Living Free

FORGED PROMISE

There’s no way to measure the difference God’s promises can make in our lives.

(Galatians 3:15-25) Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in His grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

1. Our Prison

A. Everyone has broken God’s law.

(19) What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions...

B. Everyone goes to sinner’s prison.

(22) Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin...

C. Everyone gets detained in sinner’s prison.

(23) We were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.

2. God’s Promises

(15-16) Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.

A. What were God’s promises to Abraham?

· Offspring like the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16).

· Possession of the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:7; 13:14-15; etc.).

· Peoples of the earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3; 18:18).

· His offspring (including us) would inherit the earth (Romans 4:16-17; Psalm 37:9-34; Matthew 5:5)

B. Today, Jesus is the only source of these promises.

(16) The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.

3. Christ’s Passage

(22b) So that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

(24-25) So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision [imprisonment] of the law.

Christ’s passage from prison to promise – is FAITH in Him.