Galatian 3:17 What am I saying? The law that came four hundred thirty years (after the promise was given to Abraham) doesn’t cancel the covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise!
Galatians is a great letter clarifying a Christian’s relationship to the law, faith, and grace in a clear, but concise manner. While grace does not give us the right to live in sin, Paul explains that grace through faith is the fulfillment of the covenant to Abraham and the only way to righteousness. For if the inheritance (righteousness and salvation) is based on the law, then it is no longer based on the promise…but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise. (vs 18)
Then in verse 19 Paul answers the question: “Why then was the law given?” … It was given because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant (the seed) to whom the promise had been made. Hundreds of years before the law of Moses, the Father made a promise to Abraham and to the One who would be that seed through whom all people could be blessed – Jesus!
For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly come by the law. But the law imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given to everyone who believes through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ! (Galatians 3:19-22)
For anyone reading this, it is helpful to be reminded that the covenant – the promise of righteousness through the seed of Abraham – came more than four hundred years before the law. Though God blessed many through the descendants of Abraham, the true fulfillment of the promise could never be realized until that one seed arrived. Jesus is the promised seed to Abraham, the descendant who would give righteousness to all who believed in the promise of God (thousands of years before His death and resurrection)! Even now, thousands of years later, righteousness and life come only to those who believe in that faithful promise of God!