1. “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” <v2-3>
2. “Why, then, was the law given at all?” <v19>
3. “Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? <v21>

<Galatians 3>
15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

God’s Promise came before the Law.

• The law is inferior to the promise.
• Abrahamic Covenant.
  • <Gen 12:1-3> “Go from your country, your people and your father’s householdto the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
  • <Gen 15>

“Why, then, was the law given at all?” <v. 19>

• <v19> The law was added because of transgressions.
• <v22> Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin…
• Not enough that something is free and good, must also be deemed necessary.

1) To show humans just how utterly sinful we are.

• <Ro 7> 7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.

2) To tell us there is no way to save ourselves.

• Future good deeds cannot atone for past sins.
• We can never attain perfect obedience.
• <Jas 2:10> For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

3) To point sinners to Christ.

• <v22> But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
• <v19>: the law was given until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.

4) To be a guide for our sanctification.

“Is the law opposed to the promises of God?” <v21>

• Absolutely not!

1) God’s law is not competing with God’s promise.

• <v21> For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
• <Ro 7:10> I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.

2) The law complements the promise.

• <v23-24> we were held in custodyunder the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 
• The curse of the law drives us to seek God’s blessings in His promised Seed – Christ.
• Through Christ, God’s promise is fulfilled, and God’s law is satisfied.

Conclusion

• Self-Sufficiency VS Christ’s Sufficiency.
• Choose: Live by own obedience <Gal 3:12> OR Live by faith <Gal 3:11>?

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