds <4690>, as <5613> of <1909> many <4183>; but <235> as <5613> of <1909> one <1520>, And <2532> to thy <4675> seed <4690>, which <3739> is <2076> (5748) Christ <5547>.
16 tw <3588> {T-DSM} de <1161> {CONJ} abraam <11> {N-PRI} errhyhsan <4483> (5681) {V-API-3P} ai <3588> {T-NPF} epaggeliai <1860> {N-NPF} kai <2532> {CONJ} tw <3588> {T-DSN} spermati <4690> {N-DSN} autou <846> {P-GSM} ou <3756> {PRT-N} legei <3004> (5719) {V-PAI-3S} kai <2532> {CONJ} toiv <3588> {T-DPN} spermasin <4690> {N-DPN} wv <5613> {ADV} epi <1909> {PREP} pollwn <4183> {A-GPN} all <235> {CONJ} wv <5613> {ADV} ef <1909> {PREP} enov <1520> {A-GSN} kai <2532> {CONJ} tw <3588> {T-DSN} spermati <4690> {N-DSN} sou <4675> {P-2GS} ov <3739> {R-NSM} estin <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-3S} cristov <5547> {N-NSM}
1. God made a covenant with Abraham and his seed (v 16).
a. God made promises (Psa 105:9-10) to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3; 15:1-7; 17:1-22; 18:1-33).
(1) God reiterated those promises to:
(a) Isaac (Gen 26:3-5)
(b) Jacob (Gen 28:13-15).
(2) The physical aspects of those promises related to the descendants of those patriarchal forefathers.
(3) Contrary to the premillennialists, the physical aspects of those promises were fulfilled in Israel’s having become a nation and their having received all of the land of Canaan, the land of promise.
(4) Paul made it clear that the spiritual aspect of the promises, a blessing to all the nations, was not to many descendants as in “seeds” but to one as in a seed.
b. The spiritual aspect of the promises was met in the seed who was Christ.
(1) Since we know the seed is Jesus (v16), than to be part of the promise and receive the blessings of it, one must be a part of Jesus (Eph 1:3).
(2) It is in his name that we are saved (Act 4:12) because he is the captain of our salvation (Heb 2:10).
17 And <1161> this <5124> I say <3004> (5719), that the covenant <1242>, that was confirmed before <4300> (5772) of <5259> God <2316> in <1519> Christ <5547>, the law <3551>, which was <1096> (5756) four hundred <5071> and <2532> thirty <5144> years <2094> after <3326>, cannot <3756> disannul <208> (5719), that <1519> it should make <2673> <0> the promise <1860> of none effect <2673> (5658).
17 touto <5124> {D-ASN} de <1161> {CONJ} legw <3004> (5719) {V-PAI-1S} diayhkhn <1242> {N-ASF} prokekurwmenhn <4300> (5772) {V-RPP-ASF} upo <5259> {PREP} tou <3588> {T-GSM} yeou <2316> {N-GSM} eiv <1519> {PREP} criston <5547> {N-ASM} o <3588> {T-NSM} meta <3326> {PREP} eth <2094> {N-APN} tetrakosia <5071> {A-APN} kai <2532> {CONJ} triakonta <5144> {A-NUI} gegonwv <1096> (5756) {V-2RAP-NSM} nomov <3551> {N-NSM} ouk <3756> {PRT-N} akuroi <208> (5719) {V-PAI-3S} eiv <1519> {PREP} to <3588> {T-ASN} katarghsai <2673> (5658) {V-AAN} thn <3588> {T-ASF} epaggelian <1860> {N-ASF}
2. Having fully confirmed the promise to Abraham four hundred thirty years before the law for the Jews was given, the law not being a part of the promise, could not nullify or make void the promise as though to make the inheritance of the law rather then a promise (v 17).
a. Nothing which came after the promise was confirmed to Abraham, could alter the promise.
b. The promise was linked to Abraham and not to the law of Moses.
c. That is one reason it is ridiculous for people wanting the blessings of the covenant we are offered through Christ, to seek approval for what they want to do, by appealing to the Old Covenant.
18 For <1063> if <1487> the inheritance <2817> be of <1537> the law <3551>, it is no more <3765> of <1537> promise <1860>: but <1161> God <2316> gave <5483> (5766) it to Abraham <11> by <1223> promise <1860>.
18 ei <1487> {COND} gar <1063> {CONJ} ek <1537> {PREP} nomou <3551> {N-GSM} h <3588> {T-NSF} klhronomia <2817> {N-NSF} ouketi <3765> {ADV} ex <1537> {PREP} epaggeliav <1860> {N-GSF} tw <3588> {T-DSM} de <1161> {CONJ} abraam <11> {N-PRI} di <1223> {PREP} epaggeliav <1860> {N-GSF} kecaristai <5483> (5766) {V-RNI-3S} o <3588> {T-NSM} yeov <2316> {N-NSM
3. The inheritance was not of the law but was of promise (v 18; Rom 4:13).
Transition: This conclusion might prompt a question regarding the law.
II. CONDITION FOR MOSES’ COVENANT (3:19-25).
A. Wherefore then serveth the law? ... (3:19-20).
19 ¶ Wherefore <5101> then <3767> serveth the law <3551>? It was added <4369> (5681) because of <5484> transgressions <3847>, till <891> <3739> the seed <4690> should come <2064> (5632) to whom <3739> the promise was made <1861> (5766); and it was ordained <1299> (5651) by <1223> angels <32> in <1722> the hand <5495> of a mediator <3316>.
19 ti <5101> {I-NSN} oun <3767> {CONJ} o <3588> {T-NSM} nomov <3551> {N-NSM} twn <3588> {T-GPF} parabasewn <3847> {N-GPF} carin <5484> {ADV} proseteyh <4369> (5681) {V-API-3S} acriv <891> {PREP} ou <3739> {R-GSM} elyh <2064> (5632) {V-2AAS-3S} to <3588> {T-NSN} sperma <4690> {N-NSN} w <3739> {R-DSM} ephggeltai <1861> (5766) {V-RNI-3S} diatageiv <1299> (5651) {V-2APP-NSM} di <1223> {PREP} aggelwn <32> {N-GPM} en <1722> {PREP} ceiri <5495> {N-DSF} mesitou <3316> {N-GSM}
1. Since the inheritance was apart from the law, Paul answered a question the former Jews might reasonably have asked regarding what was the purpose then of God having given the law (v 19).
a. The law was added given, “because of transgressions.”
(1) added, Strong’s -
(2) The law was not added to the promise but rather, placed along the die of the promise.
(3) The law was added to emphasize condemnation for sin and therefore to curb it (cf. Rom 3:20; 5:20; 7:7ff).
b. The temporary nature of the law was described in that it was to continue only unto the coming of the “seed” which is Christ.
(1) Jesus came, fulfilled the law and forever removed it out of the way (Col 2:14-17; Eph 2:14-17; Mat 5:17; Heb 10:9)
c. In contrast to the promise, the law was “ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator” (v 20; cf. Act 7:53; Heb 2:2).
(1) The mediator was Moses.
(2) Moses mediated between God and the people of Israel (Joh 1:17-18).
20 Now <1161> a mediator <3316> is <2076> (5748) not <3756> a mediator of one <1520>, but <1161> God <2316> is <2076> (5748) one <1520>.
20 o <3588> {T-NSM} de <1161> {CONJ} mesithv <3316> {N-NSM} enov <1520> {A-GSM} ouk <3756> {PRT-N} estin <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-3S} o <3588> {T-NSM} de <1161> {CONJ} yeov <2316> {N-NSM} eiv <1520> {A-NSM} estin <1510> (5748) {V-PXI-3S}
2. Paul explained that in a covenant, a mediator does not represent only one side of those involved in the covenant over the other, but represents the side of both involved in the covenant (v 20).
3. With the law of Moses, he was the mediator between God and the people of Israel.
4. &#