Lesson for October 13, 2021
The Book of Galatians
The Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Law
Galatians 3:15-18
“Brothers and sisters, 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. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ. What I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 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.”
In Galatians 3:15-18, Paul once again used his debater’s technique to prove that salvation is by faith and not by keeping the Law. First, Paul explained the premise of a covenant (any covenant). Paul said that once a covenant is made and validated, it cannot be dissolved or added to (you would have to make a new covenant). Therefore, no one is able to dissolve or add to the Abrahamic Covenant – it stands confirmed by God, forever. Furthermore, this covenant was between Abraham and his “seed,” which is Jesus Christ.
The Mosaic Law, which was introduced to Israel 430 years after the Abrahamic Covenant, cannot dissolve the covenant. If it could nullify the covenant, the promise of God to Abraham would be of no effect. This, of course, would make God a liar, which is unthinkable. The promise to Abraham quoted in Galatians 3:8 was “All the nations will be blessed in you.” To reemphasize the point, Paul said the same thing in a different way. If, Paul said, the inheritance (eternal life) was by means of the Mosaic Law, then it could not be by means of a by-faith covenant. But, Paul said, God gave the promise of the covenant to Abraham and to his seed, the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, through Christ all the nations would be blessed. As believers, we merely share in this promise (inheritance by means of our faith in Jesus Christ and our union with Him).
The Abrahamic Covenant
(Genesis 12:1-4; 13:14-17; 15:1-7; 17:1-8)
This unconditional covenant was given to Abraham in seven parts:
- “I will make of you a great nation” – The Jewish nation was a great and mighty nation at various times in history.
- “I will bless you” – Abraham was blessed with material and physical prosperity, as well as spiritual prosperity.
- “And I will make your name great” – Considered the Father of the Jews, he has a very recognizable name among all nations of the earth.
- “And you shall be a great blessing” – Because of Abraham’s seed (Jesus Christ), he has been a great blessing to millions of people that have come to know Christ as Savior.
- “I will bless them that bless you” – Seen throughout history, those who protect and ally with Israel are always blessed.
- “And I will curse him that curses you” – In like manner, those that oppose Israel have eventually been destroyed.
- “In you shall all the families of the earth be blessed” – This refers to the coming of Messiah through the linage of Abraham and the blessings that accompany the Hypostatic Union of Christ for all mankind.
Galatians 3:19-22
“Why the Law then? It was added on account of the violations, having been ordered through angels at the hand of a mediator, until the Seed would come to whom the promise had been made. Now a mediator is not for one party only; but God is only one. Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Far from it! For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Having already established the fact that obeying the Mosaic Law could not provide salvation, Paul then explained to these believers in Galatia the true purpose of the Law. To fully understand the purpose of the Mosaic Law, it is necessary to review the period just prior to the giving of it to Moses, and the state of God’s people, the nation of Israel, at the time. (Exodus 32)
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments from God, the nation of Israel had erected all types of idols. This was an indication of how far away from God they had gotten prior to the giving of the Commandments. Moses was so angry that he broke the stone tablets on which the Commandments were written.
Until the time of the giving of the Ten Commandments, oral communication and a person’s conscience were the only rules by which a person could know right from wrong. There were no rules in written form, and they should not have been necessary. If not for the exceeding sinfulness of the nation of Israel in rejecting God’s rulership over them, there would have been no need for the giving of the Law.
Obviously, the children of Israel ignored what had been taught them by their forefathers and what their conscience told them regarding sin. Paul said the Law was added to what already existed (grace) in order that sin might be manifested as transgression. The Greek word for sin is “harmartia” meaning to miss the mark. Transgression is the Greek word “parabasis,” which means to step beyond a boundary into a forbidden area. Sin, therefore, is more than missing the mark (God’s perfect righteousness), it is stepping into an area forbidden by God. In order that there be no question as to what this “forbidden area” was, God gave the Mosaic Law.
The Mosaic Law became the standard by which a person could judge their condition, but grace was always available to the children of Israel as the means of salvation. The Law was brought “alongside” grace, not added as an extra provision for salvation. The Law enabled people to see their sinful condition and their need for a Savior. When the Savior (Abraham’s seed) came, there was no longer a need for the Law, a new standard was now available to compare oneself to – Jesus Christ. The Law was therefore temporary, to show a person their sinful condition and need for a Savior.
Paul also told the Galatian believers that the Law was administered by angels “in the hand of a mediator.” The Law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai and confirmed by the presence of angels. Moses then delivered it to the nation of Israel. The mediator (go between) in this case is Moses, who was God’s chosen spokesman and leader of the nation. (Acts 7:53; Hebrews 2:2)
Now a mediator is not for one party only; but God is only one. In Galatians 3:20 Paul explained that a mediator by the very meaning of the word must mediate between two parties. In the case of the Mosaic Law, Moses mediated between God and the nation of Israel. Therefore, the Law was a contract between these two parties – God and Israel. God, however, does not need a mediator when He freely offers salvation to anyone who will believe in His Son Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is Paul’s argument that grace is superior to the Law since grace does not require a mediator. The Law is a contract between two parties, but salvation is a promise (not a contract). Christ mediates for us after salvation.
In Galatians 3:21 Paul asks the next logical question, “Is the Law therefore contrary to the promises of God?” He then answers his own question by saying, “Far from it!” The Law and the promise are not in conflict. Each has its distinct function, and both were given by God. The Law condemns and the promise (Jesus Christ) delivers from condemnation. If the Law could have provided righteousness, Jesus Christ would not have had to die on the Cross. Paul then stated the fact that condemnation must precede salvation in Galatians 3:22. God’s plan is perfect and knowing that man would disobey Him, He designed a perfect plan for the salvation of man by sending His Son.
Galatians 3:23-29
“But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. Therefore, the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith (Christ) has come, we are no longer under a guardian. For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 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. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”
Prior to their faith in Christ, the Jews were dependent on the Law to show them the way to salvation. The Law pointed them to faith in the coming Messiah (Jesus Christ). After Christ came, there was no further need for the Law to point the Person to Christ. Therefore, the Law was like their guardian to escort them to Christ, so that they could be justified (declared righteous) by means of their faith in Him. The Greek word for guardian is “paidagogus” meaning a servant who is appointed to watch over a child until he reaches adulthood. This servant would lead the child to school and back. This is analogous to the Law, which was designed to lead us to Christ.
For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. This refers to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is neither seen nor felt. It is a fact stated in the Word of God for us to believe. Technically, it is when the believer is placed into union with Jesus Christ at salvation.
There are seven baptisms in the Bible and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is only one of these. The word for baptism in Greek is “baptisma” and literally means, “to dip.” It was used to describe the dyeing of a garment or the drawing of wine by dipping the cup into the bowl. John the Baptist and Jesus used the word to describe water baptism as submersion. Therefore, the accurate interpretation of the word is “to dip into or submerge.” (I Corinthians 12:13)
When a person trusts Christ as Savior they are “dipped into” or “submerged” into the “body of Christ.” This, of course, is speaking of positional truth, signifying our union with Christ. Water baptism for believers has always been a picture of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Submersion into water pictures how the believer becomes united with Christ. (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:4-5)
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. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. Once you believe in Jesus Christ, you are adopted into God’s family as an adult family member. You have been placed in union with Jesus Christ and there is not a racial distinction, a social distinction, or a gender distinction within the family of God. And a benefit of being in union with Jesus Christ is that you share in His inheritance as the “seed of Abraham,” and “heir to the promise” of the Abrahamic Covenant.