Galatians Journal: Chapter 3, verse 18

Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

To close his second scriptural proof/argument, Paul almost seems to be mixing his metaphors. I think he does this as a transition – He has already driven home the comparison to the common, everyday legal issues of a last will and testament. Now, he wants to hammer home the spiritual truth without the aid of metaphor.

“If the inheritance depends on the law” This is what feels like a mixed metaphor – but an ingenious one! Paul has been discussing the Law of Moses and the Word of God in the context of a last will and testament, and the common cultural understanding (of that time, that is, in ancient Greek and Hebrew culture) of the irrevocability of such a will. The use of “inheritance” evokes the same sort of comparison. “Inheritance” can mean the result of the fulfillment of that last will – the money or property we receive from the decedent who drafted that will. But if the Word of God is like a last will under this argument, the “inheritance" under the Word is eternal life, freedom from sin, victory and transformation in this life, but most of all – a living relationship with the true God (it connects nicely back to Paul’s first argument back in Galatians 3:2-5!). “The law” here is not the law controlling wills and estates – it’s the law of Moses. So, the comparison of the last will and God’s Word holds true – in both cases, we do not receive the inheritance by what we do. Both a will and God’s Covenant are a PROMISE – the will says “when I die, you get all I have.” The covenant says “I will be your God, I will bless you. I will save you. I will love you.” In both cases, all we have to do is receive. We can, of course, refuse to accept the promise. I can disclaim or renounce an inheritance under a will. I can also refuse to accept and believe in God’s Covenant.

“but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.” This is the first time in Chapter 3 that Paul uses this very important word:”grace.” Its also the first use of “give” or “gift.” Its as if the rabbinical, scriptural analysis is done. The need to prove his point with Old Testament references is over. We’re down to the nitty gritty truth. The covenant – God’s salvation, forgiveness, favor, our whole relationship with God, is a free gift, bestowed on us by God’s grace – his unmerited favor, which we can never deserve. That is really the essence of the Gospel. This last phrase is set apart, because there is no argument to counter – God gave a gift to Abraham in His Promise (connecting his argument back to Galatians 3:6-9) – in Jesus, we partake in the same Promise, and receive the same gift as well!