The document discusses Paul's letters to the Galatians about the relationship between God's promise to Abraham and the Mosaic law. It makes four key points: 1) God's promise of salvation by faith preceded the giving of the law by centuries and could not be changed by the law. 2) The law was meant to reveal humanity's sinfulness and need for salvation but was never intended to provide life or justification. 3) Rather than contradicting God's promise, the law acted as a temporary guardian or tutor to guide people until Christ. 4) Only through faith in Christ, not obedience to the law, can people be made heirs of God's promise and freed from sin's power

1. The Logic of Law
Galatians 3:15-29
Based on Be Free: Exchanging Legalism for True
Spirituality by Warren W. Wiersbe

2. ● Paul quoted the Law six times earlier in
this book to prove that God’s plan of
salvation left no room for works of the
Law.
● In these verses, Paul makes 4 statements
that help us understand the relationship
between promise and law.
Our Faith is a logical faith

3. ● The word “promise” is used 8 times in 4 verses and
refers God’s promise to Abraham to bless all nations in
Genesis 12:1-3.
● This promise involved being justified by faith and
having all the blessings of salvation.
● This promise preceded the Law by centuries!
● The legalists implied that the giving of the Law
changed the covenant of promise.
● Paul said it didn’t.
The Law cannot change the Promise (v.15-
18)

4. ● Only the people involved in a covenant can change it.
● Anyone else changing it would make it illegal.
● If this is true between men, how much more so with
God?
● God ratified the covenant while Abraham was asleep
(Genesis 15).
● Verse 16 says God made this promise not only to
Abraham but to Christ and through Christ.
● Genesis 15:9-18. Only God the Father and God the Son
can make changes to the covenant with Abraham.
● Moses can add nothing to grace.

5. ● The law is inferior to the covenant of promise in two ways:
● The law was temporary (v.19a).
● God’s covenant with Abraham had no “ifs” in it. The Law is
conditional.
● The Law had an expiration date. It ended with Christ rose
from the grave.
● The Law required a mediator (v.19b-20).
● The Law was given through Moses (the mediator).
● The promise was given directly to Abraham by God Himself.
The Law is not greater than the promise
Galatians 3:19-20

6. ● Instead, the Law and the Promise compliment each
other.
● v.21. The Law was not given to provide life. That
wasn’t its purpose.
● v.19a, 22. The Law was given to reveal sin.
● Romans 3:20
● James 1:22-25.
● Remember, you don’t wash your face in the mirror,
but the sink. You don’t know you need to wash
without the mirror.
The Law is not contrary to the promise.
Galatians 3:21-26

7. ● v.23-26. The Law was given to prepare the way for
Christ.
● The schoolmaster referred to here was a well-
educated slave charged with raising and teaching the
Master’s children.
● The schoolmaster was also the child’s disciplinarian.
● His or her job was to prepare the children for
maturity. Once they came of age and were legally
able to inherit, they no longer needed a schoolmaster.
● The Law was our schoolmaster, teaching us about God
and preparing us for the day when Christ came to set
us free from sin and make us heirs with Him.

8. ● The Law can never justify the guilty sinner. Romans
4:5
● The Law can never give union with God (v.27;
Colossians 3:10).
● The Law can never make us heirs of God (v.29; Romans
15:4)
● All this together means that you and I are adult heirs
of God through Jesus Christ and by God’s grace. The
Law showed us we were sinners, but Jesus paid for
those sins to set us free from the Law.
The Law cannot do what the Promise can
do. Galatians 3:27-29