Promise Versus Law

Galatians 3: 15-22

Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: 

Speaking only about relations between humans.  

even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 

When people make a contract, once it has been signed and notarized, the terms it sets out cannot be changed.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds." as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. (See Genesis 15: 18.) 

God made this contract, this covenant, with Abraham, as the Lord passed between the animals, ratifying the official, legal Promise, in Genesis 15: 9-21. 

This was the way a contract was ratified, that the responsible parties would walk between the animals "signing" the covenant. Only the Lord did this, having put on Abram a "deep sleep," as a "horror of great darkness" fell on him (v. 12). So the Lord alone would be responsible for fulfilling the terms of this covenant. 

And Jesus Christ was the "Seed" upon whom the terms of that Contract fell. 

What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 

When God gave the Law to Moses, that didn't change the previously ratified Contract God had made with Abraham. These are two different "legal documents."  

For if the inheritance is based on law, is it no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a Promise. 

Once the legal document has been ratified, it cannot be changed. 

Why the Law then? 

So then why did God give the Law? 

It was added because of transgressions, 

Because when the Messiah came, He would do in His body all the requirements of the Law, so we would recognize Him. And so that we would realize our culpability before the Law, that we deserve the Crucifixion Jesus would suffer in our place, individually. 

having been ordained through Angels by the agency of a Mediator, until the Seed would come to whom the Promise had been made. 

The Law was given to Moses by the Lord God Himself, who is always surrounded by Angels. But this Law would only be in effect until the One who would fulfill them would come. 

Now a Mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only One. 

There must be at least two for a mediator to mediate between. But only the Lord God passed between those animals to ratify the Covenant with Abraham. 

Is the Law then contrary to the Promises of God? May it never be! For if a Law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on Law. 
But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 

If someone could be righteous by obeying rules and regulations, then there would be no need for a Messiah at all. But the Law shows that we are all sinners, no one has ever perfectly lived their life having never made a mistake or wrong choice about anything. No one is perfect, we are human, with damaged DNA called a sin-nature. 

But the Promise still stands. It is offered to everyone who has come to God through faith in Jesus Christ. Just believe what He says, like Abraham did. 

O my Father, You have thought of everything! Your timing is perfect. Your Love for what You have made is astounding! Everything You planned out, You are doing. You are still at work, rolling out Your purposes day by day until everything will be finished. 

Father, use me in Your plan, let me be Your hands and feet to carry out Your will for me toward others. Let me reach out into the farthest reaches where Your lost sheep still are trapped. Let me find them, to extricate them from their bonds and carry them home into the safety of the Fold. 

O Father, sent out all Your workers into Your fields, to sow Your Gospel and reap Your great harvest, to fill Your house with Your family.

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, Lord God Almighty, King of the Universe, to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Even so, come soon, Lord Jesus!