▪︎ God makes this promise available to all of mankind thru faith – Gal 3:14;
▪︎ God’s promise cannot be nullified or amended by man – Gal 3:15;
▪︎ Christ is the one referred to by God’s promise to Abraham – Gal 3:16;
▪︎ The promise of life delivered to Abraham and ratified by an oath remains in effect for all of mankind if we believe – Gal 3:17;
(full text – Gal_3:13-19
13Christ 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”— 14in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
19Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
)15Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
19Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
Ratified
• ratified (κυρόω – Greek) – kuroó ► To confirm, ratify, make valid, conveys the formal, authoritative establishment of something so that it may no longer be questioned or altered – Gal 3:15; 2Cor 2:8;
• previously ratified (προκυρόω – Greek) – prokuroó ► To ratify beforehand, to preordain, to confirm in advance. – Gal 3:17;
Approval
• approval (μαρτυρέω – Greek) – martureó ► to bear witness, testify, give evidence, affirm that one has seen, heard, or experienced something – Heb 11:39-40;
• witness, testify – Heb 11:2, 4, 5;
(full text – Heb_11:1-5
1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the men of old gained approval.
3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. 4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
) 3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. 4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
• evidence – Heb 11:1 KJV;
Justify
• justify (δικαιόω – Greek) – dikaioó ► to show to be righteous, to justify – James 2:21-22, 24
Examples – John 14:10, 11, 16, 17, 20; John 14:23, 15:8, 17:21, 22-23;
Reckon
• reckon (λογίζομαι – Greek) – logizomai ► to account, reckon, middle voice from logos; to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively) — conclude – James 2:23; Rom 6:10-11;
Note: middle voice highlights the significant role of the Holy Spirit in both salvation and sanctification.
Nullify
• set aside – (ἀθετέω – Greek) – atheteó ► To reject, to nullify, to set aside, to disregard – Gal 3:15; Luke 10:16; John 12:48; 1Cor 1:19; Gal 2:21; 1Thes 4:7-8;
• abolish – (καταργέω – Greek) – katargeó ► To abolish, to nullify, to render ineffective, to bring to an end – Gal 3:17; Rom 3:3, 30-31, 4:13-14; 1Cor 1:28; Eph 2:14-15;
Legal Force
▪︎ sealed (σφραγίζω – Greek) – sphragizó ► to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation; by implication, to keep secret, to attest
• Divine confirmation – John 6:27;
• Earnest pledge – 2Cor 1:22;
• Spirit’s Guarantee – Eph 1:13;
Transformed
▪︎ Years of sin – Comparison… expand
Comparing Titus 3:3-4, 5 to Eph 2:12,13; and Col 3:7-8…
3For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
• THEN, We ourselves were at that time foolish toward God, and clued in to the world. NOW, we are clued in to God, and foolish to the world (1Cor 1:23, 24-25).
• THEN, We were enslaved to sin and dead to God. NOW, we are alive to God and dead to sin and the world (Rom 8:11).
• THEN, We were envious, haters; NOW we love God and all men (John 14:12, 15:13, 13:34-35)
• THEN, We were lost, but NOW we are found (Luke 15:24)
• THEN, We were separate from Christ, but NOW Christ lives in us (John 14:16, 17), being renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5; 2Cor 5:17)
• THEN, We were deceived, strangers to the covenants of promise but NOW we have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Eph 2:13)
• THEN, We were separate and alone but NOW we are one with Israel, unified as a single new man in Christ (Eph 2:14, 15)
3For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
• THEN, We ourselves were at that time foolish toward God, and clued in to the world. NOW, we are clued in to God, and foolish to the world (1Cor 1:23, 24-25).
• THEN, We were enslaved to sin and dead to God. NOW, we are alive to God and dead to sin and the world (Rom 8:11).
• THEN, We were envious, haters; NOW we love God and all men (John 14:12, 15:13, 13:34-35)
• THEN, We were lost, but NOW we are found (Luke 15:24)
• THEN, We were separate from Christ, but NOW Christ lives in us (John 14:16, 17), being renewed by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5; 2Cor 5:17)
• THEN, We were deceived, strangers to the covenants of promise but NOW we have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Eph 2:13)
• THEN, We were separate and alone but NOW we are one with Israel, unified as a single new man in Christ (Eph 2:14, 15)
See also: Christians are in Christ, in God