The Unearned Trophy

GETTING STARTED

Once, I had the opportunity to take our son with me on a business trip. Even better, it happened to be a trip where I got called up onto the stage to receive an industry award. I grabbed my son and took him up there with me. When I introduced him to the audience, the crowd played along and gave him an extra loud round of applause. The presenter handed him the plaque and my son accepted the award on my behalf. Needless to say, it was a fantastic moment for us both. We couldn’t help but think of this story when reading today’s passage.

  • When have you received something you didn’t deserve?

READ THE WORD: GALATIANS 3:15-29 (ESV)

15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

(Today’s verses focus on verses 23-29.)

  1. How did Paul view the condition of those under the law (vs. 23)?
  2. What was the purpose of the law before Christ came (vs. 24)?
  3. What did Paul mean when he wrote that believers were no longer under “a guardian” (vs. 25)?
  4. According to Paul, who are the heirs of God’s covenant along with Abraham (vss. 25-29)? Why did Paul point out that outward characteristics such as nationality, social status, and gender did not have any bearing on being included in the promise (vs. 28)?
  5. How does your inclusion in God’s promise encourage you?

RESPOND TO GOD

When my son and I returned home from that business trip, he told my wife how amazing it felt that, just by being my son, he was able to go up on stage to the applause of all of those people. He knew he hadn’t earned it; but he realized they knew that, too, and that it was simply an unexpected and fun moment. He could have turned to me and said, “I’m not going up there—I didn’t do anything to earn that!” How often do we say the same thing to God, in forgetting our position as his son or daughter? Do not forget that the promise he made to Abraham is, by virtue of your adoption in Christ, a promise he made to you as well.

  • Pray today that you will accept God’s promise for you, without any expectation of having to earn what is freely yours by faith alone.