Learn from the life of Abraham: (3:6-9, 15-18):
Abraham believed God and it was credited unto him the righteousness. (Gen.15:6). The righteousness he got was not due to his some good works or because of his circumcision because circumcision which had not yet been given. The Law was introduced 430 years later. God had promised Abraham the children and he put his trust in Him. Abraham was not justified because God would multiply his seed but because he embraced God’s grace. It was Christ’s righteousness which Abraham received when he was justified. Our righteousness is only like the filthy rags in the sight of God. This also speak of Salvation by the grace of God through faith. This quoted 4-times in the NT (Rom 4:3; 4:9-10; Rom. 4:22; Gal.3:6). Also we must understand that Abraham’s faith did not make righteous, but it was Christ’s righteousness put on us when we believed and accepted Him as our personal Saviour. Abraham’s faith must be understood. The duty of man is to believe in Christ and honour Him with his faith. Faith says to God: “I believe what You say” (Luther).
- Abraham is the father of faithful: Since Abraham was made righteous by faith, all those put their faith in God and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour are the children of Abraham.
- God can raise Abraham’s children from any nation: Jesus said “And do not think you can say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father, I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham” (Matt. 3:9).
- God is only Father but not grandfather: When some so called Christians say, we are from Christian background but do not have the salvation experience, they are still non-Christians or heathen. When we accept Him as our Saviour, irrespective of our age, culture, language and nation we become His children. (Jn.1:12)
- All nations blessed through Abraham: (3:8-9): All believers in every nation and in every age shall share the blessings of Abraham. This promise was given to Abraham much before the Law was introduced. God has announced the Gospel to the entire world through Abraham.
- Christ in Abraham’s genealogy : God kept the promise to Abraham even after thousands of years. He saved Abraham through his faith and he blessed the world through Abraham by sending the Messiah as one of Abraham’s descendants. Circumstances may change, but God remains the same yesterday, today and forever. Through Jesus Christ we have the forgiveness of our sins and His redemption saves us and makes us as His children.
- Inheritance through Abraham is not based on Law: (3:18): The Law reveals the nature of God and shows the people how to live. It would continue to show us of our sins and therefore makes us impossible to please God. On the other hand the God’s promise to Abraham is based on the faith through His grace. The covenant with Abraham shows that the only way to be saved is through faith and faith alone. The law shows how to obey God, but the faith gives the way. Faith does not annul the Law, but obeying the Law makes us more of sinner than to lead us in the path of redemption.
Learn from those under the Law: (3:10-12, 19-25):Paul says that those who observe the law are under a curse. He quotes (Deu.27:26) to contradict the claims of the Judaizers.
- Those who are under the works are under the curse: The law can only condemn human beings. Breaking even one commandment brings a person under condemnation. Since everyone has broken the commandments, all stand condemned.
- No one is justified through the Law: The law cannot reverse the condemnation (Rom. 3:20-24). But Christ took the curse upon Him and the entire condemnation on Himself when He was hung on the cross. He did this so that we may be justified as no human being can bear his or her condemnation which is nothing but the death.
- The law was given due to man’s transgression: (3:19): The Law was given to restrain man’s transgression till the coming of the seed to whom the promise was made. In other words the Law was temporary and acted as a restraint during the times of BC. When the (Seed) the offspring of Abraham i.e. the Lord Jesus Christ comes, He would replace the Law with the faith.
- The Law needed a mediator: (3:20): According to traditions, the Law was delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai by the hands of angels (Acts. 7:38, 53). Angels were the “go between” or mediator for Moses when he received the Law from God. So Moses needed a Mediator between himself and God, but we don’t need a mediator between us and Jesus because Jesus Christ Himself is our mediator. The Law has a 2-party agreement. But Salvation through Jesus Christ by faith is by a promise.
- Sin imprisons us; but Jesus gives us freedom: (3:21-22): Before faith in Christ delivered us, we were imprisoned by sin, beaten by our past mistakes and choked by desires that we knew were wrong. The scripture puts in prison because it points our sinful condition. This makes us that we are imprisoned to sin. If someone says “I am not a prisoner of sin” a simple proof is that ask them stop sinning. If ever they have a record of sinning, it is an indication that they are under the Law and under the imprisonment of sin. But God has made a fire exit or an escape from the prison.