“Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise.”
Galatians 3:15-18 NLT
One of the interesting thing about Paul is his ability to navigate the areas of philosophy and rhetoric. Here we see those skills put to use as he equivocates the Jewish pension for law keeping with being faithful. Instead of arguing faith alone, but devoid of context, he skillfully points out that faith in God is easily connected to faith in the law as the origin of laws surrounding Jewish covenants, is itself, an act of faith. God is not only a God of law but of faith because all covenants are based upon faith that he will uphold them. In this way, a law worshipper must admit that he believes in faith more than the law, while he is still allowed to keep his passion for the law. This is a masterful spin against the judaizers and highlights how Paul repeatedly tried to argue, not simply to best his opponents, but to create compatriots. If he could, he tried not to alienate others because he saw sin as the real enemy. He wanted a true worship and understanding, not just a win.
JOSH McGARY. COM 