Promises, Promises
Give Me Liberty • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsGalatians is God’s strongest word against legalism. The flesh loves to do things religious—celebrate holy days, practice rituals, attempt to do good works for God. Many religious systems today mix law and grace and present a garbled, confused way of salvation that is actually a way of bondage (Gal. 2:4; 4:9; 5:1). Keeping the Sabbath, dietary laws, an earthly priesthood, holy days, obeying rules—all of these are swept away in Galatians and replaced by the glorious liberty the believer has through faith in Christ! Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 515). Victor Books.
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God Made A Promise to Abraham, Galatians 3:15-18
God Made A Promise to Abraham, Galatians 3:15-18
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.
There are two key parts of this promise:
Its Definitive Boundary
Its Defined Blessing
Its Determined Boon
The Definitive Boundry, 15
The Definitive Boundry, 15
Covenant - a disposition of property by will or otherwise
4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
The Defined Blessing, 16
The Defined Blessing, 16
16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
The Determined Boon, 17-18
The Determined Boon, 17-18
The Law, coming after the promise, does not, and cannot alter the promise. Nor was it meant to do so.
God Gave A Law to Israel, Galatians 3.19-23
God Gave A Law to Israel, Galatians 3.19-23
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.
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.
Paul raises two questions that he anticipated would be on the minds of his hearers:
What purpose does the Law serve?
Does the Law oppose the promise?
The Purpose of the Law, 19-20
The Purpose of the Law, 19-20
It was added because of transgressions - people’s natural tendencies to break God’s Law
It was appointed by a mediator - one who stood between the people and God, Deuteronomy 5:5 “5 I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain. He said:”
Because mankind is naturally sinful, the Law stood between God and men, as its author, Moses, did. It was a means of bringing the two closer together.
The Promise of the Law, 21-23
The Promise of the Law, 21-23
The Law confines all under sin, not deliverance
The Law promises, and requires, a deliverer
The Law did not oppose the Promise. The Law kept the people for the Faith which would come in the future.
God Gave A Promise to All, Galatians 3:24-25
God Gave A Promise to All, Galatians 3:24-25
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.
Justification—the judicial declaration of innocence by God—has always come through faith alone in Christ alone. The Law served to teach us that lesson. Once we learned that lesson, the Law’s purpose was fulfilled and it was no longer required.
Conclusion
Believers do not need to become Jews, Jews need to become believers.
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.
Application
Everything in Chapter 3 has been one related appeal: Since both salvation and sanctification are products of faith through grace, there is no reason to return to the law of Moses or the rules of men. Our effort cannot save us. Our effort cannot sanctify us.