The covenant that God made on behalf of Abraham was an irrevocable covenant. That means it couldn’t be changed. It was final. In Galatians 3:15, Paul illustrates the nature of covenants and how they work by using the example of human covenants. When someone enters covenant, he obligates himself to it unto his death.
Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. (Galatians 3:15)1
The verb “confirmed” is in the perfect tense meaning it is a done deal and will not be done again.2 It cannot be annulled or added to or it will be invalid – not worth the paper it is written on. With a covenant there are two ways to make it invalid: annul it directly or add to its conditions.
In the context of Paul’s letter, he is saying that at first glance these seemingly “harmless” new conditions the Judaizers were bringing alongside grace would actually invalidate the covenant if what they were teaching was true! We know that we are righteous in Christ, and nothing can annul the covenant God made in Christ’s blood for us. However, we can believe the lie that there are conditions to the covenant, and it will ruin the experience of the life of faith and intimacy with God.
Any dependency on works is an abandonment of faith.
Can you see the black and white of it?
(from page 264 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
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1Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
2Galatians 3:15, Blue Letter Bible (interlinear tab), http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gal&c=3&t=KJV&ss=1#s=t_conc_1094015, accessed 6-9-14″
