Galatians 3:18 - For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
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What does "Galatians 3:18" mean?
Galatians 3:18 is a key verse in Paul's argument against the idea that obedience to the Mosaic Law (the Law of Moses, given to the Israelites through Moses) is necessary for salvation or inheriting God's blessings. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"For if the inheritance is of the law...": This is the core premise Paul is refuting. If receiving God's blessings (the "inheritance" - which includes justification, righteousness, and ultimately eternal life) depended on keeping the Law perfectly, then...
"...it is no more of promise...": This is the logical consequence. If the inheritance is earned through obedience to the Law, then God's promise to Abraham is irrelevant. A promise is something freely given based on grace; the Law is based on human performance. If the inheritance depends on doing (obeying the Law), it can't also be based on God's free gift (the promise). You can't have it both ways. It becomes a matter of earning what is due, not receiving a gift.
"...but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.": This is Paul's central argument and historical anchor. God made a promise to Abraham (Genesis 12, 15, 17) that through his offspring (ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ), all nations would be blessed. This promise predates the Law by hundreds of years. The fact that God gave the inheritance to Abraham based on a promise highlights its gracious and unearned nature. Abraham was justified (declared righteous) by his faith in God's promise, not by his obedience to a law that didn't even exist yet.
In simpler terms:
Imagine you have two ways to get a gift:
1. Working for it: You have to complete a list of tasks perfectly.
2. Being given it freely: Someone makes a promise to you, and you receive the gift based on their word.
Paul is saying that salvation (the inheritance) isn't earned by following the Law (working for it). Instead, God gave it freely to Abraham (and to us) through a promise based on faith. The Law came after the promise and served a different purpose (to show us our sin and need for a savior).
Key Implications:
Salvation is by grace through faith: The verse emphasizes that receiving God's blessings is based on God's grace and our faith in His promises, not on our performance.
The Law has a limited purpose: The Law's purpose is not to provide salvation but to reveal sin and point us to the need for a Savior.
Christianity is a fulfillment of God's promise: The promise to Abraham is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, through whom all nations are blessed. Believing in Jesus is the way to inherit the promises made to Abraham.
In conclusion, Galatians 3:18 argues that salvation and God's blessings are received through faith in God's promise, not through obedience to the Law. The Law is distinct from and subsequent to the promise. This is foundational to understanding Paul's theology and the gospel message.
Galatians 3:18 - For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
What does "Galatians 3:18" mean?
Galatians 3:18 is a key verse in Paul's argument against the idea that obedience to the Mosaic Law (the Law of Moses, given to the Israelites through Moses) is necessary for salvation or inheriting God's blessings. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"For if the inheritance is of the law...": This is the core premise Paul is refuting. If receiving God's blessings (the "inheritance" - which includes justification, righteousness, and ultimately eternal life) depended on keeping the Law perfectly, then...
"...it is no more of promise...": This is the logical consequence. If the inheritance is earned through obedience to the Law, then God's promise to Abraham is irrelevant. A promise is something freely given based on grace; the Law is based on human performance. If the inheritance depends on doing (obeying the Law), it can't also be based on God's free gift (the promise). You can't have it both ways. It becomes a matter of earning what is due, not receiving a gift.
"...but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.": This is Paul's central argument and historical anchor. God made a promise to Abraham (Genesis 12, 15, 17) that through his offspring (ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ), all nations would be blessed. This promise predates the Law by hundreds of years. The fact that God gave the inheritance to Abraham based on a promise highlights its gracious and unearned nature. Abraham was justified (declared righteous) by his faith in God's promise, not by his obedience to a law that didn't even exist yet.
In simpler terms:
Imagine you have two ways to get a gift:
1. Working for it: You have to complete a list of tasks perfectly.
2. Being given it freely: Someone makes a promise to you, and you receive the gift based on their word.
Paul is saying that salvation (the inheritance) isn't earned by following the Law (working for it). Instead, God gave it freely to Abraham (and to us) through a promise based on faith. The Law came after the promise and served a different purpose (to show us our sin and need for a savior).
Key Implications:
Salvation is by grace through faith: The verse emphasizes that receiving God's blessings is based on God's grace and our faith in His promises, not on our performance.
The Law has a limited purpose: The Law's purpose is not to provide salvation but to reveal sin and point us to the need for a Savior.
Christianity is a fulfillment of God's promise: The promise to Abraham is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, through whom all nations are blessed. Believing in Jesus is the way to inherit the promises made to Abraham.
In conclusion, Galatians 3:18 argues that salvation and God's blessings are received through faith in God's promise, not through obedience to the Law. The Law is distinct from and subsequent to the promise. This is foundational to understanding Paul's theology and the gospel message.