Galatians 3:20-21 The Need for the Seed: Why Righteousness Cannot Be Based Upon the Law

Galatians 3:20-21 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.

While the mediation of Moses was necessary for the covenant between God and His people between the time of Abraham and Christ, the time of the covenant promises to Abraham to be fulfilled left no need for a mediator. Why is a mediator no longer necessary? The promises were to “Abraham and his seed.” A mediator is necessary when you have two parties negotiating terms/confirming the terms. The seed, Christ, is one party and God is a second party. However, as Paul states, God is only one. God is confirming the covenant promises with Himself—Christ. Thus there is only one party: God. Since God is one (and the promises are to Christ, who is God (as Paul explicitly claims here)) there is no need for a mediator. Thus, what was mediated by Moses is not applicable between God and the Seed. The Law is obsolete because the terms under the mediator are unnecessary (Hebrews 8:13).

So this begs the question: “Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God?” Does the Law interfere with the promises? Paul is clear; this is not the case. The Law is good. The Law was given for the purpose of showing us our need of the One who would fulfill the promises given to Abraham and who would make God both “just and the justifier” of the ungodly (Romans 3:21-26; 4:5).

If we could have been justified by the Law we would have been. However, we could not be justified by keeping the Law because we (outside of the Spirit’s regeneration) have a “heart of stone” (Ezekiel 11:19). The Law, which is impersonal and is only given to convince us of our sinfulness and to condemn us in our sinfulness, could not take out our hearts, which are not formable. We need the Spirit to mold our hearts so that we can (and will) believe in Christ. Thus, since Christ is personal, He can impute righteousness and can impart a “heart of flesh” to us (Ezekiel 11:19). He can impute righteousness because He can merit righteousness, and He can impart life because He can give the Spirit. By imparting spiritual life (regeneration unto life) through the Spirit (the Spirit removing our hard, sin-filled hearts that rebel against God, giving us soft hearts that see the worth of God and respond favorably to Him) Christ is able to bring us faith in God and thus to receive His righteousness, putting us in a good standing with God.

Yet do not dismiss the Law, friend. It serves its purpose. It is not evil or a hindrance. Do not look to the covenant given through the mediator: Moses. Rather, look to the One who holds the promises and fulfills them: Christ. All who are in Him are the heirs of Abraham as well, through His mediation on our behalf (we need a mediator, Christ does not (1 Timothy 2:5-6)). Trust in Him and receive the Spirit (for if you are trusting in Him, he deserves the glory—so give it to Him—for you have received the renewing work of the Spirit).