Galatians 3:16

 

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ

 

 

In this verse in his letter to the Galatians, Paul referred to Genesis 22:18, where God had promised Abraham that “in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” He pointed out that the word “seed” was singular, not plural. He did this to make the case that Christ Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise. And therefore, believing in Christ had always been God’s plan for salvation, not the law.

 

Why did Paul go all the way back to Genesis to make his case? Because certain Judaizers had come to Galatia teaching that the new Gentile believers needed to start keeping all the law as given through Moses. Paul warned them that the law could not save. For the “righteous will live by faith” (Gal.3:11). Paul went back to the covenant God had made with Abraham to show its superiority over the covenant of the law made through Moses.

 

Why was the promise superior to the law? Several reasons. First, it came first. Paul noted that it preceded the Mosaic covenant by “430 years” (Gal. 3:17). Second, the promise was given by God as an unconditional covenant with Abraham that was irrevocable. But the Mosaic covenant was conditional upon Israel’s ability to obey it. Third, the promise was given for salvation, but the law was given because of sin. The promise was given to bring blessing to all nations through the Promised Seed, Christ Jesus.

 

For a promise to bring a result, it needs only to be believed, but for a law to bring a result, it has to be obeyed

 

Christ Jesus is God’s promise to believe.

 

 

1. Father, thank You for making a way for us to be blessed, not by works or the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ 

 

2. Lord, strengthen my faith to believe in Your promises. Help me rest in the truth that I am saved by faith and not by striving to keep the law.

 

3. Father, Help me remember that Your grace is enough, and that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is the fulfillment of Your promise for my salvation. 

 

4. Lord, help me to live by faith, knowing that the law was given because of sin, but that I have been redeemed by the promise of Christ. 

 

5. Father, Use me as an instrument to share this promise of hope and faith with the world.