Galatians 3:15-29 Promise to Abraham

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....Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made....But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

God makes this promise to Abraham: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”[Genesis 22:18 NASB] Abraham didn't obey God's voice because of law, but because of faith. Galatians 3:6 says, "Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."

This promise was fulfilled in Jesus. The Law that was given to Moses was not a fulfillment of the promise, nor did it replace the promise. It was more of a a parenthesis: God gave the promise (God gave the Law until the promise could be fulfilled) God fulfilled the promise in Jesus.

The Law fulfilled a purpose. Without faith, we need guidelines and rules to teach us how to live.

A child lacks the maturity to live a faith-filled life. As we are taught, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," [Romans 3:23 NASB] We are born into sin and need rules to teach us right from wrong. As we mature, we can make the decision to follow Christ, and live by faith. Until that time, we are still bound by the rules and laws. If we live our entire lives without ever accepting Christ, we are still bound by our own laws, and will be judged by them.

"For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus." [Romans 2:14-16 NASB] Don't think that this passage excuses those who don't hear the Gospel, as I've heard it taught. It does not excuse, but holds them accountable for the Law of their own hearts, and whether they have lived by it, or have ever broken their own Law.

But when faith comes, we no longer need to be taught right or wrong because the Spirit of God is in us, teaching and guiding us individually.

God's promise preceded the Law of Moses, and God's promise supersedes any law that you place upon yourself.

You have been born again as a child of God. The Law of Moses was to the Jews only, but the promise to Abraham was, "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed."

Therefore there is no difference in Christ. As it says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

We are all children of God by grace through faith. It is not a result of laws or works, but because God promised.