17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
The relationship between the Law and faith has vexed Christianity from the earliest times, as evidenced by this crucial letter of Paul’s to the Galatians. Down through history to our present day, this problem continues. Many so-called Christian denominations have added all sorts of requirement to attaining salvation beyond simple faith in Christ. Baptism, church laws, even the 10 commandments (or at least avoiding the more egregarious violations of such) are all necessary for gaining a favorable judgment in the afterlife. Against all these Paul speaks out pointedly, by addressing the core issue. In our passage today he lays out clearly the relationship between the promise of God (on which faith is built) and Law (the central structure of Jewish life and practice).
Paul’s reasoning is based on chronology and then on the nature of a promise. The covenant with Abraham preceded the Law by 430 years. The Judaizers (who asserted that Gentiles must keep the Law in order to be accepted by God) would have no doubt recognized this, but would have taught that the Law superseded or refined what happened with Abraham, so that the Law took precedent. So, in their thinking, although Gentiles may have initially been saved by faith, now they must keep the Law.
While the actual number of years (430) presents some challenge in matching up with the Genesis-Exodus record, the point is served. And the promise to Abraham was certainly not fulfilled in his own life time, nor in the lifetime of Isaac, Jacob or his 12 sons. In fact, by the time of the giving of the Law (Exodus 20ff), the people were still not in the land (one of the three parts to the Abrahamic covenant). Further, the promise to Abraham was to him and his seed (singular), which refers to Messiah, Who came after the law (in the person of Jesus). Therefore, the Law couldn’t possibly invalidate the promise which came prior and continues on after. To say otherwise, that the inheritance of the Abrahamic promise comes by keeping the Law, would be to invalidate the promise of God. It would therefore be inferred that God would be a promise-breaker, a liar—which is impossible. So the Judaizers requiring keeping the law is patently contrary to the promise to Abraham. This of course leaves the question, “Why then was the Law given?” That is what Paul draws us to next.
Lord, You promised salvation to all who believe, so I trust that You will keep Your word to Abraham and to me.
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