OUR FATHER OF WHOM WE ARE SONS THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST

The Apostle Paul, in Galatians chapter 3 verses 15 -  29 writes that Godˋs promise to Abraham was to his seed which is singular noun and that singular seeds was not the many who descended from Abraham but the One who desccended from Him who is Christ. Because this covenant between God and Abraham was made before the advent of the Law of Moses, it superceded the law of Moses in its efficacy as a vehicle of Gods promises.

15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 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.

19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

Paul then asks the pregnant question; If Abrahamic faith is sufficient for the accrual of Godˋs promises, then what was the Law for? 

Paulˋs reply to his own question is eye opening: The law was introduced in order that transgressions could be  identified and diagnosed in the human race. The law was brought to man as a mirror to show him his fallen condition and his servitude to the law of sin and death. 

The law taught us what was wrong with us and taught us what we needed in order to have a remedy to our sentence of death. The law also clearly pointed to Christ but once we were redeemed by faith in Christ, the law was no longer our teacher or task master.

Paul then asked if the law was in competition with Abrahamic faith in the sense that it could provide an alternate route to achieving rightousness. 

Paul argued that was not the case either because if the law could have provided righteousness in some fashion, then the law would have been the singular route used to bring men to righteousness without the need to crucify the Son of God and subject Him to death. 

But the points of the law were the landing landing-lights on the runway of faith in Christ who fulfilled the law and who made a way for all mankind to escape death.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

All humans who have faith in Christ whether they are  slave or free, male or female, Jew or Gentile, are in Christ as Abrahamˋs seed and full heirs of the promises that God made to Abraham.

Amen.

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