Promises, Promises
Last week, we looked at the danger of trying to live according to works, because those kinds of works can only be measured by God’s standards, and there is no way we can live up to them, they are God’s perfection. Today, we look at the promises God made to the Israelites and whether or not any of the promises nullified another. It’s an important concept for us to grasp, because God makes thousands of promises in the Bible, and He keeps every one of them. But the Juaizers, like many in our time will try to nullify some of God’s promises with some of God’s other promises, for various reasons. In the end, we will learn that God’s promises all stand and they don’t nullify each other, they complement each other!
Scripture
Galatians 3: 15-18 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. (16) 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. (17) 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. (18) For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Bible Study Questions
Types of promises
The Bible is full of so many different kinds of promises. Some are warm and inspire us to grow closer to God. Some are scary and show the might and justice of God. Can you spot the different types of promises we see, based on the below examples?
John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
God’s promises
In the above examples, we can see two main types of promises in the Bible, namely conditional promises and unconditional promises. But there are also very special promises that God makes to His people that don’t just last for a period of time, they last for eternity. What are these kinds of promises referred to in the Bible?
Genesis 1:28 ESV And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 3:15 ESV I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Genes 12:1-3 ESV Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. (2) And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (3) I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
1 Corinthians 11:25-26 ESV In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (26) For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Galatians 3: 15-18 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
God’s promises compared to ours
Have you ever been through a really tough situation and prayed really hard about it? Cast your mind back. Notice something about those promises? They almost always come with conditions. God, if you could just do this, I will do that. And they are usually promises we can’t keep. How are these different to God’s promises?
Galatians 3: 15 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.
Titus 1:2 ESV In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
Offspring. Singular.
In verse 16, Paul goes to great lengths to explain that the offspring or seed in other versions is singular. Why is this a crucial point?
Galatians 3: 15-18 ESV 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.
Genesis 22:18 ESV and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
Genesis 17:7 ESV And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
John 8:56 ESV Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
Covenants work together
In verse 17, Paul is explaining that the covenants God made with His people did not cancel each other out. He argues that they could not because the covenant God made with Moses only came 430 after Abraham, so there is no way the law cancels out the covenant of faith. Why else do covenants not cancel each other out?
Galatians 3:17 ESV 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.
Galatians 4:4 ESV But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
Zechariah 12:2-3 ESV “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. (3) On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.
God’s promises fulfilled
Paul closes his argument by saying that it is only through Jesus Christ that we are saved and stay saved. In this particular verse, Paul refers to the curse that Jesus endured. When you read this scripture what new light does it bring to mind on the work of Christ?
Galatians 3:17 ESV 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.
2 Peter 3:9 ESV The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
The inheritance
Paul summarises in today’s scripture by telling us that those who live by faith will receive their inheritance. What is he referring to?
Galatians 3:18 ESV For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Hebrews 11: 8-11 ESV By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.