DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS

Galatians 3:15-22      (9/16)       Epistle for Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week after Pentecost

 

The Promises: Galatians 3:15-22, especially vs. 18: “For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”  In reading Galatians, realize that it is a single, extended exhortation against the morass of religious legalism.  Saint Paul, living in the first century, was prompted to write against certain Jewish Christians who wished to see the Church revert to a law-keeping system like Judaism.  Of course, anyone at any time in history may fall into this legalistic entanglement and lose the Life that is in Christ.  The present Galatians passage is helpful, for the Apostle shows how legalism empties the promises in Christ.

The Saint begins with the covenant and promises that God made to the Patriarch Abraham (see Gen. 12:1-3;15:1-21;17:1-7; and 22:16-18).  Initially, the Apostle quotes the key promise, Gen 22:18, “'In your seed....'”  Then he declares that the Seed is “...Christ...” (Gal. 3:16).  The full, original statement of the Divine promise reads: “'In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you obeyed My voice'” (Gen. 22:18).

Historically, this promise was given by God in response to Abraham’s absolute, unswerving faith in the Lord’s trustworthiness in His promises (Gen. 22:1-15).  The emphasis in the Genesis account is on faith in God, and therefore on a willingness to act contrary-to-appearances if necessary because of total trust in God’s word.  Faith, the Apostle asserts, came in the sequence of history well in advance of Law - by a good 430 years (Gal. 3:17).

The temporal primacy of faith points to its spiritual primacy with God - the heart first.  Faith in God has greater worth or value with the Lord than objective obedience to the details of His Code of Law.  The Apostle cites several reasons why this is so.  As important as the Law is, and as holy and good as it is, it cannot annul the promises that were made before it was given (vs. 17).  In other words, when God gave the Law to Moses, that Code given from God on Mount Sinai did not set aside any of God’s promises already in place.  Even God’s holy Law does not supersede His promises.  And the promises still stand after Moses’ great work.  Put another way, the inheritance promised to the Seed - to Christ - is foremost among the promises of God, and the Lord extends that promise to those who, like Abraham, have unwavering faith in Him (vs. 18).

Note what follows: Saint Paul points out that the Law was not a waste of time nor superfluous.  He will say, in verse 24, immediately after this reading, that the Law functioned as “...our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” In the present passage, the Apostle sets the stage for this insight by showing how the custodianship of the Law functions.  Those who live under the Law of Moses are confined “...under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (vs. 22).

God’s Law is a most able instrument, exposing the sin in all of us, for even good and godly rules have a way of provoking us to disobey them - because of sin operating within us.  Truly, if one foolishly believes that by having a clear-cut set of rules he will be able to attain righteousness perfectly, he is sadly mistaken.  At best, the Law is a restraint.  As Saint Paul says, “...if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law” (vs. 21).  But God’s promises convey true assurance of life and righteousness.

The promise made to Abraham was a promise made to his Seed - to Christ.  It promised that in Christ, the Seed of Abraham, “...all the nations of the earth shall be blessed...” (Gen. 22:18).  That promise is being fulfilled in Christ.  People of every nation, language, and tongue are being blessed with Life in Christ.  May we never trade fulfillment in the Lord for any form of legalism!

Behold, the Hope of Israel hath come.  Rejoice, O nations; for the Light appeareth!

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