In today’s program, Paul Trask continues moving through his study of Galatians chapter 3 verses 15 through 18, and then verses 19 through 20.

Through scripture, logic, legal principles and experience, the Apostle Paul now proceeds to debunk 2 Jewish presuppositions (thanks to scholar Richard Longenecker for the following phraseology).

1. “that the Mosaic law was meant by God to be a fuller expression of and a supplement to the Abrahamic covenant”

• Once duly established, legal contracts cannot be altered, and nowhere does God say he’s going to amend, revise, alter, expand, improve upon or supplement his covenant with Abraham in the form of the Mosaic Law

2. “that the promise to Abraham had in view as its recipients only Abraham’s biological descendants and those related to the Jewish nation by Torah observance”

• The “blessing” which God had promised through Abraham was to go to “all the nations of the planet”
• This “blessing” was the precious gift of God’s very own presence, the Holy Spirit
• The Holy Spirit did indeed begin going to “all the nations” – not because of the Nation of Israel – but IN SPITE OF the nation
• The Nation of Israel had actually profaned God’s name among all the nations

God’s promise to Abraham, and the Mosaic Law were 2 separate contracts, made with 2 separate entities

• God’s promise to Abraham had virtually nothing to do with Law Keeping 

What, the, was the purpose of the Mosaic Law (chapter 3:19-20)?

• The law was added so that mankind would understand more fully the sins they were already committing, and had been ever since the fall of Adam and Eve. All mankind was thus declared, through legal statutes, to be trapped, as Paul says, in a “body of death,” inescapably sinful. Can’t help it, can’t stop it! 
• The Law was also added so all mankind would then know the deliverance provided by Jesus, by faith alone, as Paul says, “Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
• The law “was added” so we would understand our own inescapable sinfulness, while at the same time understanding more fully the righteousness of Christ alone. The righteousness which Jesus imparts to us by His own Spirit, when we humbly come to him in faith, asking Him to save us from ourselves.

The New Covenant in Christ is unilateral, premised on our faith alone, just like God’s promise to Abraham was conditioned only on his faith

• And just like Abraham, Christians still mess up
• But also, just like with Abraham, Christians’ messing up does not negate His promises to us
• Because ^“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:5–9)

(Galatians 3:26-29, 1-5, 6-9, 10-14, 15-18; Genesis 12:3; Ezekiel 13:19, 20:9, 14, 22, 22:26, 36:20-21, 22-23, 39:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16; Revelation 21:3; Galatians 3:19-20; Romans 7:7-8:4; 1 John 1:5-9)