God is promise Maker and Keeper (Ps 145:13-14, Num 23:19). He established a covenant through Abraham that would be a blessing to all creation, “…I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Gen 12:2-3).”
In the first century of church history, there was considerable issues with Judaizers, which were those who were Jews that converted to Christianity that promoted that the laws of Moses must be observed as an “add-on” to faith in Jesus to inherit salvation. It was the one of the first recorded heresies to infect the early church. The first ecumenical gathering of church leaders, “The Jerusalem council” was convened to address the matter (Acts 15). In summary, the apostles agreed such teaching was not in accordance with sound doctrine of the Gospel and they sent Paul and Barnabas with a letter that memorialized their consensus and provided additional exhortations to the churches. Unfortunately, this false teaching continued to persist even after the Jerusalem Council was adjourned.
Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia were written to combat this specific heresy. Though he had taught them the true Gospel, they had quickly turned away to this seductive teaching. It is similar problem we still have today in a principled way. The law of Moses was a “works-based” system. It required obedience and performance in exchange for blessings from God. Many Christian today will confess they believe in Christ under the new covenant of grace, but actually attempt to live out their faith with an Old Testament Mt. Sinai covenant mindset. In other words, there are those in the community of faith still looking to justify their righteousness predicated on a transactional merit based relationship with God; rather than obeying God by love (Jn 14:15), because He has already justified us through Christ works.
In Galatians 3:15-29, Paul elaborates on the distinctions between the Law and the Promise. He taught why the “promise” (i.e. covenant of grace) is not only greater than the law, but also the law does not overrule or change the promises of such covenant given to Abraham. Further, the law does not oppose the promises, but rather highlights the importance of it, given that the requirements of the law revealed the hopelessness of earning one’s own salvation (Rom 7:7-11).
The promises were made to Abraham offspring, thus, “…And to offsprings, referring to many but referring to one. And to your offspring who is Christ (v16).” Gen 12 should be understood in two ways in speaking of “offspring” of “offsprings”:
- Those who believe in God (the Savior) as Abraham did, righteousness is imputed to them. They are the “offsprings”….that is the “nations” to be blessed through his offspring.
- Jesus is the most important “offspring” to come through the lineage of Abraham. Paul affirms that Jesus is the SEED (descendant) to whom the promises would be administered to the world through.
Paul reminds the reader that the promise was established by covenant 430 years before there was ever the existence (or inauguration) of the law. The covenant was made and sealed to Abraham as a guarantee. The law is not a promise, but was a requirement (obligation). It revealed that man is incapable of keeping the righteous requirements of the law, and therefore glorifies and spotlights the need for the promise guaranteed by God himself.
With this foundation, Paul rightly offers this question in verse 19, “Why then the law?” What is its purpose? The law was given to identify sin (i.e. transgression). Further, Moses served as a type of human mediator between God’s people (Israel) during the covenant made at Mt. Sinai where the law was given. Now under the New Covenant (established in Jesus blood), there is no longer any human mediators between God and his people. Christ is our Mediator (1 Tim 2:5-6).
Paul continues with his core argument in our focus text. The law does not oppose the promise, but rather assumes it1. The law condemns and does not give life. The law is also NOT in competition with the Gospel. There are not two paths to life, nor can the law works be added to Gospel grace.
Lastly, Paul describes one primary role of the law was to serve as “Guardian” to us. Here are couple of thoughts on what he intends to convey:
- A guardian (like parent-child relationship) facilitates training by pointing out and punishing misbehavior. The law functioned in similar manner as it highlighted the holiness of God’s standard, and punished law-breakers.
- A guardian served a protector. Like a parent that builds an environment around a child to separate and protect them from unhealthy influence of outsiders, so also did the law function in similar manner with Israel by prescribing a lifestyle to keep them from being seduced by the idolatrous worship practices of the Canaanites.
Paul rightly concludes we are no longer under the rule of the law (guardian) but we are in Christ by faith. We have union with him together through baptism which is an image of the vital union we have in Christ that he lives in us. Through Christ, God no longer makes distinction between Jews and Gentiles. The wall of separation that divided and alienated us from the commonwealth of God is destroyed (Eph 2:14).
Paul ends by saying there is, “neither Jew, nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female…(v28)” To be clear, he is NOT saying these categories ceased from being distinguishable groups in the earth because of Christ.
Rather, what Paul is endeavoring to communicate is that no longer does God give any “preferential status” based on ethnic groups, social status, gender…..for we are all one (adopted children) in Christ. Those who believe in Jesus are Abraham’s true offspring.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
[1] Sproul, R.C., The Reformation Study Bible, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians” (Ligonier Ministries, 2005)