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.
Summary: Paul continues his debate with himself by asking another question and answering it.
Pow! Another one of Paul’s famous rhetorical questions! Is the law opposed to God’s promise?
As I read through these verses and listen to Paul discuss God’s promises and law, a part of me asks, “Which promises is he talking about?”
As a modern-day Christian, the “promise of God” that I am most familiar with is the promise of salvation (John 3: 16-18). Yet the people of Jesus’ day were not used to thinking in those terms. God had promised Abraham children and land (Genesis 17: 1-8). The word “life” in those days meant life in the flesh. There was almost no talk about eternal salvation. The very idea of life after death was debated. The Pharisees believed there was life after death, but the Sadducees didn’t.
So, which promise is Paul referring to?
It is my opinion, that when Paul met Jesus, he had his eyes opened to a lot of things. One, of course, was the reality of Jesus Christ. Another was the existence of Old Testament Scriptures about Jesus.*
Looking back through history, Paul sees more than just the promise of children and land for Abraham. This is why Paul draws a distinction between “seeds” and “seed” in verse sixteen. (This is further confused by modern translations like the NIV that translate “seed” as “descendants.” See Genesis 13:15 and 17:8).
Paul understood what many in Old Testament times did not: Everything in the Bible points to Jesus. Even the law.
By giving us the law, God defines the boundary of faith in him. If we stay within the law, we are being faithful. If we disregard the law, we dishonor, disobey, and disown our God. Again and again, Paul points out that even those who try and obey the law fail.
Does the law oppose the promise of God?
If salvation depended on our ability to live according to the law, then the answer would be “Yes.” Since this is not possible, we need a different means of salvation. We need Jesus.
The truth is that the law supports the promises of God by showing us our need for those promises.
Application: Acknowledge Jesus in everything you do.
Food for Thought: Why was it so hard for people in Jesus’ day to see the prophecies that foretold his coming?
- There is a nice list of prophecies about the coming of Jesus here.
I think it was hard because Jesus did not fulfill the prophecies the way they wanted Him to fulfill the prophecies. They seemed to be looking for a Messiah that would defeat their political enemies – the Romans. Then that Messiah would rule and they would have peace (Isaiah 9: 1 – 7). What they got was a Messiah who defeated their enemies of sin, death and Satan first. They rejected a Messiah who would die for their sin. But that is what was prophesied and that was what they needed, and what we all need (Isaiah 53 being probably the most famous of those prophesies).
Jesus disappointed their expectations and so they rejected Him as their King. We should be careful not to do the same thing.
Thanks, Rich!
“Sin, death and Satan” are all spiritual in nature. I wonder if that had something to do with their blindness as well?
2 Corinthians 4: 1 – 6
Nice!!
🌟 🌟 🌟
Why was it so hard for people in Jesus’ day to see the prophecies that foretold his coming?
Jesus came at a time when scripture was being controlled by Pharasees, religious leaders who lived for their personal gain over glorifying God and teaching His truths to the people.
Matthew 6:2, John 12:43, 5:41-44
This intentional blocking of the truth’s of God had to be overcome.
Jesus said that it was time for Him to preach in Galilean towns, for His reason for coming was to preach to teach the sinners,
Luke 5:31, 19:10, Mark 1:36–38, 2:15-17
During His 3 year ministry, Jesus chose to closely teach His
disciples who received personal ministry through Him and would
become the core of His church as truth was revealed to the world
through the inspired writings of these men in the New Testament.
Luke 9:1-6
In Acts 1:8, the Spirit was to be given to provide “power … to be witnesses” for Him to the “end of the earth.” And the Holy Spirit was sent to His disciples, and today will minister to the world around us as all are convicted of sin, righteousness and judgement to come.
John 16:8
Ron,
I find it interesting that you point to Jesus’ ministry to the common people. He argued with the Pharisees, but he didn’t force them to change the ways or their minds.
No, how we respond to Jesus is 100% our choice.