Galatians – Embracing our Status in Christ

In my previous post in this series, we looked at Paul establishing the idea that salvation through faith has always been God’s plan and way. He expounded upon faith vs observance of the Law in relation to salvation and sanctification. We continue through Galatians 3:15-29 where Paul addresses the Law and the Promise given to Abraham. He touches upon why the law was given and how it correlates to the promise and how it all works together.

Read the entire Passage here (Galatians 3:15-21).

The Law and the Promise

God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The law was introduced 430 yrs later. Paul expounds on the true meaning of who comes under the umbrella of Abraham’s descendants and how the promise still stands through Christ even though the law came in after that. And where the law stands today with the coming of Christ.

Paul begins with a concept that would be relatable and understandable by both the Jews and the Gentiles. A Covenant/testament was something that was not changeable, it could not just be set aside or changed. A man-made covenant was binding and could not be changed, how much more so with God’s. Paul is talking about the covenant God made with Abraham. It was established. The promise was made to Abraham and his seed, the seed was singular, it was not referring to the entire genetic line of Abraham (Jews), but was referring to Jesus who would come through the Abrahamic line.

Paul writes that the Law that was given by God 430 yrs later did not invalidate the covenant made by Him with Abraham. What was promised – an inheritance. Christ was to be the recipient of those promises and through faith all those who believed in Him would partake in that covenant. The plan was always to bless all nations through the seed of Abraham who was Jesus. The promise came before the law, the law did not invalidate the promise. Then, why was the Law given?

Why the Law

Galatians 3:19 “Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.”

If our spiritual inheritance is indeed based on a promise, then why was the law necessary? Paul writes that the law was given because of transgressions. And, it was given until the seed would come. God was establishing a people that were to be set apart as His people; the Israelites. Sin was a part of the fallen nature of man, Christ was to come to redeem and restore, but until then God gave His people the law to live by. It was a way to teach people what God’s heart was for them in how they were to live as His people. To understand the good and bad through the eyes of the Lord and to restrain sin. The sacrificial system, the priesthood, all of it was to reveal people’s sinfulness, to mitigate wrongdoing, and to make them understand their need for a saviour. It taught them the concept and need for atonement. The law was temporary, it served as a guardian for the people until Christ came.

Even though the law did not change the original promise to Abraham or cancel it, Paul adds that it neither contradicts it because the law could not do what the promise was given to do.  The law could not in itself save or bring about a transformation within a person’s heart and desires, only God can do that. Christ came, lived a perfectly sinless life, substituted Himself in our place and upon the cross took the punishment that is justly ours. In doing so, He fulfilled and upheld the requirements of the Law. As a result, we are no more under the Mosaic Law but are in Christ. The purpose of the law found its completion with the coming of Christ.

The Reality of our Status in Christ

Galatians 3: 26-29 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Through faith in Jesus, we are adopted into God’s family. We all are of equal value and worth in His eyes, there is no Jew over the Gentile, male or female. Paul is not saying there are no distinctions between them, of course there are but in Christ there is no superiority and inferiority that man makes with wrongful intentions and attitudes. We are all one in Christ, and each of us can have a relationship with God.

We are by faith, descendants of Abraham and heirs of the great promise fulfilled in Christ.

Reflection points:

You are a son/daughter of God – let nothing else define or rob you of your true identity.

Just as the law served a purpose in enabling God’s people to walk in alignment with God’s ways and pointed them to their need for Jesus but not be in the place of Christ. In the same way, additional resources like devotions, commentaries, books and sermons, may they be in their rightful position of building our walk with the Lord but not replace our time in the word itself and with God.

God Bless.