Slightly off track from the lesson, but this is worth pointing out. God makes and keeps His covenants. God told Abraham, And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. (Genesis 17:7, KJV) And the nation of Israel is still here today, even though they are small and many have and are trying to destroy them.
Paul was saying that just as we enter into a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. We must be careful what human covenants we enter into, but once we enter into them, we are not to break them, but to keep them, just as God does. That's why a man and a woman should get married, once they are sure that God wants them to be married. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. (II Corinthians 6:14) They should not just live together or have a sexual relationship outside of marriage. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ... But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (I Corinthians 7:2, 8-9)
The covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, witnessed by God, is so important because God said, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5) So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:6) That's why ...the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, (Malachi 2:16) No one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, because God has sealed the covenant. And just as human covenants are binding, whether each party honors their part or not, so it is in this case, between God and Abraham and to his seed.
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” [Genesis 13:15, KJV] meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. (Galatians 3:16-18)
How gracious is our God! He keeps His promises with us no matter what, no matter how much time passes, no matter what laws may come and we break. Abraham was saved 430 years before the law was given to Moses and the children of Israel. We mentioned it in the previous lesson, and we reiterate it here, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. (Galatians 3:19-20) Why did God give the law? Why do we have laws in the land now? Because everyone isn't raised the same way and everyone doesn't believe the same thing. We have to have a standard of expectations, a set of rules and laws that all people have to obey so that we can live in peace. And there have to be consequences for those who break the rules and laws, so that the rest of us don't have to live in fear. That's why we also have a judicial system.
God said it best, Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 12:28) Therefore, the law was added because of transgressions, because of sin. If we could go back to the marriage example, that's why God commanded the children of Israel not to marry with people from the pagan nations they would live around and eventually conquer, You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly. (Deuteronomy 7:3-4)
What sin does is turn us away from following God, to serve other gods. That's why God gave the law and commandments, so that the children of Israel and all of us would know right from wrong. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:21-22)
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. (Galatians 3:23-25) In other words, the law "keeps us in check". We who are saved, who have accepted salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, will receive what was promised, even if we don't live perfect lives and obey as we should, because God, our guardian will keep His promise with those who believe, just as He did with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29) AMEN!
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