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Galatians 3:14-18 (JDV)
Galatians 3:14 The purpose was that the endorsement Abraham received would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit by faith.
Galatians 3:15 Brothers, I’m speaking human language. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human covenant.
Galatians 3:16 But the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ.
Galatians 3:17 My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God and thus cancel the promise.
Galatians 3:18 You see – if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has done a favor to Abraham by the promise.
what the law was not
Paul is saying that the law of Moses was not a new dispensation that made null God’s promise to Abraham. Seekers of salvation through Christ do not have to go through the law to find him. That is what God intended. His promise to bless the nations through Abraham had been narrowly defined by the circumcision group to only include those who joined ethnic and religious Israel. No, Paul’s team declares that anyone can receive the promise the same way Abraham did – by faith. The only thing new in the gospel is that the focus of that faith has become more clear. The blessing of Abraham is free to all who put their faith in the Seed of Abraham – whom we now know is Christ Jesus.
Lord, thank you for your unmerited favor, received by faith in your promise to Abraham.
