Gálatas 3

Gálatas 3

Cole writes that "Judaizers might quote Moses; Paul will quote Abraham. Let them quote law; he will quote promise. If they appeal to the centuries of tradition and the proud history of the law of Moses, he will appeal to the grander ‘covenant with Abraham’, older by centuries still.” AMAZING GRACE TO ABRAHAM But God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise - How was Abraham declared righteous before God? By works? Paul says of course not, it was by means of God's gracious promise. Amplified = "God gave it to Abraham [as a free gift solely] by virtue of His promise." God saved Abraham through a promise, not law! THOUGHT (Phil Newton) - Do you find this confusing? There are many people who have missed this truth and are yet in their sins and at enmity with God. Many of them lead commendable lives. They participate in the services and labors of their local churches. They have a high degree of morality. They may even engage in detailed studies of the Bible, especially in recognizing its facts and historical concepts. But they are devoid of eternal life! They believe that they will inherit the blessings of justification because of all that they are doing "for God." Paul is saying, 'Look back at Abraham. We hold him up as a great example of how to live before God. But how did Abraham enter into righteousness before God? Was it because of all that he did in terms of God's commands? No, "God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise," as Moses wrote, "Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness."' It was faith in the promise of God, not a reliance upon his own works, that brought Abraham into a right relationship to God. And it is faith in God's promises in the gospel of Jesus Christ that God requires of you. Yes, after faith, as in the case with Abraham, there is a life of works honoring God. But only after faith. The promise (1860) see preceding discussion of epaggelia/epangelia. The first use of epaggelia in NT refers to the promise of the Holy Spirit. (Lk 24:49+), but the promise in this context is God's immutable unchangeable covenant with Abraham (salvation, delcaration of righteousness, justification by faith) which is the predecessor of the New Covenant and which is associated with the giving of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant.