The Law and the Promises: Galatians Bible Study Pt. 5

"The Mosaic Law was not given to show the Israelites what they needed to do in order to receive the fulfillment of God's promises. Rather, it was given to humble and preserve the people of Israel, to enable them to wait until the fulfillment of these promises came to them in Christ Jesus."

When we read Paul's explanation in Galatians about the role of the law, he starts with a simple human example—making a covenant. This analogy really helps to clarify the relationship between the promises God made to Abraham and the later introduction of the law of Moses. It’s important to remember that the law, which came 430 years after God's covenant with Abraham, doesn’t make the promise void. Once God made His covenant, it was set in stone—no one could add to or void it.

So, what exactly were these promises? Looking back at Genesis 12:1–3 and Genesis 17:1–8, we see that God promised to make Abraham a great nation, to bless him, and to make his name great. These promises weren’t just for Abraham; they extended to his descendants, with God establishing an everlasting covenant with them. And here's the key: these promises were not dependent on Abraham's obedience. God’s word was final.

But the Galatians seemed to think that following the law of Moses was the way to unlock God's blessings. Paul points out why that belief is false—God had already promised blessings to Abraham’s heirs before the law was even given. Man couldn’t add conditions to a promise God had already made.

So, how should we view God’s promises? Paul is clear: they are unchangeable. Once God gives His word, it’s set. We can trust in that.

Why Then the Law?

If the divine inheritance could only come through promise, what was the point of the law? Paul answers this by explaining that the law wasn’t given to provide salvation; instead, it served a different purpose. In Galatians 3:19, 22–24, Paul shows us that the law was a way to reveal humanity’s helplessness in earning salvation. It separated believers from the world and highlighted the need for Christ. The law showed that we couldn’t get ourselves to heaven by our own efforts; we needed faith.

Paul talks about how the law "imprisoned" us under sin, showing us how far we fall short. It's not that the law itself was bad—it was holy and good. But it was given to reveal our sin and, ultimately, lead us to Christ. We realize we can't achieve redemption on our own; it's only by faith in Christ that we are justified.

Now That Faith Has Come

With the work of Christ now finished, why don't we need the law as our "guardian" anymore? The law was necessary for those who didn’t know God. It acted as a guide to bring us to Him. But now that Christ has come and made Himself known, we don’t need the law in the same way. Jesus took on the burden of our sin and curses when He died on the cross, and now we have direct access to God through faith.

And here's the amazing part: through Christ, we become heirs to the promises made to Abraham. When we put our faith in Jesus, get baptized, and enter into our own covenant with God, we’re adopted into Abraham’s family, and those promises are ours too!

Paul wraps up this section by making a powerful statement in Galatians 3:28—there’s no place for pride or division in the body of Christ. Our identity isn’t found in ethnicity, gender, or economic status; we’re all one in Him. The law was causing division among people, but faith in Christ brings unity.

Paul was so passionate about ensuring people didn’t look to the law for God’s blessing because it distracted them from the real path to salvation—faith. The law wasn’t meant to save; it was meant to point us toward the One who could. And that’s the beautiful message we get from Paul’s teaching in Galatians. We can rest assured in God’s promises, knowing that through faith, we are truly heirs of His blessings.