The Promise Stands
I remember being a kid and making promises that had a saying associated with them if they were more serious than others. We’d say something like, “Cross my heart and hope to die.” Others might say, “I swear on my mother’s grave.” These add-ons meant someone was very serious about keeping a promise; however, even with such a serious statement, we all learned that keeping proved difficult at times.
Thankfully, God isn’t like us about a promise. He keeps what He promises and fulfills it.
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
The promise of being made the very righteousness of God in Christ, of being made a joint heir with Christ, of being able to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit, of becoming one of many sons brought into glory, and enjoying the privilege of knowing God based on faith in Christ alone cannot be taken away. We who have put our trust in Christ have been brought into the glory of the New Covenant!
This was a promise made concerning a covenant 430 years before the law and without the law influencing it in any way.
It was made to Abraham based on Christ! It can only be received in Christ. The law could never bring it to anyone, and no one will ever use the law to keep it as theirs. The law was not part of the promise. The law has nothing to do with this promise just because the law came into play with Israel before this covenant finally arrived.
God confirmed this covenant before the law and spoke of it as coming after the law. It would be a covenant brought to us by the Messiah, who would sit on the throne and end the rule and reign of sin for all who believed in and received Him. He would do for us what we could never do for ourselves.
Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Anyone who tries to go under the law for righteousness, which is another way of saying to be made right or kept right with God, comes under a curse.
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
God is keeping His promise! The promise He made in Christ! It is not according to the law; it is according to faith. Being a recipient of that promise means letting go of the law for any means of being justified or remaining justified in the sight of God. It is putting all one’s hope and faith in Christ alone!
The only way to measure up in the sight of God is to be in Christ, and that is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone. It is not according to my performance. The promise stands!
