No Changes Allowed
Galatians 3:15-18
David Frampton

Introduction:
Many people groan when they hear the word history. There are various explanations for this reaction, such as experiences of monotone, melancholy, or otherwise miserable teachers, testing practices that awarded grades for memorizing names and dates, poor attitudes of parents, friends, teachers of other subjects, or even of the townspeople where one grew up, etc. But it is a sad fact that many people have little interest in history. However, history is important (or ought to be!) to God's sons and daughters, since it is "his story" and we are part of that great story of God's glory in Jesus Christ. In addition, we value history, because Christ accomplished our redemption in real history.
In our text Paul appeals to the facts of history to convince the Galatians that salvation comes by the grace of God in his promise and not by the law covenant with its commands and rituals. So then, in this paragraph Paul presents more reasons why the law does not convey God's blessing to sinful people.

Exposition:
I. The promises of God to Abraham were given 430 years before the law (3:15, 17).  
        A. Paul gives an illustration from everyday life.
                1. When a person makes a covenant (or will or testament), no one can alter it or set it aside after it has been duly established. For example, you may have thought that your "favorite uncle" was going to leave you $20,000 in his will. But if his will leaves you only $20, you can complain all you want, but that's all you'll get from his estate.
                2. Now if this is true about the will of a mere man, how much more is it true of the will of Almighty and Faithful God, who lives to enforce his will?
        B. So pay attention to this history lesson.
                1. God gave his covenant of promise to Abraham 430 years before the law was given. "During all those centuries God's promise to Abraham had been effective without benefit of the law" (Ridderbos).
                2. "If the law had made modifications to the promise, it would have emptied the promise of its original meaning, which in Paul's view is unthinkable" (Guthrie). Think of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and his sons, and so on. The promise of God is good and reliable for centuries. Everyone who believed God was justified by faith. But has God suddenly changed his mind? Was God changing the terms of his promise? Not at all! God is faithful to his promises.
Point: Brothers and sisters, this gives us hope. The faithful God does not change his sworn promise to his people (Heb 6:13-20). This is important in your life, because you need to know that you can rely on God and his promises. Many people may have let you down, but God is faithful to what he promises. We must be clear at this point. God is faithful to his promises, not to what somebody might have told you he promised or what you want to make his promises say. For example, our deacon care groups are meeting and we have promised you pizza, not prime rib. Don't say, "I can't wait for that prime rib dinner," or you will be disappointed. But if you anticipate pizza, then your expectation will be satisfied.

II. The promises were spoken to Abraham and his offspring or seed (3:16).
        A. A study of the Scriptures reveals that the seed of Abraham is spoken of in four ways. We must read carefully to discern which of the following is intended in varying contexts.
                1. His natural seed - all his physical descendants, including the descendants of Ishmael (Gen 16:10; 17: 18, 20; 21:13, 18)
                2. His special natural seed - his descendants through Isaac and then Jacob
                3. His spiritual seed - all believers
                4. His unique seed - Jesus Christ - As Paul makes very clear, Jesus is the one intended in this context.
        B. Paul's point is this: When God gave his promises of salvation, they were spoken to two men: Abraham and Christ. No one, even Moses, can come along later and usurp their position. For example, if you and your son were named in someone's will, one of my sons and I could not take your position.
                1. The Bible points out this unique relationship between Abraham and Christ (Mt 1:1; Lk 1:67-75).
                2. This puts the focus on Jesus Christ. He is the heir of the promises that God made to Abraham. If you want the blessings of these promises, you must be in saving union with Jesus Christ by faith. The great question is, "Are you in Christ?"

Apply: This is important for you, because you must understand that the story of God's glory is the Lord Jesus Christ. It is distressing how often Christians get caught up in the subplots of the Bible and neglect the main character, Christ. The message of God is not about the law or Israel or the sequence of events in the last days. God's message is Jesus Christ and the good news about him! To understand they Bible, you must look for him.

III. The promises were given by grace (3:18).
        A. Understand the issue.
                1. This is an either-or matter, because is salvation is by grace, and so it cannot be by law and its works (cf. Rm 11:6).
                2. Therefore, what the false teachers were actually trying to do was to remove the inheritance from God's way of grace. They were trying to say that God gave the inheritance and other promised blessings to those who kept the law.
        B. The problem with their teaching was the fact of history. Facts have a way of disproving many theological opinions; for example, those who have tried to prove that Jesus Christ was returning by a certain date.
                1. God did not offer the inheritance to Abraham by means of law and obedience to the law covenant. He gave it to him by means of his promise.
                2. The way of the promise is the way of grace. Justification, the reception of the Holy Spirit, the inheritance-all that was promised to Abraham comes by free grace alone. The Greek tense (perfect) emphasizes that it is by grace for all time.
Apply: This is important because to go astray here is to miss salvation (cf. Eph 2:8-9).

Lessons:
1. Many doctrinal theories and opinions are shipwrecked on the hard rock of Biblical fact. We must carefully observe what the Bible actually teaches and then conform our views to that teaching.
2. Always remember the centrality of the Lord Jesus Christ in the plan of God. All that has to do with the salvation of people is centered and based on him.
3. Salvation is always and only by grace. Don't waste your time and lose your soul by trying to earn God's favor. Eternal life is given to those who believe in the Lord Jesus. Are you?