Galatians 3:15-29

content/bible_journal/galatians_3:15-29.md

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+title = "Galatians 3:15–29"
+date = "2023-08-09"
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+
+### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Galatians3.15-29)
+
+Because there has been so much confusion about the law, Paul goes on to explain
+its purpose and its relationship to the grace we receive through faith in
+Christ. He points out that God made a covenant with Abraham that he would be a
+blessing to all nations through his offspring. While even in Greek (and I guess
+Hebrew too?) "offspring" can be used as a collective noun, so that its singular
+form can refer to a group of offspring, Paul emphasizes that the blessing God
+promised came through only one of Abraham's offspring, the Messiah, Jesus.
+Because the covenant and the promise were established before the law was given,
+then the fulfillment of the promise is not dependent on the law either. This is
+what the Pharisees and the Judaizers had gotten wrong. They were trying to
+attain God's blessing by keeping the law as well as they could. But if that
+were possible, then the blessing wouldn't come through the promise, and that
+means God would break His word.
+
+That doesn't mean the law is useless, however. Nor is it opposed to the
+covenant promise. Instead, they are complimentary because the law points out
+the need for the promise by exposing sin and revealing to us how big a deal it
+is to God. It also functioned as a guardian until the fullness of the promise
+was revealed. A guardian was a household slave who took care of the master's
+children. Their job was to teach and correct, even doling out punishments for
+misbehavior. Additionally, they would act as chaperones and seek to guard
+against bad influences. Just as an heir is no longer under the guardian's
+authority when he reaches majority, we are no longer under the ceremonial law
+which caused Israel to be distinct and separate from its neighbors. Now, our
+common faith in Christ allows us all to be unified with Him, regardless of any
+physical or social status we happen to have.
+
+* * *
+
+It is wondrous that You would adopt us as co-heirs with Christ, after all we
+have done before You rescued us.