Galatians 3.15-18
“To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 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. 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. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.”
Paul further emphasizes that Abraham and the promise are the precedent, not Moses and the law. The promise to Abraham and his offspring was made first, and the law was given 430 years later. Paul’s message is that while the law is important and played a role in God’s relationship with Israel, the law does not annul, abolish, or negate the promise the Lord made to Abraham and his descendants.
Here is a quick reminder of the chronology for historical context.
- 2200 BC. God called Abraham. The Lord promised him a son and descendants, and told him to leave his home in Mesopotamia and go the land of promise. Abraham responded in faith.
- Abraham had a son Isaac.
- Isaac had a son Jacob. In Genesis 32, the Lord changes Jacob’s name to Israel.
- Israel had 12 sons, who became the forefathers of the 12 tribes of Israel.
- 1300 BC. The Lord called Moses to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt, and while at Mt Sinai, the Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the Law.
Abraham and the promise came well before Moses and the Law. When the Lord gave the promise to Abraham, there was no nation of Israel. There were no Jewish people. There was no Law of Moses. The point is that Abraham (not Moses) is the precedent. God’s blessing to Abraham was meant for all nations, not just Israel. Abraham’s response of faith was an example for all nations, not just Israel. Those who trust in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, are recipients of the blessing the Lord promised to Abraham.
What is most amazing about this passage is that Paul says the Lord made the promise to Abraham and his offspring, with “offspring” referring to Christ. God’s entire purpose for calling Abraham was to establish people of faith who would trust God and his plan for redemption, rule, and renewal.
The problem was that Israel was not faithful to the covenant with God and lost sight of the purpose for which God called them. They became disobedient to the covenant; they also became ethnically arrogant and wrongly thought that God’s blessing was primarily and exclusively for them. They forgot they were called to be agents of God’s kingdom to a watching world of many nations. The people of Israel had a self-centered view of their relationship with God.
Paul makes as incredible statement here: Believing in Christ means that we:
- Become descendants and heirs of Abraham.
- Fully participate in the inheritance of God’s promise to Abraham.
- Inherit the land of promise, which is the kingdom of God on a transformed earth.
If you are a Christian, you are a son (or daughter) of Abraham by faith.
