THE DOCTRINE OF
THE LAW AND THE PROMISES
In
the third chapter of Galatians, the Apostle Paul clarifies the doctrine of
Justification by Faith, by calling our attention to the fact that we are
justified through faith in God’s promise, rather than through keeping the law.
Beginning with the fact that faith in God's promise was imputed to Abraham for
righteousness, he tells us that the promise Abraham believed was the gospel
(verse 8). He then explains that as Abraham was justified through faith in
God’s promise, all who trust in Christ are justified through faith in God’s
promise (verse 22).
THE
LAW AND THE PROMISES
Galatians 3:6-9 Even as Abraham believed God, and it
was accounted to him for righteousness. Realize therefore that those who trust in
Christ, are
the children of Abraham. And the scripture, having foreseen that God would
justify the heathen through faith, proclaimed
the gospel to Abraham in advance, saying, In
you shall all nations be blessed. So then those who are of faith are blessed
with faithful Abraham.
[Comment: In verse
six Paul reminds us that faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness. In
verse seven we are told that all who share that faith are the spiritual
children of Abraham. And, in verse eight we are told that the faith being
spoken of is the same faith by which we are justified, namely faith in the
gospel (the good news of forgiveness in Christ).]
Galatians 3:10-12 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it
is written, Cursed is every one who does not continue to do everything that
is written in the book of the law. But it is clear that that no man is justified in the sight of God by
the law: for, The just shall live by faith.
However the law has nothing to do with faith: for it says, The man who does these things will live by them.
[Comment: In
verses 10-11 Paul emphasizes the fact the law can never make us just or
righteous in the sight of God (see Romans
Galatians 3:13-14 Christ has redeemed us from the
curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is
every one who hangs on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the
Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith.
[Comment: In these
verses Paul first refers to the fact that Christ took the curse of our sin on
Himself, and then tells us that He died in our place so that the blessing of
forgiveness given to Abraham might be extended to the gentiles, and that all
who believe might receive the promise of the Spirit
through faith.]
Galatians 3:15-18 Brethren, what I am saying happens
in everyday life; Even if a covenant is but a human agreement, once it is
enacted, no man sets it aside, or adds to it. Now the promises were made to
Abraham and his seed. God did not say, And to your
seeds, as referring to many; but, And to your seed, referring to one which is
Christ. My point is this, the covenant
concerning faith in Christ, that was confirmed by God at the time of
Abraham, cannot be nullified by the law, which came four hundred and thirty
years later, so as to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance comes
by the law, it is not given by promise: but God gave it to
Abraham by promise.
[Comment: In these
verses Paul uses the fact that once an agreement (covenant) has been made it is
final, to illustrate the fact that God’s covenant with Abraham was not
nullified by the law (which came 430 years later). In verse 16 God himself
tells us that Christ is the "seed" mentioned in His promise to
Abraham.]
[Concerning
verse 17: Since the law did not change the covenant that God gave to Abraham,
forgiveness has always been through faith in God’s promise of forgiveness in
Christ. Therefore, any promise of
forgiveness connected with the law (animal sacrifice) was a promise of
forgiveness in Christ. Likewise, any promise of forgiveness that God has connected
with baptism is a promise of forgiveness in Christ. And, that forgiveness comes
to us the same way it came to Abraham, namely, through believing God’s promise
of forgiveness in Christ. (2Corinthians 1:21, Acts 10:43, Hosea 6:6, Matthew
12:7, Acts 22:16, Psalm 13:5)]
Galatians 3:19-22 What then is
the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed to whom the promise referred
had come; and it was put into force by angels in the hand of a
mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is
the law then against the promises of God? Absolutely not: for if there had been a law given that could
have given life, righteousness truly would have been by the law. But the
scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise might be given to those
who believe through faith in Jesus
Christ.
[Comment: In verse
19 Paul tells us that the law was only added until Christ should come. In verse
21 he explains that if anyone could get to heaven through their own innocence
God would never have sent Christ to die on the cross. And, verse 22 summarizes
what Paul explained more fully in Romans 3:10-28, while making it clear that
what God has promised can only become ours through faith in Jesus Christ.]
[Note: Verse 8
defines Abraham’s faith in God’s promise as faith in the gospel (no other faith
would justify). And, (as verse 22 points out) because God’s promises are
gospel, what is promised can only be received through faith in Christ. Our
faith is faith in what the Bible says, and more specifically faith in God's
promise of forgiveness in Christ (Romans
Galatians 3:23-26 But before faith came,
we were imprisoned by the law, kept under guard for the faith that would later
be revealed. Therefore the law was our
schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by
faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For you
are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[Comment: These
verses explain that the purpose of the law was to show us our sin and need of
forgiveness in Christ. However, we no longer need to live under the constant
threat of the law, for we are all the children of God through faith in Christ
Jesus.]
[Note: This
chapter makes it clear that throughout history, there has only been one way in
which God has imparted His grace to men, and that is through faith in His
promise of forgiveness in Christ. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (like
preaching) are only tools that God uses to give us that promise.
"Therefore, we may say that there is but one means by which the knowledge
of grace and salvation, and grace and salvation itself, are imparted to us; it
is the Gospel, the glad tidings of the grace of God in Christ Jesus." ("A
Summary of Christian Doctrine", by Edward W. A. Koehler, page 189.)]
CONCLUSION
The doctrine set forth in these verses
clarifies what the Bible says about Justification by Faith, while defining
faith not only as faith in a promise, but more specifically as faith in God's
promise of forgiveness in Christ (verse 22). Although our society tends to
place esoteric meanings on the word "faith," the only faith that
brings God’s blessing is faith in Christ. For that reason, each promise given
to us in Scripture must be understood in the light of its relationship to
Christ. For example; Abraham’s faith in God’s promise was only counted as
righteousness because his confidence in that promise was faith in Christ [no
other faith would justify] (Galatians 3:6&16, Romans 4:5).
Gary Ray Branscome