Day 912: Follow the promises - Galatians 3 vs 11 - 18

10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11-12 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”, 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings”, referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring”, who is Christ. 17-18 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterwards, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. Galatians 3:11-18 English Standard Version

When it comes to the corruption and terrible policies we see so much of these days it's often said that to understand what's going on we should 'follow the money'. However, when it comes to being in a right relationship with God through faith, then we should follow the promises! The apostle Paul was dealing with the situation of people who were insisting that gentiles who had come to Christ needed to keep all the laws that Jewish people observed. Why does Paul say that was not a good idea? (vs 10)

He quoted a verse from Deuteronomy, which was one of the main books where God's law was expressed, which pointed out that if we want to be saved by keeping the law, then we need to keep all the laws without ever breaking a single one! Mission impossible! Paul then quotes another Old Testament verse (from the prophet Habakkuk) which said that ‘the righteous shall live by faith.’ But faith in what? (vs 13)

Quoting yet another verse from Deuteronomy which said: “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”, Paul reminded them that that was exactly what happened to Christ. Only, Jesus was not on the tree for sins of His own, but for the sins of all those who would have faith in Him. And what was the outcome of Christ becoming a curse for others? (vs 14)

The promises God made in the Old Testament to Abraham would come to gentiles as well. And because gentiles were now included in God's promises, they could receive the Holy Spirit – not by being circumcised and keeping Jewish rituals, but simply by believing on Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

In vs 16 Paul quotes an Old Testament promise from the book of Genesis which God made to Abraham, and explains how that promise was ultimately about Christ. In vs 15 he reminded his readers that, even on a human level, people can't and don't just change the terms of a legal agreement once it has been ratified. Why is that an important point when it comes to God's promises to Abraham and the Law which was given through Moses? (vs 17-18)

God's promises to Abraham were made long before the Law was given to Moses. So the Law was never meant to cancel out God's promises. As Paul explains later in this letter, the Law was more intended to keep the Jewish people in check until the time when Messiah would arrive to fulfil God's promises in the lives of those who would have faith in Him.

There are many promises in the Old Testament (and the New), but let me finish with just one. In Isaiah 45:22 we read “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” If we turn from sinful ways – which is what repentance is all about – and put our trust in the one God gave to bear the curse we deserved – we shall be saved! Follow the promises that lead to eternal life.