Galatians 3:15-29
Q.1. How do the Covenants with Abraham and Moses differ? Who is the promised seed? Why was the Law given? How does the Law relate to God’s promise? – (Gal.3:15-22)
The Covenant with Abraham preceded the Law of Moses by four hundred and thirty years. It was unconditional, having no rules and regulations (Gal.3:17 c.f. Gen.15:5-6). Just as a person’s last will and testament cannot be legitimately changed, neither could the Law of Moses invalidate the promises that God made to Abraham, based on his faith in God (Gal.3:15 & 17). In the Covenant with Abraham, the promises were made to Abraham and his seed or descendant (singular). Paul revealed that this ‘seed’ was not – referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed’, that is, Christ (Gal.3:16). He asked – Why the Law then? (Gal.3:19). He explained that the Law came with great fanfare – until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made (Gal.3:19). He went on to declare that righteousness and life could never be imparted by rule-keeping (Gal.3:20). In fact – the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe (Gal.3:22). The law proves that people have a root problem with sin. It also proves that we need faith in Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
Q.2. What did Paul mean by faith? Why was the Law given? How does the Law help us to become God’s children? Who is able to become part of God’s family? – (Gal.3:22-29)
Paul has proved that righteousness cannot be achieved by keeping the law. It is achieved by placing our – faith in Jesus Christ (Gal.3:22). However, the way of salvation was hidden until Christ came (Gal.3:23). Paul asserted that – 24 the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith (Gal.3:24). We become a child of God, only through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal.3:26-27). The family of God is no longer restricted to Israel but is extended to all nationalities (Gal.3:28). That is because we come under the blessing of God’s promise to Abraham, so – if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants (i.e. seed), heirs according to promise (Gal.3:29). Through faith in Christ, the promised Seed, we come under the promise and blessing of the Covenant that God made with Abraham (Gen.12:2-3; 22:16-18).