2. Central Gathering -- June 14, 2015 -- WELCOME TO

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4. 15 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. G ALATIANS 3:15-18 (ESV)

5. 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. G ALATIANS 3:19-21 (ESV)

6. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. G ALATIANS 3:22-24 (ESV)

7. 15 To give a human example, brothers: 15 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. G ALATIANS 3:15-16 (ESV)

8. 15 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. G ALATIANS 3:15-16 (ESV)

9. offspringoffsprings offspring 15 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. G ALATIANS 3:15-18 (ESV) offspring = seed = σ π έρμα

10. offspringoffspring Genesis 3:15 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. T HE P ROMISED S EED

11. Genesis 3:15 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. offspring Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” T HE P ROMISED S EED

12. Genesis 3:15 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. Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” son one Genesis 5:28-29 28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he fathered a son 29 and called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the L ORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” T HE P ROMISED S EED

13. Genesis 12:1-3 1 Now the L ORD 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.” T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

14. Genesis 12:1-3 1 Now the L ORD 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.” offspring Genesis 12:7b “To your offspring I will give this land.” T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

15. Genesis 12:1-3 1 Now the L ORD 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.” Genesis 12:7b “To your offspring I will give this land.” offspring offspring Genesis 13:16 “I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.” T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

16. offspring Genesis 15:5-6 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the L ORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

17. Genesis 15:5-6 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the L ORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. offspring Genesis 15:13-14 13 Then the L ORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.” T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

18. Genesis 15:5-6 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the L ORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:13-14 13 Then the L ORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.” offspring Genesis 15:18a On that day the L ORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land…” T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

19. Genesis 17:1-14 The Covenant of Circumcision T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

20. Genesis 17:1-14 The Covenant of Circumcision Genesis 21:1 The L ORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the L ORD did to Sarah as he had promised. T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

21. Genesis 17:1-14 The Covenant of Circumcision Genesis 21:1 The L ORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the L ORD did to Sarah as he had promised. Genesis 22:15-18 Death of the Seed of Promise foreshadowed (See Hebrews 11:17-19) T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

22. Genesis 17:1-14 The Covenant of Circumcision Genesis 21:1 The L ORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the L ORD did to Sarah as he had promised. Genesis 22:15-18 Death of the Seed of Promise foreshadowed (See Hebrews 11:17-19) Genesis 26:3-5 Promise reiterated to Isaac T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

23. Genesis 17:1-14 The Covenant of Circumcision Genesis 21:1 The L ORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the L ORD did to Sarah as he had promised. Genesis 22:15-18 Death of the Seed of Promise foreshadowed (See Hebrews 11:17-19) Genesis 26:3-5 Promise reiterated to Isaac Genesis 27:29 Promise passed on to Jacob T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

24. Genesis 17:1-14 The Covenant of Circumcision Genesis 21:1 The L ORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the L ORD did to Sarah as he had promised. Genesis 22:15-18 Death of the Seed of Promise foreshadowed (See Hebrews 11:17-19) Genesis 26:3-5 Promise reiterated to Isaac Genesis 27:29 Promise passed on to Jacob Genesis 28:13-15 Promise reiterated to Jacob T HE A BRAHAMIC C OVENANT

25. grain of wheat John 12:23-24 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. J ESUS, THE S EED OF P ROMISE

26. John 12:23-24 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. offspring Galatians 3:29 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. J ESUS, THE S EED OF P ROMISE

27. John 12:23-24 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Galatians 3:29 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. Matthew 13:31-32 The Parable of the Mustard Seed J ESUS, THE S EED OF P ROMISE

28. 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. G ALATIANS 3:17-18 (ESV)

29. 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. G ALATIANS 3:17-18 (ESV) Exodus 12:40 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years.

30. 19 Why then the law? 19 Why then the law? G ALATIANS 3:19a (ESV)

31. 19 Why then the law? 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. G ALATIANS 3:19-21 (ESV)

32. 19 Why then the law? 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. G ALATIANS 3:19-21 (ESV) 1. It says, “You are bad.”

33. 19 Why then the law? 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. See Romans 2:12-16 & 7:7-12 G ALATIANS 3:19-21 (ESV) 1. It says, “You are bad.”

34. 19 Why then the law? 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. G ALATIANS 3:19-21 (ESV) 2. It says, “God is good.”

35. 19 Why then the law? 19 Why then the law? 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. G ALATIANS 3:19a, 22-24 (ESV)

36. 19 Why then the law? 19 Why then the law? guardian 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. G ALATIANS 3:19a, 22-24 (ESV) 3. It says, “I’m your babysitter.”

37. “What had to happen? Answer: the doctors themselves needed to be put in quarantine until the medicine they were carrying could be applied. The law was a kind of temporary quarantine for this purpose; to go on insisting on it after the solution has been found is absurd… It was given for a set period of time, until the single family intended and promised by God should arrive with the Messiah.” -N.T. Wright, Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians T HE L AW AS B ABYSITTER

38. Deuteronomy 7:6-11 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the L ORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the L ORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the L ORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. T HE L AW AS B ABYSITTER

39. Deuteronomy 7:6-11 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the L ORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the L ORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the L ORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Exodus 20:1-3 1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the L ORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me… So on and so forth… T HE L AW AS B ABYSITTER

40. Romans 3:21-25 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. T HE L AW AS B ABYSITTER

41. Romans 3:21-25 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. T HE L AW AS B ABYSITTER We don’t need a babysitter now!