Will God Keep His Promise?

TRANSCRIPT

I greet you all in the in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. When I was a young Christian, whenever I read the Bible and I come across a promise, I would put a ‘P’ at a side of the Bible and when I come across a commandment, I would put a ‘C’ at the side.  After I finish reading the entire Bible, I realised that my Bible is filled with P’s and C’s.  Indeed, the Bible is filled with many divine promises. But the question is, ‘Will God keep His promises?’ This is what we want to learn from Galatians 3 verse 15 to 18.

In our previous message, we had learnt that the Judaizers or false teachers had taught that in order to be saved, the Gentiles must first become Jewish, get circumcised, obey the Law of Moses before they could be Christians. They supported their erroneous doctrine through a twisted interpretation of the Old Testament. So, Paul took the Old Testament, and he quoted two very important persons whom the Jews respected greatly – Abraham and Moses. 

How was Abraham saved – by circumcision or by faith? Through the Holy Scriptures he proved to them that the command to be circumcised was given to Abraham many years later after he was already declared righteous, when he believed in God. So, Abraham was saved by faith, not circumcision. What about Moses? The Judaizers had also taught that one had to keep the Law of Moses to be saved. Again, Paul proved to them that the Law came even many more years later than the command to be circumcised. Moses lived a long time after Abraham, about five hundred years later. The Law was not yet given when Abraham was alive. You have to read through all the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph – in the book of Genesis before you get to Exodus and then you come to Moses, and finally the Law was given.

Countless Old Testament Hebrew believers had lived and died before the written Law was given by God. So, if keeping the Law of God was necessary for salvation, then Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph and all the other Hebrew believers before Moses would be eternally lost. How, then, did God save those people from the beginning? By faith. That was what we had learnt in our previous message.

Now, it was as if Paul was anticipating that the Judaizers would argue along this line. They would say something like this, ‘Well, it may be true that Abraham was saved by faith, but when God gave Moses the Law, the basis of salvation had changed. After Moses, the basis of salvation had changed to obedience to the Law.’ In other words, they would argue that before Moses, it was salvation by faith. After Moses, salvation was by obedience to the Law.  That seemed to be the anticipated argument. You see, although the inspired writer, the Apostle Paul, did not tell us the exact reasons why he wrote these few verses, but based on the development of the entire passage, somehow, we can understand that these verses were written in anticipation of the argument that the Law of God had taken over the promise given to Abraham. The title of our message is: ‘Will God keep His promise?’

I. It is a Binding Covenant

Firstly, Paul explained that God would surely keep His promise because ‘It is a binding covenant’. Let us begin with verse 15, “Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.” To speak after the manner of man means to speak using a human example. Firstly, what is a man’s covenant? A covenant is a binding agreement. Most of us have entered into some form of agreement in our lifetime, right? Perhaps a business agreement, or a housing agreement, or an employment agreement etc. We are familiar with agreements and contracts. 

Here, Paul used the illustration of a human covenant or agreement.  When two parties confirm an agreement, they agree to abide by the conditions stipulated in the contract. It cannot be changed. It cannot be void. A third party cannot come along years later and try to change that agreement. To add anything to it or to take away anything from it would be illegal. That is what it means “if it be confirmed, no man annulleth or addeth thereto”. For example, you want to upgrade yourself and pursue further studies in your career and you approach your company to support your studies. Your company agrees and makes you sign an agreement that upon your graduation, you must return to work in the company for at least five years. You agree, and you sign along the dotted lines. Five years down the road, you graduated, you may have better offers from elsewhere, or you may be unhappy, or disappointed with your current company. You cannot help it – you still have to abide by the agreement, right? If a human agreement cannot be changed, how much more the covenant God had made with Abraham?

Now the next question is this – when God made a covenant with Abraham, what kind of covenant was that? Was it like a human covenant, whereby both parties were obligated to abide by conditions stipulated in the agreement? In our responsive reading in Genesis 15, the Bible explained to us how God made the covenant with Abraham. Let me briefly explain it to you. When God called Abraham, his name was Abram at that time, out of the Ur of the Chaldeans, God promised to give him the land to inherit it. Abraham asked God ‘Lord God, how will I know if I will inherit it?’ 

God confirmed His promise by rectifying a covenant and performed a ceremony. He instructed Abraham to take a heifer (heifer is a female calf); a female goat; a ram; a turtle dove and a pigeon. And then Abraham must cut the animals into half and put the two sides of each animal opposite one another with a path in between. Often there are times both parties will walk on the path between the slain animals, signifying that they are confirming this agreement. That tells them how serious the agreement was. That tells them that they have the obligation to keep the agreement – failure to keep it will result in them being like the slain animals. So, you can imagine, as both parties walking along the path, there would be this horrifying reminder of the consequences if either party failed to keep the covenant. They would be like the slain animals.

But interestingly, after reassuring Abraham of His promises, at sunset, God caused Abraham to fall into a deep sleep. When Abraham fell into a deep sleep, God symbolically passed through between the animals in the form of a smoking furnace and a burning lamb. You can read about that in Genesis 15 verse 17. In other words, God alone walked through the path, indicating that the covenant was made by God with Himself. The covenant was entirely unconditional. Sometimes called a Suzerainty Covenant – which means God was the sovereign party – He alone will make sure that this covenant would be kept and fulfilled.  He alone will make sure that this covenant would come to pass. The only obligation was on God Himself. In other words, Paul was saying, ‘If a man’s covenant cannot be disannulled or changed, or have conditions added to it, how much less can the covenant that God had made with Himself, how can it be disannulled and modified?’ The covenant that God promised that He alone would keep it – it is a binding covenant.

II. It is Christ-centred

Our second point is: ‘It is Christ-centred’. Look at verse 16, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” This promise that God made with Abraham was found in Genesis 22 verse 18. Allow me to read for you, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” To be blessed means to be the recipient of God’s love, grace and mercy, just like all of us here who are believers, we are the recipients of God’s love, grace and mercy. But how did this blessing come to us? Through what means, through who?

In the original Greek or Hebrew language, even in English, the word ‘seed’ can be either singular or plural. So simply reading Genesis 22 verse 18, the meaning of seed could be either one seed or many seeds. But through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul made it clear that it was singular. Referring to only one seed, not many seeds. Paul said, ‘God did not say seeds as in many, but one seed – “thy seed” – singular. And that seed was none other than Jesus Christ.’

This reminds us of an earlier promise in Genesis 3 verse 15, a verse which I think many of us will be very familiar with. Genesis 3 verse 15, maybe you can turn with me to this verse, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Notice the word ‘seed of the woman’ was also singular, referring to one person – Jesus Christ. Although the Lord Jesus will suffer, he will be crucified – as in the devil “shall bruise his heel” – but Jesus “shall bruise thy head”, in that our Lord Jesus will strike a potent blow to Satan. Jesus will defeat sin and death on the cross of Calvary. That was actually the first gospel in the Bible.  If anyone asks you, where is the first gospel in the Bible – always remember Genesis 3 verse 15.

So, every promise given in the covenant God made with Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus, that one seed. It was centred on Christ. The only way a person can receive all the blessings, promises to Abraham, is to have faith in that one seed – Christ and Christ alone. In the Old Testament before the cross, every sinner was saved by looking forward in faith to the promise seed of Abraham – singular – one seed which is Christ. In the New Testament, every sinner was saved by looking backwards, to the cross in faith. In the finished works of the seed of Abraham. Again, singular – one seed which is Christ. It is always centred on Christ and Christ alone. Salvation has always been provided only through the perfect offering of Christ on the cross. When our Lord Jesus died, and shed His previous blood, it covered sins on both sides of the cross. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, from Adam to the last sinner who will come in. Every single [one] of them is saved by Christ and Christ alone. That is what verse 16 teaches us.

As parents, we make promises to our children at times. We want to bring them for holidays or buy presents for them, but sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances, we are not able to fulfil those promises. And other times, we might have made a promise many years ago and it was so long ago that we ourselves do not even remember we have made such a promise, right? As humans we always forget. If God had made a promise, if God had agreed to do something, will the passage of time cause Him to forget or forsake His promise? Surely not.

III. It is God’s Promise

This brings us to our third and final point: ‘It is God’s promise’, not man’s promise. Verse 17, “And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.” Here the Apostle Paul was saying that the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years after Abraham, cannot cancel or cause God’s promise to be ineffective. These four hundred and thirty years has puzzled many Bible students. The reason why is because from the time God first called Abraham and gave him the promise to the time the Law was given, it was six hundred and forty-five years, not four hundred and thirty years. So where did Paul get this four hundred and thirty years?

Some people will say that the Bible has mistakes, most certainly the Bible has no mistakes. You see, God first gave His promise to Abraham which was six hundred and forty years before the Law was given. But God repeated His promise to Abraham’s son, Isaac, in Genesis 26 verse 24 and then God again repeated His promise to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, in Genesis 28 verse 14.

Let me read for you, Genesis 28 verse 14, “And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed” – again singular referring to one person Jesus Christ – “shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” So based on the last time God repeated His promise to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, to the time the Law was given it was exactly four hundred and thirty years. The Bible has no mistakes. Four hundred and thirty years was a very long time. Can this passage of time change God’s promise, invalidate it or render it ineffective? That is the meaning of disannul or make it of non-effect. Most certainly not. Take a moment and consider this – from the time God gave His first gospel, Genesis 3 verse 15, we just read that a moment ago, and God promised that the seed of the woman shall come and bruise the head of Satan to the time when Jesus Christ eventually came, do you know how long it was? It was almost four thousand years. Did God keep His promise, did Christ come? Yes, He did.

Three times in the last chapter of the book of Revelation, Jesus said, ‘Behold I come quickly, behold I come quickly, behold I come quickly’. But also, two thousand years have come and gone. Mockers, scoffers will say, ‘Well the return of Jesus Christ is no longer valid. It is no longer effective because of this long passage of time – two thousand years have come and gone.’ No, nothing, including the long passage of time, can ever disannul any of God’s promise. When God makes a promise, it will surely come to pass. When Jesus says He will come quickly, He will return – soon.

Remember, 2 Peter 3 verse 8 says, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” In God’s eyes, two thousand years is just like two days. He will come, soon. So, Paul explained to the Galatians that the inheritance God had given to Abraham that all the nations of the earth could be the recipient of his love, grace and mercy. That even the Gentiles could be saved, like you and me. It is a binding covenant. It is a Christ-centred covenant. It is God’s promise, not man’s promise, and God’s promise will always come to pass.

And he went on to say in verse 18, “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” In other words, Paul was saying, ‘If this inheritance, this blessing, this salvation was based on the Law, or the keeping of the Law, then it depends on man’s performance, man’s obedience, man’s ability to perfectly keep the Law. Which man cannot. But this inheritance, this blessing, this salvation, was given to Abraham based on a promise and if it was based on a promise, then it depends on God’s power.’ You see, man cannot succeed in perfectly keeping the Law. We have learnt that. But God cannot fail in perfectly keeping the promise. He will always keep His promise. This is something that God cannot fail. That is how secure your salvation and my salvation is.

My friends, when God said and promised the seed of the woman shall come and bruise the head of Satan, Jesus came. And He defeated sin and death on the cross of Calvary, through His finished work. When God promised He shall be born of a virgin, Jesus came and He was born of a virgin. When God promised He shall die and be raised from the grave on the third day, Jesus died and He was risen from the grave on the third day. Whatever God has promised, will surely come to pass.

Perhaps this morning, you are sick, very sick and you are gripped with the fear of death. When God promises that as believers, to be apart form the body is to present with the Lord, immediately at death. When you draw your last breath, your soul departs and goes to be with the Lord – immediately. Though your body will be buried, but one day when our Lord Jesus comes in the clouds, your body will be risen to be united with your soul in a glorified body. Will God not keep His promise? When Jesus says, ‘Let your heart not be troubled, in my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you onto myself for there I am, you will be also.’ (cf. John 14 verse 1 to 3) Will Jesus not keep His promise and go and prepare a place of you? Surely, He will.

Maybe you are troubled with many afflictions. Physical, emotional, spiritual struggles, financial issues, marital problems, relationship concerns. You’re afraid of pain, suffering troubles, trials, temptations. God promised nothing shall be able to separate you from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus your Lord. Neither death nor life, nor angels of principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creatures, and if God be for us, what can man do to us? Will God not keep His promise? If they are based on God’s promise they will surely come to pass. Do not be afraid. When God says it, He promised it, it will surely come to pass. 

But if it is based on our performance, our obedience, our abilities to keep this and keep that, do this and do that, then we ought to be afraid because we will always fall short. But we praise and thank God that it is not based on us, but it is based on His promise. Salvation is not faith plus good works; it is not faith plus baptism; it is not faith plus church membership. If you and I add anything onto salvation, we are declaring that what Jesus did for us on the cross of Calvary is not sufficient to save us. We need to add something else.

The truth is salvation is faith plus nothing else. That was how Paul presented his argument. As all these Judaizers and false teachers who teach the people that salvation is faith plus something else. Paul says, ‘No, will God not keep His promise? Surely, He will.’ It is a binding covenant, it is Christ-centred, Christ and Christ alone and it is also God’s promise, not man’s promise. Our Almighty God will keep His promise. Do not be afraid. Read the Bible, know His Word. When God promises you, He will surely make it to come to pass. Do you believe him? Let us pray.

Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for Thy word, that we are able to consider these four verses. Indeed, will God keep His promises? Surely. He is the Almighty God, the covenant that he made with Abraham is binding. It is binding because He alone walks through the path. He made this covenant by Himself, with Himself. It is unconditional. God is the sovereign party, and He will make sure that it will come to pass. He promised and it will come to pass. It is based on Christ and Christ alone. Whether the believers in the Old Testament or the believers in the New Testament, we are all saved by Christ and Christ alone.

The believers in old times look forward to the cross, for us we look backward to what our Lord Jesus had done for us on Calvary’s cross. We are eternally grateful, and we praise and thank Thee that Thou has promised and because it is Thy promise, our hearts are comforted, our hearts are assured. It is not based on our performance, our obedience, our works, our abilities but it is because of Thy promise. And by faith we believe. And by faith we believe, we know that Thou will cause Thy promises to come to pass. Oh Lord, teach us, help us, always to trust in Thee, learn Thy Word and cling onto Thy truth. Believe it for Thou has said it, Thou meant it and it will come to pass. We pray all this is in Jesus’ name. Amen.

SERMON OUTLINE

• I. It is a Binding Covenant
• II. It is Christ-centred
• III. It is God’s Promise

THE BOOK OF GALATIANS

A Letter To The Galatians

A Letter To The Galatians

Galatians 1:1-5

The Danger of Preaching Another Gospel

The Danger of Preaching Another Gospel

Galatians 1:6-9

Be a God-pleaser, not Men-pleaser

Be a God-pleaser, not Men-pleaser

Galatians 1:10-12

But When It Pleased God

But When It Pleased God

Galatians 1:13-24

Standing for the Truth of the Gospel

Standing for the Truth of the Gospel

Galatians 2:1-5

One Gospel, Different Ministries

One Gospel, Different Ministries

Galatians 2:6-10

The Need to Confront Sin (Part 2)

The Need to Confront Sin (Part 2)

Galatians 2:14-16

The Need to Confront Sin (Part 3)

The Need to Confront Sin (Part 3)

Galatians 2:17-19

Dead, Yet Alive!

Dead, Yet Alive!

Galatians 2:20-21

Remember How You Were Saved!

Remember How You Were Saved!

Galatians 3:1-5

Saved by Faith

Saved by Faith

Galatians 3:6-9

The Age Old Promise of the Gospel

The Age Old Promise of the Gospel

Galatians 3:6-18

Christ Bore Our Curse

Christ Bore Our Curse

Galatians 3:10-14

Will God Keep His Promise?

Will God Keep His Promise?

Galatians 3:15-18

Why Then Have the Law?

Why Then Have the Law?

Galatians 3:19-22

What the Law Meant to Us?

What the Law Meant to Us?

Galatians 3:23-29

The Son of God Became the Son of Man

The Son of God Became the Son of Man

Galatians 4:1-7

No More a Servant and Child, But a Son

No More a Servant and Child, But a Son

Galatians 4:1-7

Until Christ Be Formed In You

Until Christ Be Formed In You

Galatians 4:8-20

Freedom in Christ or Bondage to Works

Freedom in Christ or Bondage to Works

Galatians 4:21-5:1

By Faith Or By Works!

By Faith Or By Works!

Galatians 5:2-6

The Dangers of False Teachers

The Dangers of False Teachers

Galatians 5:7-12

The Christian Freedom

The Christian Freedom

Galatians 5:13-15

The Works of the Flesh

The Works of the Flesh

Galatians 5:19-21

The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 2)

The Fruit of the Spirit (Part 2)

Galatians 5:22-25

Restoring the Sinning Brother

Restoring the Sinning Brother

Galatians 5:26-6:5

Restoring the Sinning Brethren

Restoring the Sinning Brethren

Galatians 5:26-6:6

You Shall Reap What You Sow

You Shall Reap What You Sow

Galatians 6:7-10

Living for the Praise of Men

Living for the Praise of Men

Galatians 6:11-13

Living for the Glory of God

Living for the Glory of God

Galatians 6:14-18