Sermon Guide: Galatians 3:15-29 "Law & Promise"

Key Passage(s)

Galatians 3:15–29 ESV

To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Sermon Overview

Justification with God comes not by law-keeping or moral performance but by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Paul shows that all who rely on works are under a curse because no one perfectly keeps God's law. But God gave Abraham righteousness through faith before the law or circumcision, and that same blessing—peace with God and his abiding presence—is extended to Jew and Gentile alike. Christ redeems sinners from the curse by becoming a curse for them, bearing God’s wrath on the cross so that they might receive the promised Spirit through faith and become true children of Abraham.

Sermon Structure

#1 The Purpose of the Law

• The law was not given to replace the promise

• It was given to expose and intensify sin and lead us to Christ

• Luther’s adoption illustration: law tasks don’t nullify sonship

#2 The Effects of the Promise

• Adoption: We become sons and heirs by faith

• Inheritance: We receive Christ, the Spirit, and will inherit all things

#3 The Nature of the Promise

• The law as a bilateral covenant (“If/Then)

• The promise as a unilateral covenant (“I Will”)

Questions for Discussion & Reflection

1. Paul says that the law was given “because of transgressions” — in other words, to intensify and expose human sin. How does the law do that, and why would God want that?

   
   

2. We talked about “flag-waving righteousness” and “self-esteem righteousness.” How is the gospel different from the world’s systems of righteousness?

   
   

3. In what ways has the Lord helped you to receive the promise and hear by faith, day-by-day? What does that look like for you?