Gal 3:22 | KingComments | STEP | . Paul doesn’t get tired of trying to convince the Galatians how foolish and dangerous it is to make room for the law in their Christian life. He makes a comparison between the law on the one hand and the promise on the other hand. It’s magnificent to see how he approaches them. He starts with an encouraging “brethren”, because that is what they were in spite of their openness to the influences of the Judaist false teachers. He thus makes them feel his association with them. Then he appeals to their common sense and he refers to how things work in interpersonal intercourse. Could it be so, he says, that if you have a covenant with someone that you can just change that – of course not. Especially if that covenant is also confirmed in writing and signed with an official autograph. Anyone who can think a little bit logically will say: Of course it isn’t possible. . Well, Paul continues, promises were made to Abraham and to his seed. At this point Paul briefly comments on the subject of the seed of Abraham before he develops further the difference between law and promise. The word ‘seed’ requires some explanation. In the plural it means ‘offspring’ and in the singular it means ‘descendant’. The addition makes it clear that the latter is meant here. Added to that, Paul indicates Who that Descendant is, namely Christ. In Him all promises of God will be fulfilled. But at the moment the law was given, Christ was not yet come. That means that the promises fully remained as they were. . Moreover, note that the law was given four hundred and thirty years after the promise. Paul brings this argument forward to indicate the absurdity of trying to link the unconditional promises of God with the law which indeed includes conditions. Just imagine: someone promises to give you a thousand dollars, within a year. That’s nice, you say, and as time progresses, you think more and more about receiving those thousand dollars. But after ten months the generous person tells you that he expects some performance from you as a condition by which you can earn those thousand dollars. That beats everything, you would say, and being very disappointed you turn your back on the sweet talker. This is not the way to go along with each other. Well, it is exactly the same with the law and the promise. When God makes promises, He doesn’t change them by telling you later that it depends on performance. . You certainly see here that law and promise exclude each other. They have nothing in common. That’s why it is so beautiful that God granted the inheritance to Abraham by promise. What that means is not told here. You may think of the entire expanse of the land of Canaan, where Israel during the millennium will live. The point here is how the inheritance will be obtained: by law or by promise? It should be clear that it will be obtained by promise. . But then the question is given as to what function the law still has. The answer is: the law “was added because of transgressions”. Now you must read very carefully. It does not say ‘because of sin’. How could it? God doesn’t give something by which man becomes a sinner. On the contrary, the law makes it clear that man is a sinner, without pointing him at a possibility to escape the penalty that rests on sin. You can compare it to a mirror that shows you how dirty you are. The mirror shows you are dirty, but the mirror is not a soap you can use to wash off the filth. In the same way the law shows that you are a sinner, but it doesn’t give you the means by which you can be redeemed from your sins. The remission of your sins is only possible through the blood of the Lord Jesus. Then there’s still another difference between the promise and the law. With the promise, it is so that God gave it to Abraham directly, without the intervention of anyone else. With the law it is different: God gave the law through angels by the agency of a mediator, Moses. That’s how the law came to the nation. Therefore, the promise is greater than the law. . The promise shows a gracious, giving God, Who unconditionally takes everything upon Himself to fulfill the promise. On that man has no influence at all. That’s why it’s written “God is one” meaning that He is the only One Who takes all responsibility to fulfill what He has promised. The law, however, shows a holy, demanding God, Who holds man to the obligations he took upon himself. . After reading the above, the question may arise as to whether the law is in conflict with the promises of God. That of course can’t be so. Both come from God and how could it be possible for God to contradict Himself? The answer to this question is that both present a different side of God. The law shows God’s righteousness and the promise shows God’s grace. It was never God’s purpose to give life through the law. Law isn’t able to produce life because man is a depraved sinner. The law indeed promises life, but is not able to give it. It makes visible what is in the heart of man. . Therefore, it can be said that “the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin”. For example, in Romans 3 you read about the sinfulness of man ( ). Whoever is – or becomes – aware of his sinfulness, can go to God for forgiveness. Then the Lord Jesus and faith in Him come into view. The law or Scripture determines without any possible contradiction the depravity of every man. The purpose of this is (the “so that” of ) that man will take refuge by faith in Jesus Christ. There is no distinction here. The promise is ready for “those who believe”. Now read Galatians 3:15-22 again. Reflection: Mention some differences between the law and the promise.

‏ Galatians 3:22

Law and Promise

Gal 3:15. Paul doesn’t get tired of trying to convince the Galatians how foolish and dangerous it is to make room for the law in their Christian life. He makes a comparison between the law on the one hand and the promise on the other hand. It’s magnificent to see how he approaches them. He starts with an encouraging “brethren”, because that is what they were in spite of their openness to the influences of the Judaist false teachers. He thus makes them feel his association with them.

Then he appeals to their common sense and he refers to how things work in interpersonal intercourse. Could it be so, he says, that if you have a covenant with someone that you can just change that – of course not. Especially if that covenant is also confirmed in writing and signed with an official autograph. Anyone who can think a little bit logically will say: Of course it isn’t possible.

Gal 3:16. Well, Paul continues, promises were made to Abraham and to his seed. At this point Paul briefly comments on the subject of the seed of Abraham before he develops further the difference between law and promise. The word ‘seed’ requires some explanation. In the plural it means ‘offspring’ and in the singular it means ‘descendant’. The addition makes it clear that the latter is meant here. Added to that, Paul indicates Who that Descendant is, namely Christ. In Him all promises of God will be fulfilled. But at the moment the law was given, Christ was not yet come. That means that the promises fully remained as they were.

Gal 3:17. Moreover, note that the law was given four hundred and thirty years after the promise. Paul brings this argument forward to indicate the absurdity of trying to link the unconditional promises of God with the law which indeed includes conditions.

Just imagine: someone promises to give you a thousand dollars, within a year. That’s nice, you say, and as time progresses, you think more and more about receiving those thousand dollars. But after ten months the generous person tells you that he expects some performance from you as a condition by which you can earn those thousand dollars. That beats everything, you would say, and being very disappointed you turn your back on the sweet talker. This is not the way to go along with each other. Well, it is exactly the same with the law and the promise. When God makes promises, He doesn’t change them by telling you later that it depends on performance.

Gal 3:18. You certainly see here that law and promise exclude each other. They have nothing in common. That’s why it is so beautiful that God granted the inheritance to Abraham by promise. What that means is not told here. You may think of the entire expanse of the land of Canaan, where Israel during the millennium will live. The point here is how the inheritance will be obtained: by law or by promise? It should be clear that it will be obtained by promise.

Gal 3:19. But then the question is given as to what function the law still has. The answer is: the law “was added because of transgressions”. Now you must read very carefully. It does not say ‘because of sin’. How could it? God doesn’t give something by which man becomes a sinner. On the contrary, the law makes it clear that man is a sinner, without pointing him at a possibility to escape the penalty that rests on sin.

You can compare it to a mirror that shows you how dirty you are. The mirror shows you are dirty, but the mirror is not a soap you can use to wash off the filth. In the same way the law shows that you are a sinner, but it doesn’t give you the means by which you can be redeemed from your sins. The remission of your sins is only possible through the blood of the Lord Jesus.

Then there’s still another difference between the promise and the law. With the promise, it is so that God gave it to Abraham directly, without the intervention of anyone else. With the law it is different: God gave the law through angels by the agency of a mediator, Moses. That’s how the law came to the nation. Therefore, the promise is greater than the law.

Gal 3:20. The promise shows a gracious, giving God, Who unconditionally takes everything upon Himself to fulfill the promise. On that man has no influence at all. That’s why it’s written “God is one” meaning that He is the only One Who takes all responsibility to fulfill what He has promised. The law, however, shows a holy, demanding God, Who holds man to the obligations he took upon himself.

Gal 3:21. After reading the above, the question may arise as to whether the law is in conflict with the promises of God. That of course can’t be so. Both come from God and how could it be possible for God to contradict Himself? The answer to this question is that both present a different side of God. The law shows God’s righteousness and the promise shows God’s grace. It was never God’s purpose to give life through the law. Law isn’t able to produce life because man is a depraved sinner. The law indeed promises life, but is not able to give it. It makes visible what is in the heart of man.

Gal 3:22. Therefore, it can be said that “the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin”. For example, in Romans 3 you read about the sinfulness of man (Rom 3:9-24). Whoever is – or becomes – aware of his sinfulness, can go to God for forgiveness. Then the Lord Jesus and faith in Him come into view.

The law or Scripture determines without any possible contradiction the depravity of every man. The purpose of this is (the “so that” of Gal 3:22) that man will take refuge by faith in Jesus Christ. There is no distinction here. The promise is ready for “those who believe”.

Now read Galatians 3:15-22 again.

Reflection: Mention some differences between the law and the promise.