Let’s take a look at the Epistle Reading together in Galatians, one of my favorite books in Scripture.
Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
In these verses Paul makes a strong case that the Lord has been faithful to his promise to Abraham, which was established hundreds of years before the Law was given to the Israelites. Let’s go back to Genesis 12 and look at the covenant God established with Abraham then. What is this promise?
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing
At this point in the Scriptures, we don’t know much about Abraham. There is no real explanation of why God is setting Abraham apart. Why would this particular man receive these blessings? I say this because we often take our eyes away from the Lord onto Biblical characters. And, I think the reason we are not given a bunch of details, it is because the whole story is not about a particular man or woman, but God Himself.
In these verses, you can see how God establishes it:
- “I” will make you a great nation. God will.
- “I” will bless you and make your name great. God will.
- And then, He says: so that you be a blessing. Later in the chapter He says it even more clearly: … and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Now, are nations being blessed because of Abraham and how perfect he is or because of the work God is doing in and through him? God is the One blessing the nations in and through Abraham.
Abraham’s willingness – to trust, obey, honor, participate in this relationship God called him into – is what set him apart.
Now with that background, in our passage, Paul is addressing the Galatians and setting the record straight. They are not to boast for being descendants of Abraham, and they are not to think: 1) that they’re able to fulfill the whole Law; and 2) that the Law is more important than the promise, therefore imposing it on others.
Yes, the Law came much later, 430 years,// but in no way it came to replace the promise of God to Abraham. In fact, the Law was given as a result of their sins. It worked as “guardrails” to set the Israelites apart, until Christ would come to set us all free.
Of course, there are other ways we can talk about the Law and how it prepared their hearts to recognize Christ – the Lamb of God who took away sin, defeated death, and united us to Himself, the Trinitarian One, so that we can become more like Him. Despite all that, many still rejected Him. And, those who received Him, did so by revelation of the Spirit – not the Law.
So, in our passage, we see Paul be very direct with them about the giving of the Law: (v.19-20)
“Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.”
I mean, it’s a great way to end any debate about the importance of any “intermediary” – be it Abraham, Moses, David or anyone else. There is only ONE GOD.
One Christ, who, concerning the work he came to accomplished, said: it is finished.
God’s promise to Abraham was finally fulfilled. All nations are still being blessed by his offspring – Jesus, the Christ // the Messiah // the Anointed One.
Gal 3:14
So that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Here is how this whole thing comes to an end. It is not through our good works, but through FAITH. And, what we receive is not a ribbon that says ‘good job’. We receive the Holy Spirit. He abides in us and we in him.
(By the way, if you haven’t read the email that went out on Friday, please do. It’s about Faith… )
Going back to our passage, Pauls ends this chapter in the most beautiful way.
In verses 21-22, he says:
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Here’s the thing: the Law was good, but it could never accomplish the internal, transformative work of the Spirit in us.
No man – other than Jesus, who is fully man and fully God – could defeat death and give us eternal life.
No one, other than God Himself could rescue us from the grip of sin, and give us fullness of life // transformed life // eternal life IN Him. He doesn’t give us life apart from Him // He gives us Himself // IN Him we have eternal life.
So now, I want to say this: if you struggle with some version of a ‘Christian’ impostor syndrome – where you don’t think you’re a good enough christian;
OR
if you go through life keeping tabs of everything you do as good or bad, maybe even keeping track of other people as good and bad… here is the thing I want to say:
You are FREE. It’s time to relax. It’s time to surrender all of that at Jesus’s feet // // get up // // and walk in the power and love He has for you. Walk IN the Spirit.
And if one or even your reaction to this declaration is “yeah but”…then that may be a good sign that you need to hear this as much as anyone: You are free!
I want to end with the rest of chapter 3, which is not included in our reading, but it is very life-giving
3:23-29
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come,[Christ] we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
This is God leveling the field. All of us are the same in Jesus Christ and heirs of the Kingdom. Let’s take off the chains of working to earn God’s love and forgiveness. The message of Galatians is YOU ARE FREE. Free to be IN Christ.
Free to Receive God’s love – no strings attached.
Free to LOVE others without feeling like a fraud.
Go this week and be free.
Amen