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Galatians 3:15-4:7

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 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

¹⁹ Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. ²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

¹ I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. ⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Paul writes about your freedom. Your freedom was won when Jesus Christ became a curse for you on the cross (Gal. 3:13). Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection for you has made you right with God. Paul continues to battle against those who say that faith is not enough and that you have to live a righteous life to be right with God. Paul says, “Not a chance! You are either saved by Christ alone through faith alone, or Jesus died for nothing.”

God made and kept His promises to Abraham and to Abraham’s offspring. In English, we can say that all of a man’s descendants are his offspring (plural), but we can also say that each individual descendant is a man’s offspring (singular). It is the same with the word that Paul uses in this text. But Paul makes it clear that the offspring who was given the promise is not many but one, namely Christ. In other words, all God’s promises to Abraham’s offspring are fulfilled in Jesus. But If God made promises that are only for Christ, what good is that for you? We’ll get there – eventually.

But first, Paul writes, “Before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.” By giving the Law, God kept you under captivity – in protective custody.

God gave the Law for your own good. God’s Law keeps you from hurting others and harming yourself. The Law restricts you with rules and regulations, “Do this. Don’t do that.” When you are tempted to kill, steal, lie, or gossip, the Law holds you back from doing those things that would destroy you and those around you. Like prison bars and razor wire, the Law keeps you in custody – it protects you. But protective custody is still custody. And this is good. But those who are kept under lock and key never love the custodian. Prisoners don’t love the prison guards.

In the same way, you do not love God when you are under the Law. You will fear Him and His punishments, but you will not love Him. God gave the Law to be your prison guard restricting your freedom. The Law keeps you from doing what you want to do, but again this is good. Because you are sinful, bent in upon yourself, what you want to do is harmful to yourself and to others. So God puts you under the guardian of the Law.

As your guardian, the Law always raises the bar. Do you think that you fear, love, and trust in God above all things? The Law responds, “Yeah right. You haven’t even scratched the surface.” If you think you are holy, the Law says, “Oh, not holy enough.” If you think you are pure, the Law says, “Not pure enough.” Do you think you are a good spouse? The Law says, “Pbth. Not good enough!” Do you think you are an exemplary employee, a fine parent, or an obedient child? The Law says, “You aren’t even close to what God demands of you.” If you plan to point to your good works on the Last Day, the Law will say to you, “You and your good works can go to hell.”

The Law kills you and every notion of goodness you have. The Law simply whispers and blows away your fig leaves to expose how naked and shameful you are.

So why did God give the Law? First to protect you and those around you. But more importantly, God gave the Law to drive you to Christ. All the Law can do is teach you that you do not and can not please God with your works. If you could earn God’s favor by living a good life by keeping the Law, then Christ died for nothing. The Law shows you your sin, and this is good because, again, the Law drives you to Christ – the one to whom the promises were made.

Now that you are in Christ, Paul writes, “Now that faith has come, you are no longer under a guardian – no longer under the custody of the Law.” As you have faith in Jesus, the Law has nothing more to say to you. “Christ is the end of the Law… to everyone who believes” (Ro. 10:4). In order for the Law to condemn you, believer, it would have to condemn Jesus – and it already has. Jesus was condemned for you. Jesus died your death and took your place in hell. Hell has no vacancy for you.

Remember when Moses was hidden in the cleft of the rock while God passed by? That is now a picture of you. You are hidden in the Rock of Christ. God puts you in the cleft of Christ’s wounds, in His pierced hands and side. Hide there and the Law cannot touch you. Now, believer, you take refuge in Christ who is the promised offspring of Abraham to whom all God’s promises were made.

You are now sons of God through faith, “for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” When God looks at you He doesn’t see your sins past, present, or future. When God looks at you, He sees Jesus covering you. He doesn’t see your disobedience because He sees Christ’s perfect obedience. He doesn’t see your sin; He sees Christ’s holiness. All of this is because God made a promise to Abraham and to Abraham’s offspring.

And here is the point: the promises made to Abraham’s offspring were not made to many – they were all made to Christ. And because of your baptism, you are in Christ so now you receive those promises. God made promises. God has kept those promises. You belong to Christ. You are Abraham’s offspring and a rightful heir of all God’s promises. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.