TEXT: Galatians 3:15-22

SUBJECT: Exposition of Galatians #7: The Argument from History

The Apostle Paul excelled in the art and science of debate. These he used--of course--not for personal victory but in defense of the Gospel. Never was his mastery on clearer display than in Galatians. He's debating the Legalists who teach that the blessings of God come through a combination of faith in Christ and obedience to the Law of Moses. Paul rebuts them with the Reformation motto Sola Fide!--"faith alone".

In this third chapter, Paul has proved his case in three ways: (1) by experience (vv.1-5), by Abraham's example (vv.6-9), and by the Law itself (vv.10-14). In the verses to follow, his reasoning becomes more complicated, he takes up the argument from redemptive history.

He begins it with an everyday illustration, v.15: "Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it".

The gist of what he's saying is this: Human agreements are binding. If a contract is signed by both parties, it must be fulfilled; it cannot be renegotiated. Everyone accepts this principle; no one condones a breach of contract. If even crooked men will honor their agreements, how much more the God who "cannot lie" and "will not repent"?

God made an agreement, v.16: "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, `And to seeds', as of many, but `And to your Seed', who is Christ".

The deal was struck with Abraham, but it didn't die with him. It lived on in his "seed" or offspring (who are many). It reached its climax, however, in his unique "Seed"--our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a peculiar way of reasoning--to be sure. But the conclusion is confirmed everywhere in the New Testament. Just two verses back, for instance, we read: "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus". In Luke 24, we find it is in Him that "the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms" find their fulfillment.

Here's the upshot: Our Lord Jesus was born centuries after the Mosaic Law was given. Therefore, the Abrahamic covenant was still in effect! It hadn't be revoked or superseded by the Law. This Paul makes plain in the verses to follow.

God's agreement with Abraham was not nullified or altered in the least by the Law of Moses, vv.17-18: "And this I say, that the Law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise."

The LORD promised to bless Abraham and his seed by faith alone. The Law, however, operated on the principle of works alone: "The man who does them shall live by them" says v.12. If, therefore, "works" are added to "faith" as a way of receiving the blessing, God has reneged on His promise to Abraham!

No devout mind can tolerate such a thought. Therefore, we come into fellowship with God and His people by faith in Christ alone.

If God never intended to save anyone by the Law of Moses, why was it given? Paul anticipates the question in v.19: "What purpose, then, does the Law serve?" He goes on to provide the short answer: "It was added because of transgressions". What does this mean? Some say: "To bridle sin". A hymn puts it this way:

"When men its offered help disdain

And wilfully in sin remain;

Its terror in their ear resounds

And keeps their wickedness in bounds".

If this is true, the Law's purpose was never met. Think about it: At the foot of Mount Sinai, "the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play". It did nothing to check their depravity.

The better answer is this: The Law was given to expose transgressions. And so it did. "Now, whatever the Law says, it says to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God".

This is a crucial theme. Paul will develop it at length. But first--like other good preachers--he takes off on a short tangent, vv19b-20: "...till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one." About the Law, he makes two observations:

In these verses, Paul contrasts the promise made to Abraham with the covenant given to Moses. The latter is glorious--to be sure. But its glory is eclipsed by the glory of the former. In short, the promise made to Abraham is more important than the Law issued at Sinai. Why? Because "The letter killed, but the Spirit gave life".

If the Law ends in death and the promise in life, the two seem to contradict each other. Or do they? Paul provides the answer in v.21: "Is the Law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the Law".

The Law and the promise are not at a cross-purposes; they run parallel to each other. The former exposes sin and demonstrates our inability to please God by works. The latter then comes in and says "Become righteous by faith". And so we do. We renounce ourselves and cling to promises of God in Jesus Christ.

This is the clear meaning of the summary statement of v.22: "But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe".

The Law, then, has served its historic purpose. It has "stopped every mouth...and left "the whole world guilty before God". But why has it done this? To bring us to faith in Jesus Christ and make us heirs of the promises made to Abraham.

This leaves us with a choice, a stark choice: Will we seek the favor of God by "trying really hard" or by "believing in Christ". These are the only alternatives. And will we receive people into our fellowship because they "measure up to our standards" or because they believe in the Savior. These are the only alternatives. The Holy Spirit will not allow us to have it both ways. We must choose: faith or works? Divine grace or human merit? Jesus Christ or ourselves? Which will it be? God give us the grace to choose wisely. For Christ's sake. Amen.