THE DOCTRINE OF

THE LAW AND THE PROMISES

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      The doctrine of the Law and the Promises clarifies the doctrine of Justification by Faith, while providing us with a more comprehensive understanding of the nature of faith. In short, our faith is faith in what the Bible says, and more specifically faith in God's promise forgiveness in Christ (Romans 10:17).

AN OVERVIEW

    In dealing with the error of works righteousness, Paul's letter to the Galatians (third chapter) focuses on the fact that faith in God's promise was imputed to Abraham for righteousness. Paul then draws a careful distinction between the law and the promises, while emphasizing the fact that God's grace is distributed to us solely through faith in His promises.

THE LAW AND THE PROMISES

6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
    [Comment: In verse six we are told that faith was imputed to Abraham for righteousness. In verse seven we are told that all who share that faith are the spiritual children of Abraham. And, in verse eight we are told that the faith being spoken of is the same faith by which we are justified, namely faith in the gospel (the good news of forgiveness in Christ).]

10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
    [Comment: These verses stress the fact that the law not only cannot make us righteous (justify us), but that all who are under it (all who trust in works to make them righteous) are under a curse if they do not do everything it requires. However, in verse twelve Paul does point out that even though the law is not of faith, if someone truly did what it requires he would live, because it requires us to confess our sin, seek forgiveness, and trust in God's promise of mercy (Leviticus 5:5-6, Psalm 32:5).]

13  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:
14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
    [Comment: In these verses Paul refers to Christ's substitutionary atonement, reminding his readers that Christ took our curse upon Himself in order to redeem us from the curse of the law, so that we (like Abraham) might be justified by faith. That statement should also lead us to ask: Why would anyone want to place himself back under the law (and its curse) when Christ died to redeem us from it?]

15  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.
16  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.
17  And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
    [Comment: In verse fifteen Paul is saying that even with men, once an agreement (covenant) has been made it is final. For example: If you buy a house, the former owner cannot come back ten years later and say "You have to move, I want my house back." In verse sixteen we are told that when God said "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed," He was not speaking of all of Abraham's descendants, but of one specific descendant, namely Christ (Genesis 22:18). Then, in verse seventeen, Paul drives home his point by telling us that If God made His covenant with Abraham through faith (in the promise), the law (which was given four-hundred and thirty years later) cannot nullify that covenant, or make the promise given to Abraham of none effect. In other words, if God makes an agreement, He is not going to break that agreement.]

19  Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
    [Comment: Verse nineteen tells us that the law was only added until Christ should come. Verse twenty-one tells us that if any law could save people – if anyone could get into heaven through his own innocence – God would never have sent Christ to die on the cross. And, verse twenty-two reasserts a truth that Paul explained more fully in Romans 3:10-28. Since "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" what God has promised can only become ours through faith in Jesus Christ.]

23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
    [Comment: These verses tell us that before the good news of justification through faith in Christ could be fully revealed, the law was a schoolmaster in the sense that it exposed sin and led those under it to seek God's mercy. However, now that we have the completed revelation, we no longer need to live under the constant threat of the law, for we are all the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.]

CONCLUSION

    The doctrine set forth in these verses clarifies what the Bible says about Justification by Faith, while defining faith not only as faith in a promise, but more specifically as faith in God's promise of forgiveness in Christ (verse 22). Although our society tends to place esoteric meanings on the word "faith," the only faith that brings God’s blessing is faith in Christ. For that reason, each promise given to us in Scripture must be understood in the light of its relationship to Christ. For example; Abraham’s faith in God’s promise was only counted as righteousness because his confidence in that promise was faith in Christ [no other faith would justify] (Galatians 3:6&16, Romans 4:5).