How does Galatians 3:15 illustrate the permanence of God's covenant with Abraham? Setting the Scene in Galatians Galatians 3 confronts believers who were tempted to add the Law of Moses to faith in Christ. Paul’s goal is simple: show that salvation rests on an older, unbreakable promise—God’s covenant with Abraham. Verse 15 supplies the key illustration. The Everyday Illustration: Human Contracts “Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended.” (Galatians 3:15) • Paul appeals to common experience: when two people sign a legal agreement, it stands. • “Ratified” (Greek: kekyrotai) pictures a document notarized, sealed, and filed—beyond tampering. • If fallen humans honor contracts, God—who cannot lie—certainly honors His. From Human Covenants to God’s Covenant with Abraham • Genesis 15:7-21 records God alone passing between the sacrificed animals, binding Himself without conditions. • Abraham simply “believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). • Galatians 3:17-18: “The Law, introduced 430 years later, does not revoke the covenant previously established by God… For if the inheritance depends on the Law, it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.” • God’s covenant precedes, outshines, and outlasts the Law. Proofs of Permanence in Scripture • Numbers 23:19 — God is not a man that He should lie or change His mind. • Psalm 89:34 — “I will not violate My covenant or alter the utterance of My lips.” • Hebrews 6:13-18 — God confirmed the promise with an oath so “we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.” • Romans 11:29 — “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” • 2 Corinthians 1:20 — In Christ every promise is “Yes.” Why the Illustration Matters • Validates faith alone: righteousness was credited to Abraham centuries before the Law existed. • Guards the gospel: no later regulation can undo grace. • Assures believers: the same unalterable promise extends to “all who are of faith” (Galatians 3:7-9). • Highlights Christ: the covenant’s “Seed” is singular—“Christ” (Galatians 3:16). • Secures our future: if God keeps His ancient promise, He will keep every promise to us today. Galatians 3:15, then, is more than a legal analogy—it is a divine guarantee. The permanence of Abraham’s covenant anchors the gospel, our salvation, and every hope we hold in Christ. |
    |