Gospel Meditation

Galatians 3:15–29

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1. Paul reminds the Galatian believers that they consider human made contracts, that after being endorsed by both parties, cannot be broken.
2. Thus was the agreement between Abraham and to his offspring, and this offspring was Jesus Christ the Messiah, that through him all the promises of God would come.
3. The Law, of Moses, is not a new contract neither does it cancel the contract made with Abraham, which still stands as a promise that is to come.
4. Paul makes it clear that the Law was given to Israel that they would know what sinful behavior was.
5. Keeping the Law cannot “give life” but does point to doing that which was right. Yet the Law could not give life but this only through “the promise of faith in Jesus Christ.”
6. The Law, though not an instrument of salvation, yet it served as a “guardian,” however, and all who are in Christ Jesus are sons and daughters of God, and this through faith and not by Law keeping.
7. Therefore, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, no male and female, for all are one in Christ Jesus.
8. And thus, all who are in Christ are Abraham’s seed or offspring.