Till he came to Christ Containers of promise (3: 6-18). In the book of Genesis, God made several promises to Abraham (Genesis 12: 1-3). When God confirmed these promises, Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (3: 6; Genesis 15: 6). Thus we see that Abraham was not justified by perfectly save works of the law, but by faith in the promises of God (3: 10-12). But the promise of blessing was not limited to Abraham, In you all the nations be blessed (3: 8). God made a covenant to bless the nations with Abraham and his seed, Christ (3:16). Was confirmed by the promise that Abraham accepted (3: 17.6). The law, which took effect 430 years later, did not annul the promise already freely given to Abraham. Along with Abraham, all who live by faith in the promises of God inherit the blessing that was promised in Christ long before there was the law (3: 9,14,18). The purpose of the law (3: 19-25). Although the promise of blessing had been given, the law was necessary for two reasons: because of transgressions (3:19). The law was given to Israel when he came out of Egypt, to be a holy nation, different from the others around them (Exodus 19: 1-6). The law brought knowledge of sin and punishment for sin so that sin could be avoided (see Romans 3: 19-20; 5:13; 7: 7). to bring us to Christ (3:24). Once someone broke the law, he was convicted because the law did not bring forgiveness for sin (3: 10.21 to 22). In animal sacrifices, the law served as shadow of forgiveness for sin to be carried out in the perfect sacrifice of Christ (see Hebrews 9: 1 - 10:18). Thus, the law was given to protect against sin until the seed should come to whom he made the promise, Christ (3: 16.19 to 23). The law was made to guide, not to save. Even at the time of the law, salvation was given only through the future sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 9:15). The importance of these facts is this: if the law was given until the coming of Christ, then, since he came, the law is no longer in force (3: 24-25). Children and heirs through faith (3: 26-29). Once the law is no longer in force, we must become children of God just as Abraham did, by faith in the promise of Christ (3: 7,26). The children of God by faith are those who have put on Christ in baptism - a response of faith (see 1 Peter 3:21) - and that, therefore, joined him as heirs according to the promise (3:27 -29).
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 09:36:15 +0000
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