The Law and the gospel
galatians 3:15-25
Main Idea: Christ is the fulfillment of all God’s covenant promises, giving life to those of faith.
I. The Priority of the Promise (3:15-18)
Paul continues to confront the Judaizers by appealing to a “lesser to greater” argument regarding man-made covenants (or wills). Just as there are human examples of unalterable, irrevocable, and unchanging promises being ratified, how much more is this true of the promises of God?
God’s promise… was free and unconditional. As we might say, there were ‘no strings attached.’ There were no works to do, no laws to obey, no merit to establish, no conditions to fulfill. God simply said, ‘I will give you a seed. To your seed I will give the land, and in your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’ His promise was like a will, freely giving the inheritance to a future generation. And like a human will, this divine promise is unalterable. It is still in force today, for it has never been rescinded. God does not make promises in order to break them. He has never annulled or modified His will.
~ John Stott, The Message of Galatians: Only One Way
God’s covenant promise came to Abraham (Gen. 12, 15) before he had done anything righteous, before the sign of circumcision (Gen. 17), and 430 years before the law was given to Moses (Ex. 20). Rather than the Mosaic Law “annulling” God’s covenant promise given freely to Abraham, it is built on the foundation of what came before.
II. The Purpose of the Law (3:19-25)
Paul now addresses two obvious questions that have been building throughout Galatians:
Question #1 (3:19): “Why then the law?”
Paul’s emphasis in this passage is the role of the Law in revealing and illuminating “transgressions” and sin. The law “increases trespasses” (Rom. 5:20), reveals “sin” to be “sinful” (Rom. 3:20, 7:7, 13), and “arouses” our “sinful passions” (Rom. 7:5). The law contributes to God’s plan of redemption by showing us our need for salvation and grace (cf. Ex. 20:18-19).
Question #2 (3:21): “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God?”
The law is not contrary to the promises given to Abraham, but instead serves a complimentary role. The Judaizers taught that obedience to the law “gave them life” and “justification” (Rom. 9:30-32; 10:3) rather than realizing it was built on the promise of grace (Gen. 15:7, Ex. 20:2).
Paul uses two analogies to illustrate his point. The law is like a:
Prison Guard (3:22-23), imprisoning and holding everything “in custody”
Guardian / Tutor (3:24), a “disciplinarian” until children reach maturity
Not until the law has bruised and smitten us will we admit our need of the gospel to bind up our wounds. Not until the law has arrested and imprisoned us will we pine for Christ to set us free. Not until the law has condemned and killed us will we call upon Christ for justification and life. Not until the law has driven us to despair of ourselves will we ever believe in Jesus. Not until the law has humbled us even to hell will we turn to the gospel to raise us to heaven.
~ John Stott, The Message of Galatians: Only One Way
III. The Person of Christ
Christ is not only the fulfillment of the promised ‘seed’ of Abraham (Gal. 3:16), he is also the fulfillment of all the covenant promises of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20: “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
Genesis 3:15: God graciously promises an “offspring of the woman” who would bring redemption by decisively crushing the serpent’s head
Noahic Covenant: God graciously promises never to destroy the earth again and recommissions humanity as his image bearers and representatives on earth
Abrahamic Covenant: God graciously promises that all the families of the earth would be blessed through the offspring of Abraham, and they will be given a land of rest
Mosaic Covenant: God graciously calls Israel to be his “Son,” a Kingdom of Priests who will showcase his glory to the nations through the Law, and establishes the sacrificial system to showcase the atonement of sins
Davidic Covenant: God graciously promises a “son of David” will reign faithfully over God’s people forever
