Galatians 3:17 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… I. TIME cannot disannul it: neither the time before the law nor the time which has elapsed since. 1. Some covenants run out in the course of time, or are annulled through non-fulfilment within a given time, or are abrogated in the very fact of their fulfilment. 2. The Christian covenant is independent of time. (1) No time was specified. (2) In a sense its fulfilment began at once. (3) It cannot pass away till the last of Abraham's seed has enjoyed its provisions. II. THE UNFAITHFULNESS OF ONE OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES did not disannul it. 1. During the four hundred and thirty years. (1) The obliquities of Jacob. (2) The evil conduct of his sons. (3) The religious apathy of the Egyptian sojourn. (4) The perversities of the wilderness wandering. 2. During the following years till the advent. (1) In spite of Divine revelation. (2) Notwithstanding repeated chastisements, Israel grieviously sinned; yet the covenant was not withdrawn. III. THE INTERMEDIARY DISPENSATION did not disannul it. 1. The law itself did not. (1) It was intended to help on its fulfilment. (2) It was one part of God's remedial plan of which the covenant was another part. 2. The infraction of the law did not. (1) Sin led men to yearn for its fulfilment. (2) Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. III. It rests on the IMMUTABILITY OF GOD. 1. Of His wisdom. He saw when the time would be ripe. 2. Of His mercy: He knew when it would be best to work in the interests of mankind.The covenant, then, was not disannulled by the law. 1. Because then the blessing promised by the covenant would not have depended upon that promise. 2. Because then in vain is any mention made of the seed of Abraham, that is, of Christ. 3. Because those who died before the law was given on Sinai, amongst others, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, would have no claim to partake of the Divine blessing, no share in the promised inheritance. (W. Denton, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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