Watching Paul defend and proclaim the gospel to the Galatians fascinates me. In particular the way he frames New Testament fulfillment against one of the oldest promises of God: his promise to Abraham that “in him all the families of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)” As we have seen this week Paul writes of a promise given (Gal. 3:7-9), a promise perverted (3:10-12), and a promise secured (3:13-14). In verses 15-18 he gives one more consideration of how to rightly see the gospel of Christ in light of God’s promise.
He gives the example of a man-made covenant: “no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. (v15)” In today’s terms we would call this an ‘irrevocable trust’, wherein the terms of the trust cannot be changed or terminated once they are set. He goes on to say that these original gospel promises were given to Abraham and his offspring (who is Jesus) 430 years before the Mosaic Law. Therefore, the law does not annul a covenant previously given by God, so as to make the promise void. Paul speaks of this covenant blessing as an inheritance: “If the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise, but God gave it to Abraham by a promise (Gal 3:18).”
The false teachers of Paul’s concern were telling the Galatians that the blessing of Abraham, and to be true sons of Abraham, comes through circumcision and obedience to the law. Paul exposes that lie by demonstrating that such requirements were not only late in coming (430 years late!), but would also change the very nature of the gospel which is given to us as a promise.
Another ‘Something to Praise’: A Promise That Stands
We may not suffer from the temptation to consider our worthiness before God in ethnic terms like some of the early Christians. However, I suspect all of us are sometimes tempted to question God’s promise by focusing on our worthiness and performance. God’s gospel promise to us is an irrevocable gift, received by faith as a just and rightful inheritance. Praise God!