Galatians 3:15-22
15: Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.
16: Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.
17: What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
18: For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
19: Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
20: Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
21: Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
22: But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Paul explained the purpose of the Law here. First, he said that even a human contract is not ignored or changed once it’s been ratified. Neither was God’s promises to Abraham forgotten or altered when the Law was given to Moses 430 years later. The promise to Abraham was to him and his seed—singular not plural—meaning Christ. The Seed is the promised one, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
When the Law came to Moses, it didn’t change or undo the promises made to Abraham. The promise that families, nations of the earth, would be blessed through the Seed of Abraham—Christ—was not done away with by the Law. It was a covenant God had made, and He does not forget or neglect His covenant promises. God keeps His word. The promise comes by inheritance, not by keeping a law.
So, why was the Law given? Because of transgressions. Meaning the sin in man’s heart would be revealed. Man would see the consequence of sin—the ugliness of it—the end result through the Law. He would see the bondage to it, how it enslaves, torments, even kills. Also, the Law came so those who desire to please God had a way to atone—although temporarily—for their sin so God could live among them in the ark and bless them. However, the Law was only in effect until the Seed came, because the promise would be fulfilled in the Seed. When Jesus came, the Law had served its purpose, expired, and the new covenant came into effect. Jesus is the great Mediator between God and man bringing restoration between the two.
Paul made it clear that the Law was not opposed to the promises of God. For if it had been possible for man to keep the Law and attain righteousness that way, then that would have been what happened, but it wasn’t. The Law revealed that everyone was under the bondage of sin. For centuries it was proven that man was bound to sin. Not one person could live righteously. That needed to be clearly established for God is a just God who has made the promise of eternal life available to all who believe in the one who fulfilled the Law—Jesus Christ.
16: Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.
17: What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
18: For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
19: Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
20: Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
21: Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
22: But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
***
Paul explained the purpose of the Law here. First, he said that even a human contract is not ignored or changed once it’s been ratified. Neither was God’s promises to Abraham forgotten or altered when the Law was given to Moses 430 years later. The promise to Abraham was to him and his seed—singular not plural—meaning Christ. The Seed is the promised one, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
When the Law came to Moses, it didn’t change or undo the promises made to Abraham. The promise that families, nations of the earth, would be blessed through the Seed of Abraham—Christ—was not done away with by the Law. It was a covenant God had made, and He does not forget or neglect His covenant promises. God keeps His word. The promise comes by inheritance, not by keeping a law.
So, why was the Law given? Because of transgressions. Meaning the sin in man’s heart would be revealed. Man would see the consequence of sin—the ugliness of it—the end result through the Law. He would see the bondage to it, how it enslaves, torments, even kills. Also, the Law came so those who desire to please God had a way to atone—although temporarily—for their sin so God could live among them in the ark and bless them. However, the Law was only in effect until the Seed came, because the promise would be fulfilled in the Seed. When Jesus came, the Law had served its purpose, expired, and the new covenant came into effect. Jesus is the great Mediator between God and man bringing restoration between the two.
Paul made it clear that the Law was not opposed to the promises of God. For if it had been possible for man to keep the Law and attain righteousness that way, then that would have been what happened, but it wasn’t. The Law revealed that everyone was under the bondage of sin. For centuries it was proven that man was bound to sin. Not one person could live righteously. That needed to be clearly established for God is a just God who has made the promise of eternal life available to all who believe in the one who fulfilled the Law—Jesus Christ.
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