Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace: to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
1. CONTEXT OF GALATIANS 3
a) Galatians 1:1-5 – Pauls intro
b) Galatians 1:6-10 – Pauls rebuke of the Galatians (what follows in the rest of this chapter and chapter 2 is in response to the Galatians being removed from grace and putting themselves back under the law)
c) Galatians 1:11-2:10 – Paul defends his apostleship and gospel
d) Galatians 2:11-15 – Paul rebukes Peter for not walking according to grace among the gentiles
e) Galatians 2:16-21 – Paul explains how we are justified by grace apart from law
2. GALATIANS 3
a) Gal 3:1-5 – Paul again rebukes the Galatians here and calls them foolish (verse 1 and 3)
i. Paul asks the Galatians how they received the Spirit? – By faith – Eph 1:13, 2Cor 1:22, 5:5.
ii. Are we then made perfect by the law? No, we walk in the Spirit also – Rom 8:1-5, Gal 5:25.
b) Gal 3:6-9 – Abraham had righteousness imputed by faith – Gen 15:6.
i. Those that are of faith are children of Abraham – Rom 4:16-17a.
ii. Being saved through faith is not the mystery – Heb 11, Hab 2:4.
iii. The gospel preached to Abraham was “In the shall all nations be blessed”
iv. “Blessed” – Because they are justified, forgiven – Rom 4:6-10
c) Gal 3:10-14 – If you are under the law, you are under its curse – Deut 27:26
i. Christ took the curse for us and redeemed us from the curse of the law – Deut 21:23, Rom 8:3, 2Cor 5:21, Col 2:14.
ii. “Blessing” = Imputed righteousness (Rom 4:6-8, 20-25). “Promise” = The Spirit (vs 14, Eph 1:13)
d) Gal 3:15-18 – When we make a promise or covenant, we understand that we can’t go back and take it away, or add something to it. The same is true with the promise to Abraham.
i. The promise was made with Abraham – Gen 12:1-3, 15:1-6, 17:1-6 and Paul says that it was fulfilled in Christ. We are blessed today through Christ, Abrahams seed. (Gen 17:3-6)
ii. The Law was added 430 years later and can’t disannul the promise to Abraham.
iii. “Inheritance” – This is where people mess up and make us Israel and inheriting their promises (Land, possess the gates of our enemies, Nation above the nations) Context is “How did you receive the Spirit” – Rom 8:16-17, Eph 1:13-14 – That is the inheritance – Rom 15:27, Eph 3:6.
iv. We cannot forget that more covenants were made with Israel – Deut 5:2-3, Jer 31:31-34
e) Gal 3:19-22 – Christ was the end of the Law for righteousness – Rom 10:4 – Even Israel has to have faith in Christ – John 20:30-31 Rom 9-11. The New Covenant could not be established until Christ came and died – Heb 9:16. The same is true of the Mystery – 1Cor 2:6-8.
i. The Law was added because of sin – Rom 3:19-20, 5:20.
ii. Paul is not saying that Christ did away with the law – Isaiah 2:1-4, Micah 4:1-3, Matt 5:17 – Rom 10:4
iii. The law is good/righteous – Rom 7:10-12…. But can’t produce righteousness in your flesh – Rom 8:2-4
f) Gal 3:23-25 – The law is a schoolmaster – 1Tim 1:8-9
g) Gal 3:26-29 – Children of God by faith – (compare 1John 3:10, 5:2).
i. Baptized into the body of Christ where there is neither Jew nor Greek – 1Cor 12:13.
ii. Abrahams seed (spiritually) because you are in Christ (Abrahams seed) and heirs through him – Eph 3:6, Titus 3:7. Pauls point in chapter 3 is not that we replace Israel, but that we are children of God by faith, made perfect by faith, receive the promise of righteousness and the Spirit by faith, and not by the law.
