Galatians 3:15-17 Christ is the Heir of the Promise, Since the Covenant with Abraham Stands

Galatians 3:15-17 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

Paul is here responding to the objection he knows will be made to his argument: that the Law, having come after the promise to Abraham, is the authoritative way, having changed the basis upon which God accepts man. To make his point clear that the Spirit is received by faith and not by works of the Law, Paul uses an everyday example. A common will, when it has been ratified, is not able to be added to or taken away from. That which was agreed upon stands. No one can change the covenantal agreement (Paul has in mind here Moses at Sinai) that is set in place until the terms and conditions are fulfilled.

But, the objection could be made, the promises were fulfilled in Abraham and his immediate descendents. Thus God is free to deal with His covenant people as He pleases; and so His new covenant is in the Law. Yet Paul makes clear that the promises have not yet been met. For God did not say to Abraham that this promise was with him and his “seeds” plural, but to His “seed” singular. The promise is to Abraham and to Christ. The covenant between God and Abraham was not fulfilled until Christ came and received the full blessing of the promise.

So because the Law came after the promise made to Abraham (430 years after), it does not nullify the previous covenant made. The previous covenant still stands in place. It remains in effect because it had not yet been fulfilled. That which came first has the supremacy (cf. John 1:15, 30). Thus it is impossible for the Law to have jurisdiction upon those who are under the promise given to Abraham.

Because Christ has received the fullness of the promise to Abraham, being the descendent of the promise, Christ has complete authority over the promise and all its blessings are given completely to Him. Thus it is only to those who are in Christ that receive the promise given to Abraham. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, trust in Christ and be found in Him alone. He has sole possession of the promise and gives it freely to all to whom He wishes (cf. Matthew 11:27-30, John 6:37). So look to Christ and partake of the promises freely.