Galatians 3:15-22

The Law and the Promise

¹⁵ To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. ¹⁶ Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. ¹⁷ This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

¹⁹ Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 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 no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

It seems appropriate to introduce this passage with a courtroom scene. In this scene and according to the English Standard Version of the Bible, the Apostle Paul uses words like laws, covenants, annulments, ratifications, promises, inheritance, agreements, transgressions, intermediary, righteousness, justified, guardian, heirs, and imprisonment. Where yesterday’s passage provided an explanation of how faith, whether it is saving faith or sustaining faith, is a free gift from God. And as we exorcise and demonstrate this blessed faith that was given to us, God receives the glory. There is nothing we can boast about, for faith is all from God. In today’s passage in Galatians 3:15-22, Paul intents to present the legal ramification of our faith in Christ as the settlement is made for us in the divine court of law, which is the throne room of God.

In the first scene, Paul presents an example to illustrate His thought. Paul is saying if there was a covenant between two people, the terms of the covenant cannot be annulled after the two parties have agreed and ratified the terms. A promise is different. It is not an agreement between two people or parties. A promise is a freewill gift that is nonconditional. Paul now continues to explain that the promise between God and Abraham and his offspring, is not in regards to Abraham’s offsprings, but to his offspring, which refers to the one man, Jesus Christ the Lord. [As a parenthetical thought, this is important to us today in our witness to the Jewish nation, who do not see the Messiah as the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53. Their eyes are blinded to the truth and they see the suffering servant as the nation of Israel – let us pray that God opens their eyes to this important truth]. Now Paul can explain what he means. The nation of Israel went down to Egypt because Jacob’s son, Joseph, was elevated to the highest seat of authority next to the Pharoah. The Israelites came to Egypt to avoid dying from the famine that swept through the land. Instead, the Lord led them to Eygpt and they sojourned there for 430 years, where they eventually became slaves to the Egyptians. When Moses, by the mighty acts of God, delivered them from slavery, God gave Moses His law. This happened 430 years after the promise was given. This does not nullify the covenant, which God approved. Therefore, the covenant from God to Abraham did not come from the law, but from His promise.

In the next scene, we need to consider if the law that superseded the promise has any profit. In other words, why did God give us His law? What use is the law to us? Paul says in Galatians 3:19 that the law was added because of transgressions. It served a purpose until Jesus Christ, the offspring of the promise came. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” Christ came for a purpose. Even so, the law also had a purpose for us during an intermediary time. But in the fullness of time, Christ came!

Paul’s next thought also contrasts the law with the promise. Since the promise proceeds the law, are they contrary to each other? Paul says, “Certainly not!” Then Paul suggests that if the law was given to give life, then man’s righteousness would be required by the law. But, everything was imprisoned because of sin in Genesis 3. And this had to happen, so that the promise by faith may be given to those who believe in Jesus Christ. Therefore, the law had a purpose. It showed us our righteousness and brought us to Christ, the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ Himself.

“Before faith came, we were held captive under the law” (Galatians 3:19). We were imprisoned, so to say, until faith in Jesus Christ came to us by the Holy Spirit of God. In this sense, the law was our caretaker until Christ came, and we become justified by faith alone! Now, this is the most important verse for the Apostle’s argument. Galatians 3:25-26 says, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” Think and consider the ramifications Jesus’ words from the cross really has when he said, “It is finished!” Glory! Hallelujah! It is finished and we are no longer under the law, but we now live in Jesus Christ by faith.

In the last remaining verses of our passage, Paul is presenting what started the whole issue to this matter and to the occasion for his writing to the churches in Galatia. There is no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles, for we all are saved by grace through faith. Not by works of the law, lest anyone, even for the Jews, who may boast. But instead, our salvation rests in Christ alone who is the propitiation for our sins. And not just for us, but for all who put their faith in Him: Jews, Gentiles, men, women, slaves, and freemen. For we are all one united in Christ. And if we are in Christ, then we all are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to the promise. What is the promise? That all nations may be blessed through Abraham and his offspring, Jesus Christ our Lord God and Savior!

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Our Lord God of all mercies, thank You for the great mystery that has been revealed, that Gentiles, including me, are adopted into the family of God. I praise and worship you, Lord God Almighty. Thank You for this truth. Help and enable me to defend this gospel truth, and to share this truth with others, especially my children. Help me to walk by faith in Christ in my growth for holiness that pleases You. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen!

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It Is Finished!  by William J. and Gloria Gaither