This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Promise Of Salvation" Galatians 3:15-15, 5/12/2019

THE PROMISE OF SALVATION

Galatians 3:15-25


THE PROMISE OF SALVATION FOR ALL
V:15-18.  Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.   17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
A. First, Let us consider the reason for the promise.
    1. Adam and Eve was placed in the Garden  with one command from God
        which they could not keep.
    2. They ate from the Tree of Knowledge and of Good and Evil  at the persuasion
        of Satan.
    3. As a result, sin entered into the human race and man introduced the eternal hell
        into his life,
    4. God made a promise of salvation with Himself for man,
        Genesis 3:14-15
        So the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,

        "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals!
        You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
         And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
         and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head,
         and you will strike his heel."
   5. Original sin began with the woman’s deception and salvation for man
       began with the woman’s conception.
   6. The woman’s offspring  or seed is Jesus Christ.
B. Now lets look at the promise to Abraham.
    1. Genesis 12:1-4
     The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's   
      household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation
      and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
      I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
      and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
    2. All the people on the earth includes Israel and all other nations.
    3. The blessing is salvation for everyone who believe in Jesus, the woman’s
        offspring or seed.
    4. God repeats his promise to Abraham several times.                                       1                               
       Genesis 13:16
       I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the   
       dust, then your offspring could be counted.
       a. Notice is offspring, singular not plural.
       b. Notice that the dust of the earth is plural in subject.
       c. From Jesus, the woman’s seed comes many believers that
         cannot be counted.
C. Let’s look at the longevity of the Promise to Abraham.
   1. The promise to Abraham is a forever promise.
   2. It will never be terminated.
   3. Every believer is covered by the promise God made to Abraham.
D. The Law came 430 years after the promise to Abraham.
   1. The Law was given to a particular people in a particular place
       for a particular time.
   2. The particular people is the Jews.
   3. The promise to Abraham was eternal life for all believers.
   4. The Law was a school master until the promise seed came into human
        flesh.
   5. The law does not promise eternal life, just repentance of sin.
     

THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW
V:19-20.  What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
A. Israel is God’s chosen people to be an example of His righteousness to the world.
    1. The Law was given to the Nation Of Israel because they grew up in 400 years
        of slavery worshipping idol gods.
    2. They were freed from slavery to inhabit the land promise to Abraham and his
         descendants.
    3. The promise land holders until Israel were inhabited by nations who
         worshipped idol gods.
   4. The purpose of the law was to teach Israel the righteousness of God and the
       definition of sin.
B. Israel had to take the promise land from the grounds keepers by trusting in
    God’s power  and authority.
    1. God setup a standard of righteousness, worship and atonement of sins
        which was included in the law.
    2. The law was Israel’s schoolmaster until grace came through the promise
        seed.
    3. The law was inferior to the promise, because the required a mediator which
        Moses to be administered.
        a. Israel was born in sin, raised in sin and could not face God directly.
        a. Israel was also set in sin through their tradition of idol worship.                          2   
    4. The promise given directly from God to Abraham.
        a. Abraham was also born in sin but there is no mention of
           him worshipping idol.
        b. He was a God fearing man when God called him out of his family.
        c. He obeyed God’s command to separate himself from his father
           and mother.
        d. Abraham’s faith was established because he believed God’s word
            without question.
 
FAITH IS BELIEVING IN GOD’S WORD
V:21-22.  Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
A.. We are constantly under the law as out teacher of God’s righteousness.
      1. Jesus said I did not come to do away with law but to fulfill all the
          requirements of the Law,
     2. It is from the law that we learn God’s commands.
     3. It is from the law that we learn to God’s love.
     4. It is from the law that learn God’s tolerance
     5. It is from the law that God is no respecter of person.
     6. It form the law that we learn God’s forgiveness.
     7. It is from the law that we know what sin is and what
         displeases God.
B. The law and the promise are tied together.
    1. For the promise to be fulfilled in each of our lives is through
        faith in the entire Word of God which includes the law.
   2. Jesus said heaven and earth will pass away but my Word is eternal.

RELEASED FROM SIN BY GRACE
V:23-25.  Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
A. The law defines sin but not the way out of sin.
     1. The law is works and works cannot save.
     2. The law requires sacrifice and obedience which no man has been
         ever to accomplish.
B. If we live by the law, we are cursed by the law because we cannot keep it.
    1. But Grace covers all the sins outlined in the law and releases us from
        the penalty of the law.
    2, Grace comes by faith in Jesus Christ, who is the promise seed of
        Abraham..
   3. The promise seed , Jesus, existed before the promise was given to Abraham.             3

Rev. M . Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North
Houston, Texas 77041

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