How does Galatians 3:15 connect with God's covenant in Genesis 15:18? Setting the Scene: Two Covenants, One Unchanging Promise “Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, no one can annul or add to it.” “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your offspring I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.’” The Legal Force Behind Covenants • Paul appeals to a common-sense legal principle: once a covenant is formally confirmed, it is binding. • If that is true for human contracts, how much more for one initiated and sealed by God Himself. • Genesis 15 records the dramatic “cutting” of animals, where God alone passes through, binding Himself unilaterally—an irrevocable, unconditional oath. Genesis 15:18—God’s Unbreakable Commitment • God speaks in the past tense—“I have given”—underscoring certainty. • The covenant centers on “offspring” (seed) and inheritance: land, blessing, worldwide impact (cf. Genesis 12:3). • Abram contributes nothing except faith (Genesis 15:6); God carries the entire weight of fulfillment. Galatians 3:15—Paul’s Human Illustration • By pointing to common contract law, Paul grounds his theological argument in everyday life. • He is preparing to show that the Mosaic Law, given centuries later, cannot override or modify the earlier covenant promise. • Verse 17 makes the link explicit: “The law introduced 430 years later does not annul the covenant previously established by God, so as to make the promise void.” How the Two Passages Interlock 1. Same Covenant Parties – Genesis: God and Abram (and Abram’s seed). – Galatians: God and Abraham’s singular Seed, Christ (Galatians 3:16). 2. Same Legal Principle – Genesis: a ratified covenant sealed by God alone. – Galatians: a ratified covenant cannot be nullified or amended. 3. Unchanged Promise Despite Later Law – Exodus-to-Deuteronomy law codes never cancel Genesis 15. – Paul uses Genesis 15 as the bedrock for justification by faith apart from law (Galatians 3:6–9). Supporting Passages That Reinforce the Connection • Hebrews 6:17–18—God confirmed the promise with an oath “so that by two unchangeable things… we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.” • Romans 4:13–16—The promise to Abraham “did not come through law, but through the righteousness of faith.” • Isaiah 54:10—“My covenant of peace will not be shaken.” Even mountains may move, but God’s covenant stands firm. Implications for Us Today • Salvation rests on God’s sworn promise fulfilled in Christ, not on human performance. • The unchangeable nature of God’s covenant offers believers rock‐solid assurance. • Just as Abraham believed and was counted righteous, we trust in the same covenant‐keeping God and receive the same righteous standing (Galatians 3:29). Takeaway Galatians 3:15 echoes Genesis 15:18 to declare that the covenant God cut with Abraham—centered on a singular Seed—was irrevocably ratified. No later law, circumstance, or human failure can annul or add to what God has pledged and fulfilled in Christ. |
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