When Paul in his Epistles uses the noun “seed,” in reference to a man’s posterity, he generally means the “godly seed,” the “godly line” that ultimately led up to the Birth (the Virgin Birth) of Jesus.

As in our Text today: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” Galatians 3:16

Many promises were made to Abraham … but here is meant particularly “The Promise” … the “Good News” that God would (through his literal Son Jesus) bless all the nations of the earth! Which He has done, at the old rugged Cross of Calvary!

But Abraham had 2 children, two! (He actually had others later in life, by Keturah. But they do not enter into the picture in Paul’s typology.)

I’m speaking of Ishmael, of course!

What about him?

He was NOT the child of promise, as Paul will prove later in Galatians.

Isaac, however, is that seed!

“Of whom (Abraham) it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Hebrews 11:17

Thus our Text today can boldly declare: “He (God) saith NOT, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one.” 

And through Isaac (and his heirs, his posterity) would come the CHRIST!

Abraham’s ultimate, perfect Seed is Jesus!

One can trace that whole genealogy, around 2,000 years of it, in Matthew chapter 1! Which chapter begins this way: “The book of the generation of JESUS CHRIST, the son of David, the son of ABRAHAM.”

Wow!

Is Abraham that important, in the Plan of God?

YES!

Is Isaac?

YES!

In fact, every “link” (individual) in that godly “chain” … leading from Adam (according to Luke’s account) through Abraham (the Father of the Jewish people) to Mary the Virgin … is that critically IMPORTANT!God the Father carefully guarded that “line!”

Our Verse for today one more time: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” Galatians 3:16

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Did you ever think about studying the 3:16 References in the Bible? (Our Text today being among them.)They are quite amazing! As in John 3:16, for example. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

In fact, 1 Timothy 3:16 is pretty impressive as well. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Jesus in a sentence!

Do some searching today!

 

Paul now uses a “human” illustration of “divine” truth.

“Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.” Galatians 3:15

To Paul, to “speak after the manner of men” suggests “putting something into words a man can understand.” The Greek has it: “to speak anthropologically!”

He is here illustrating from “everyday life.” (But still writing under the direct Inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, “word for word” I believe.)

Therefore … “Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.”

By “covenant” Paul means “commitment, agreement,” almost “contract.” (In Greek it is the noun “diatheke.” Derived form both “dia” and “tithemi.” Essentially meaning “placing something,” usually a sacrificed animal, “between two agreeing parties!” (The still bloody animal pieces suggesting the utter gravity of the covenant! Deadly serious business!)

(Even in Hebrew “covenant” most often translates “beriyth,” originally from a root verb meaning “to cut,” as in “cutting” that sacrificed animal “into pieces.”)

Paul’s point being that even among (honest) human beings, a serious commitment is honored! “A man is only as good as his word,” the old timers used to say!

“Confirmed” translates the Greek verb “kuroo,” a cognate form of “kurios,” that is … “something that holds supremacy!” An agreement that “lords” over you! You MUST obey it, abide by it!

To “disannul” means (Greek “atheteo,” from “a” plus “tithemi”) really NOT to place that bleeding (dead) animal into the mix, between the two vowing people or groups of people! To void an agreement, or even more so … not to enter into it in the first place!

Again the point being: if a man “contracts” to do something (and wants to retain his honor) he will NOT back out of the deal! 

But neither (Paul continues) will he “add to” the original covenant, its stipulations, either! Here the verb is more complex, more compound. It is (in Greek) “epi” plus “dia” plus “tasso!” It is actually (primarily) a military term! To obey orders, to be in one’s rightful place! Not to do something you shouldn’t! 

Get it?

Even with humans … a “bond” is a “bond.”

We today don’t kill animals to ratify a pact, we simply shake hands. Or “sign on the bottom line” of a legally binding document! But the promise is still in force!

Now to put Galatians 3:15 into some “context.”

God the Father promised Abraham that Jesus (through Abraham’s loins, through Isaac and his many godly descendants) would come to earth and ultimately be a Blessing to all nations! (Via the blood drenched Cross of Calvary,  turns out!) That was a indeed covenant … and GOD KEPT HIS WORD!

Nobody breaks such a serious pledge!

And this covenant works via truth, via faith! This is an important sentence, that last one. “Via faith!” Which would be “saving” faith! 

By love, not by law!

God said He would send His Son to be the Saviour of the world … and that belief in Jesus would grant a person Eternal Life!

1 John 4:14 … “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” Amen!

And how does one accept this Saviour?

By taking God at His Word!

Trusting, leaning upon, believing! 

It’s this simple, with the Holy Spirit being in the middle of the situation … “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31

Praise the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

If man so keeps his word … what do you think the Almighty, Righteous God will do? In fact, already has done! Will always do!

 

Paul is a great proponent of the Wisdom of God!

And that pristine Wisdom certainly shines in today’s Text, Galatians 3:14.

Read it with me. “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” 

Wow!

God had previously promised Abraham to be such a source of blessing. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing (through Isaac and his descendants) : and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: AND IN THEE SHALL ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED.” Genesis 12:-1-3

God’s Ultimate Blessing, His Son Jesus Christ came to earth in human flesh … was born of Abraham’s seed … Jesus being a later Descendant of that great man of faith. (Both the Son of God was He, and the son of Abraham!)

And this Jesus, not being merely the Saviour of the Jews … made Himself available to the lost GENTILES as well (to us lost Gentiles)! Yes, I am saved by Grace, having made this Darling Jew (from Abraham’s lions) named Jesus, God the Son (as I’ve said) … my Redeemer and Lord!

True indeed … “The blessing of Abraham has come (and is continuing to come) on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ!” Just like Paul wrote!

And so we have “received” (“lambano” in Greek, meaning “to take hold of, to take advantage of, to catch”) the Promise of Eternal Life by faith in Jesus!

Well, Paul specifically says the Promise of the “Spirit” (the “Holy Ghost” Himself) … but that Promise IS Eternal Life!

Spiritually then, not physically, I am (in this salvific sense only) a child of Abraham! Remember Galatians 3:7, a few days ago? “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”

This fact does NOT in any way negate God’s promises to national (some day born-again) Israel, concerning their Land or the (second) Coming of the Messiah, or the Millennium!

But spiritually, a saved Jew and a saved Gentile are now “one” in the Lord!

Here’s this truth, beautifully and succinctly stated: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13

Hallelujah!

It all occurs “by faith” … in Jesus the Son of God the Son of Abraham!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

The Law of Moses thunders: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezekiel 18:20

Then I ask, “What is sin, then?” 

And the Bible answers: “Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4, ignoring the law, living as if it did not exist! Disobeying it, even in one little area!

Therefore one must conclude … the Law (of Moses) has found me a violator, a transgressor … and has sentenced me to death, eternal death in a place called Hell!

I am guilty!

But then, today’s beautiful Text …

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Galatians 3:13

Jesus took my curse and endured its pain, its penalty!

Our Lord did this on the Cross of Calvary!

That’s where they “hung” him on a tree, a stake, a piece of wood!

Paul here is referencing Deuteronomy 21:22-23. ”And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree. His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”

Yes, Jesus suffered God’s Wrath, God’s very Curse, on the “old rugged Cross!”

Then He offered, did our precious Saviour, to me and to you … “redemption!”

Liberty, release from the dangers of the Law!

The verb “redeemed” as in “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law” is “exagorazo,” meaning “to pay a price,” that is, “to make one’s own.” Virtually “to ransom!” 

Jesus (in a word picture) took my whipping for me!

Jesus died (suffering the gravest penalty of the Law) on our behalf, folks!

He vicariously endured the curse of the Law … so I would not have to!

Sure makes me love Him!

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Galatians 3:13

This great verse should be the centerpiece of all our thoughts today!

In 2 Corinthians 5:21 the Bible says “God made Jesus to be sin!” Then adds “for us!” Adding, “to give us God’s Righteousness instead!” 

Here it is, word for word: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

That’s Galatians 3:13 re-written!

Praise the Lord!

What a Saviour!

What a Plan, God’s means of salvation!

I stand amazed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul wrote in Galatians 3:12. these words: “And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”

By “law” Paul  means “the legislation” God gave Moses in the wilderness, at Mount Sinai. (The Greek noun “law” translates “nomos,” indicating something “established, a custom, an act regularly done.” The way the Jews tried to live for centuries! From Moses to Jesus! In fact, many still do try!)

And by “faith” Paul means simple “trust” in Jesus, particularly as “Saviour.” (The Greek noun “faith” translates “pistis,” originally meaning “a deep conviction that something is true!”)

And these two entities, “law” and “faith,” are mutually exclusive … as far as salvation is concerned! This Point is a major facet in Paul’s theology, God-given theology! (They cannot coexist as means to salvation!)

The negative conjunction “not” is “ouk” in Greek, very strong indeed! Definitely not!

Then Paul draws a conclusion … one of many flowing from his powerfully analytical mind!

” … but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”

The man (or woman) that “does” the law (“obeys” and “follows” and “treasures,” making it the “means of salvation”) must “live” by that law!

Must comply with the law (of Moses) 100% … totally!

He cannot deviate one iota!

And the truth of that matter is … no one, not a single human being … has ever been able to obey the law to that extent!

Oh, what a dark situation!

In fact, what Paul just wrote being accurate … salvation, eternal life, would seem to appear HOPELESS!

The law can only condemn us, because we can’t live up to its standards!

It invariably finds us guilty!

Be sure and read tomorrow’s Lesson.

It, our verse then, gives us the Solution to this whole issue!

Hint: He is JESUS!

Thank God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

(What man could not do, God in sending His Son Jesus … absolutely did!)