Lesson 6 for November 5, 2011

Contrary to human promises that are not worthy many times, a divine promise is a firm vow from God of doing what He promises. Divine promises in the Old Testament are presented in the form of unilateral covenant that God makes with man, promising to do something in his favor. “ Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it ” (Isaías, 46: 11) He promised Noah and his family to save them and the animals from the Flood (Genesis, 6: 18-20) He promised Noah that there would be no other Flood (Genesis, 9: 11-17) He promised Abram the land of Canaan, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates (Genesis, 15: 18) He promised Abraham a great offspring that would begin with Isaac’s birth (Genesis, 17: 1-21)

The promise Abraham accepted by faith was given as an unconditional promise from God. The promise “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis, 22: 18) would have been fulfilled regardless of how Abraham and his descendants acted. That is, Christ (the Seed according to Galatians, 3: 16) would come as a blessing for everyone independently of how man would act. “Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws” (Genesis, 26: 5) After the promise, God explained Abraham which law he should observe as receiver of the promise.

430 years after the promise, God gave the law to the descendants of Abraham in Mount Sinai when they needed to remember what God wanted from them. The law didn’t invalidate the promise (that is, faith) because God’s promise was unconditional. The law was an expression of what God expected from the receivers of the promise. “And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect” (Galatians, 3: 17)

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law” (Romans, 3: 31) Paul taught that the law wasn’t a prerequisite for salvation, but man is justified by faith without the works of the law. If it is that way, why do we need to keep the law? Jesus didn’t come to destroy (abolish) the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew, 5: 17-20) If justification by faith abolishes law, then there was no need for the atoning death of Christ to release the sinner from his sins, and thus restore him to peace with God.

Paul tells us that the law “was added because of transgressions” (Galatians, 3: 19). That is, the first purpose of the law is to point out what sin is and to show us our sinful condition. Through moral laws, the law shows us our sin. If it wasn’t for the law, we would never know we’ve sinned. But the law doesn’t solve the problem of sin. Through ceremonial laws, we were taught the way we must follow to solve the problem of sin. So the second purpose of the law is to make us feel the need of coming to the feet of Christ, the only One who can provide forgiveness of sins by His grace. “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians, 3: 24)

“The promise of the pact was not “added” to anything; it was given personally by God. Therefore, the verse 20 could be paraphrased like this: “However, a mediator involves an agreement between two parts; but the promise of the pact was unilateral: it depended on God alone and, therefore, it did not require a mediator”. The old pact was a contract between God and the chosen people, with Moses as a mediator; but the new or eternal pact that God made with Abraham was just a promise. In the old pact there was an agreement of the people to obey; but in the new pact, it is only necessary to accept the promise by faith, and obedience comes in a natural way” (SDA Bible Commentary, on Galatians, 3: 20) “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one” (Galatians, 3: 19-20)

Many people think that the law given on Mount Sinai was only for the Jewish people. If we study the Bible carefully, we can see that the law was in force much before Sinai and it still is in force nowadays. Christ can do what the law could never do—provide a true remedy for sin; that is, justify sinners and, by His Spirit, fulfill His law in them (Romans, 8: 3-4) Before Sinai You shall not murder (Genesis, 9: 6)Precepts, commandments, statutes and laws (Genesis, 26: 5)You shall not commit adultery (Genesis, 39: 7-10)The Sabbath (Exodus, 19: 23-26) From Sinai to Christ Ceremonial lawsCivil lawsHealth lawsMoral laws After Christ It wasn’t repealed by Christ (Matthew, 5: 17)Ceremonial laws were fulfilled in Christ (John, 1: 29) It still points out our sin (Romans, 7: 7)We must obey all the commandments (James, 2: 10-12)