Lesson 4864

 (Lesson 4864) (05-25-25) Galatians 3:15-24 

   “Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” 

 

  In today’s lesson, Paul explained that God gave His promise to Abraham and to his Seed—who is Christ—long before the law was given. The law, which came 430 years later, did not cancel or replace that promise. Righteousness and eternal salvation, therefore, could not come by, or through, the law. Paul said the law was added because of transgressions, to show people their sin, until Christ came—the promised Seed. The law was not against the promises of God, but it could not give eternal life or sufficient righteousness to achieve it. Instead, it confined all under sin so that the promise of eternal life, through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to all those who believe. Righteousness that leads to eternal life does not come by doing the works of the law or by doing "good" deeds. It comes only by faith in Christ. The law served to reveal sin and the need for a Savior, but salvation comes through trusting in Jesus Christ alone. ~