GRACE: A Promise Made

The Study of Galatians

Week 6

Galatians 3:15-18

My father used to always say, “A promise made is a debt unpaid.”

What about a promise made by God?

In this week’s passage, Paul continued to impart doctrinal truths to the churches in Galatia. Here, Paul not only addresses the promises made by God to Abraham but puts the law of Moses into proper perspective.

Paul states that the covenant with Abraham was given four hundred thirty years before the laws were given to Moses. So, the question arises, which trumps the other? Which one was the most important? Which one took care of the “debt unpaid”?

Let’s look at our scripture. “The promise was spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds’, as referring to many, but rather to one, And your seed,’ that is Christ.” (16)

God promised Abraham three things: (Genesis 12:1-3)

*that he would have an innumerable number of descendants (his wife was barren)

*that all nations would be blessed through his family (his seed)

*that he would be led to a land given to him by God

The word, promise, is used four times in our verses today. In the Greek, promise (epaggelia), almost always refers to promises made by God, guaranteed by God himself. Many times, the New Testament references a promise that points to a promise  made in the Old Testament, as in this case.

Paul wants the Galatians to understand that God’s promises can never be replaced by man’s law.  Abraham’s seed was Christ. He is the fulfillment of the promise. That is something that the law could never do.

“The Law…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.” (v17-18)

What I know is this, a promise is only as good as the one who makes it.

God is our Promise Keeper. When He makes a promise, nothing can void it.

God’s promise to Abraham wasn’t based on laws that didn’t even exist. No, God’s promise to Abraham only required that Abraham believe it.  

“Then Abram believed in the Lord; and He (God) reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

Genesis 15:6

What does the promise made to Abraham have to do with us today?

First and foremost, Jesus, our Savior is the fulfillment of that promise. Jesus is descendent of Abraham. (Matthew 1:16-17)

Second, Paul needed to clarify for all those who would listen that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not in addition to the law.

And finally, I believe that the covenant given to Abraham and was fulfilled in Christ speaks to the very character of God. He knew that we would need a Savior. He knew that a debt had to be paid. And He, as a Promise Keeper, made provision for that debt in His promise through His Son. 

A promise was made.  Our debt was paid.

“Now unto Him who is able to keep me from falling,

And Who makes me stand in His presence, blameless and with great joy,

To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Be all the glory, majesty, dominion and authority, both now and forever.

Amen.”

Jude 24-25

Jeannaswann

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