… so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Summary: Paul is very close to his topic. So close that he makes assumptions about his audience and what they know. Deconstructing what Paul says requires us to look into the Old Testament for clues.
Once again, we need to re-examine “what was promised.” Is Paul referring to the promise of land God made to Abraham (Genesis 15:18)? Is he referring to the promise of many descendants (Genesis 13:15 KJV)? Neither one makes sense in the context of what Paul is talking about.
Paul is talking about “faith in the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20). But is he talking about the Messiah God had promised since the day Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3:15)?
No.
“What was promised” was “given through faith in Jesus Christ.”
What is given by faith in Jesus?
Paul says by faith in Jesus, we are “justified” (Galatians 2: 16). The promise Paul keeps talking about has to do with being “justified.”
Why?
Looking back a few verses, we see why. Paul writes:
“For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’” (Galatians 3:10)
To be under the law is to be condemned by our failure to abide by the law. To be justified before God is to be free from any claims the law might have on us.
In Old Testament times, the Israelites had a means of making atonement for their sins. The temple sacrifices were designed to allow the faithful to acknowledge sin before God and receive forgiveness (Leviticus 5:10). “Atonement” is literally being made “at one” with God. (This is why the cover of the Ark of the Covenant was called an “atonement cover” – Exodus 25:17).
When Jesus allowed himself to be sacrificed on the cross, he became the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 10:14).
What we gain through faith in Jesus Christ is what the law could never give us, atonement. In Jesus, we become “at one” with God.
“How is this possible?,” you ask.
That is where faith comes in. Jesus is real, and he is alive. His infinite capacity for love desires every sinner, no matter how bad, to be drawn into a relationship with himself. He cannot accept the sin, but he can accept the sinner. To achieve this miracle, we let go of the sin and grab onto Jesus.
Application: This is a great opportunity to examine ourselves for things that hold us back from being fully with Jesus.
Food for Thought: Why is it important that we place our faith in the living Jesus instead of the idea of a Messiah?
When we accept Christ as our Savior, we make Him as the living Lord of our life. To accept Him as anything less would make Him distant and absent. One cannot have a fufiling relationship with “an idea.” One cannot have true faith in “the possibility” of a savior. When we ask Christ into our hearts, He lives there, gives us new life. That newness of life somes through Him in faith.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Chris,
I like your point that “One cannot have a fulfiling relationship with ‘an idea.'” Put another way, an “idea” has no power to change our lives. Thank you!
Faith in Jesus sets us free from the prison of our sin. If by “the idea of a Messiah” you mean that having some knowledge will help us break free from sin without knowing Jesus Himself, then such an idea or knowledge will not help. We need to know Jesus in relationship to be set free of our sin. It is a relationship we enter into by faith and live by faith (Romans 1: 16 – 17). True faith receives Jesus and receives the truth about Jesus. That truth, knowing Jesus, sets us free. Having an idea of a Messiah, which the Jewish leaders had, does not mean we belong to God. Even demons have an idea of a messiah (James 2: 19). False prophets have an idea of a messiah but don’t know Jesus (Matthew 7: 15 – 23). Knowing Jesus is eternal life (John 17: 3). Knowing Jesus is belonging to God. It is what it means to be born again as a child of God (John 1: 12 – 13). Until then, we can have an idea of a messiah but be children of the devil. No transformation has taken place. We are still slaves to sin. We have not been set free.
John 8: 31 – 47: To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father. ”
39“Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Brother Rich,
I like how you draw a distinction between the “truth about Jesus” and false teachings. Thank God that our God is alive and well and able to rescue us out of the grasp of lies and half-truths.
Why is it important that we place our faith in the living Jesus instead of the idea of a Messiah?
The Messiah, the Old Testament points forward to the coming of the Messiah, God’s anointed and chosen one. The New Testament shows how Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah, the Christ, God’s anointed and chosen representative on earth.
The Jews hoped that the Messiah would release them from bondage to the hated Romans. But Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world. He had not come to wage war against the Romans. His agenda was not political but spiritual. He came to set all believers free from the spiritual bondage of our flesh.
Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. The time has come, He said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! Mark 1:14-15.
Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them, John 7:37-18.
Our identity in Christ, spiritual life, is the significant aspect of our Christian faith, and defines our understanding of ourselves, our life’s purpose, and our relationships with others. When we come to know Jesus and place our faith in Him, we undergo a transformation that results in a new identity, one that is rooted in grace, love, and a divine purpose. We receive the Holy Spirit, the power to serve God as we allow Jesus Christ to rule our lives and serve those around us as only He can.
Thank you, Ron.
As I read your words I am reminded of all of the “self help” books I read when I was younger. I was seeking some sort of answer that would help me be a better person. The answer, it turned out, was not me helping myself, but Jesus helping me.
🙂
Isn’t He great? Those are great faith building moments as the Holy Spirit provides our need for guidance. Never misses an opportunity to give us a little nudge in the right direction!
Ron