Galatians 3:16-18

From Adam and Eve, to the last servant of God recorded in His Holy Word, true commitment comes from the regenerated heart of a child of God who has been revealed: Who God is, who he is in Christ, and what Christ commands the child of God to perform. In this devotion, we view our Head, Jesus Christ, and His Commitment before His Coming to earth, which is manifested in His Incarnation (robing Himself in flesh, yet without sin), and by carrying out the Eternal Purpose of God in Christ Jesus.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” (Luke 1:30-31)

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh…” (1 Timothy 3:16a)

“Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:” (Hebrews 10:5)

Our text verses are Galatians 3:16-18:

(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.”

(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 (singular) of none effect.”

(18) “For if the inheritance (the same as the promise) be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

First read Romans 4:13-25:

(Verse 13) “For the promise, that he (Abraham) should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith (or through Christ, who is The Faith).”

Note especially verse 16; the hope was (see verse 24) Christ being raised from the dead; proving victory over spiritual death; proving the Ransom has been paid and accepted; and we have been forgiven our sin debt and set free (Romans 4:25; Ephesians 1:7). The key is to see that the Covenant is manifested in Christ Jesus, God in the Flesh; being His Chosen People’s Substitute, Sacrifice, and Savior. (See Hebrews 2:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:24-25; 5:1-21; 6:1-23; 7:24-25; 8:1-16.)

Second, we must go to Genesis 12:1-3, to see the Covenant of Grace. God gave it Abraham; and then later revealed to Abraham it would be through Isaac (a type of Christ). In these verses and also verses 7-8, God appeared to Abraham and said, “…Unto thy seed (Isaac, Jacob; types of Christ) will I give this land…” The “land” is the Land of Canaan, a type of the inheritance in Christ; which is plainly explained in Galatians 3:1-29; especially verses 14-18. (Also see Hebrews 11:10-14). This land is the House of God, the City of God, Mount Sion (Hebrews 12:22-23); even the Body of Christ, the Church.

Therefore, all that are baptized into His Body (1 Corinthians 12:13) are heirs of God and joint-heirs of Christ (Romans 8:14-17). That is, heirs to the Inheritance (the Promise). According to Galatians 3:14, the inheritance is the Holy Spirit, or the New Birth; it is becoming the dwelling place of God (1 Corinthians 3:16); His Throne is in the Church (Ephesians 3:21).

Thirdly, this same truth is explained in Genesis 17:1-8; and further explained in the birth of Isaac (Genesis 17:15-27). This Covenant would be established with Isaac and with Jacob (as types of Christ); and to the seed in them (see Romans 9, 10, 11), which the Inheritance includes (Romans 9:23-24; John 14:3; 17:21-24). Of course, this is only possible by the Regenerating Work of the Holy Spirit in the child of God’s heart (Ephesians 1:3-14).

I had to say all of the above to come to our text verses, “… the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ...” (Galatians 3:17).

I do not believe in three Gods, but only One True and Living God. (Deuteronomy 6:4) “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” God purposed to reveal Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ. Not beget another God, but The God would dwell in the special made Body, by the Spirit of God (Luke 1:35; 1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:1-18; Hebrews 10:1-18), in Jesus Christ, to reveal His Glory to His Chosen (2 Corinthians 4:6-7). This God did, for Mary was chosen to be the human mother of this special prepared Body that would house God (Luke 1:1-35). (Colossians 2:9) “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”; which Jesus Christ acknowledged Himself that He was God, many times. But see John 8:56, 58; and Exodus 3:14, “…I AM THAT I AM…”

Today’s devotion lies in the true commitment of God Himself to Himself, to be the Redemption of His people, through the Office Work of Jesus Christ as Prophet, Priest, Substitute, Sacrifice and Savior, King and Lord. Proven by His Resurrection (Romans 1:4; 1 Corinthians 15:1-58); this being in eternity past before time ever was. See:

(Ephesians 1:3-11) “….before the foundation of the world…”

(1 Peter 1:18-20) “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world…”

(Revelation 13:8) “…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

(Ephesians 3:10-11) “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Therefore, the Coming of God in the Person of Jesus Christ confirms His True Commitment to Himself to redeem His People from their sins; purifying His Bride. And making her His Throne for all Eternity; the new heaven and the new earth, New Jerusalem, the Lamb’s wife, wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21, 22); and baptizing them into His Body (1 Corinthians 12:13).

The point to see here is that God is immutable (or unchangeable). (Please read Hebrews 6:13-20.) The fact for us to see is (Hebrews 6:18-20):

(18) “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us (Colossians 1:27).”

(19) “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”

(20) “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever…”

The thing to see here is that true commitment goes back to God’s Commitment to Himself; and carrying out this commitment in Christ’s First Coming to earth; and His Rule and Reign in Love in Power in His Church, His Everlasting Kingdom.

Therefore, true commitment in us flows from God, Who lives in us. And because He is immutable, true commitment is immutable; and it will bring Works of Righteousness.