Galatians 3:15
15 Brethren, [adelphos] I speak [lego] after the manner of [kata]
men; [anthropos] Though it be but [homos] a man's [anthropos]
covenant, [diatheke] yet if it be confirmed, [kuroo] no man [oudeis]
disannulleth, [atheteo] or [e] addeth thereto. [epidiatassomai]KJV-Interlinear
15 Brethren, I speak in terms of
human relations: even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been
ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. NASB
Paul speaks in terms that we can understand, and
even use in our everyday life, throughout our life.
We enter into agreements, or contracts. When we do so, we set out the requirements of
each party and then we sign the agreement.
Once signed, then the terms of the contract cannot be changed,
cancelled, or even modified by one or the other party, on their own.
The contract is in effect, set in stone and cannot
be changed.
And so too, God made a contract with Abraham, which
provided faith as the mechanism for the spiritual life, both in salvation and
in the functional spiritual life after salvation.
This contract or agreement was stated and made
binding even on God Himself.
It was made even before Abraham circumcised
himself, and it was made several hundred years prior to the writing of the Law
by Moses.
God entered into an agreement, and that agreement was
established and unchangeable.
Even the Law when it came along was not a
modification of the original agreement, for works and faith are total opposites
of each other.
And so, when people make contracts between
themselves and both parties accept and honor their contracts, and being that
men are lesser creatures than God, then even more so is an agreement binding on
God who cannot lie, who cannot cheat, who cannot change that to which He Himself
has promised and agreed.
Faith recognizes the work of God in the spiritual environment
and man benefits from His work.
Human works recognizes the efforts of man in the spiritual
environment, which totally rejects the work of God, the work of Christ, the
plan of God, the concept of grace, and so forth.
The covenant between Abraham and God ratified Gods
promise even made to Adam long before, for a Savior, but too, it demonstrated
that all peoples would benefit, would receive an inheritance, would have the
opportunity for a complete life and relationship with God, after the pattern of
the agreement between God and Abraham.
The Law, was given so as to prove that works are
impossible to maintain by anyone, and therefore unacceptable as a means of
justification. No one can keep the Law, it is an impossibility. All have sinned and therefore no one can
achieve justification by means of their own efforts in life.
Therefore, faith is the basis for our initial relationship
with God, and the basis for all of our spiritual functions within the spiritual
life.
People often times enter into contracts and break
them, but when God enters into an agreement, it is permanent and unchangeable
and eternal.
