Paul's argument that no one can be justified through the Law raises a natural question. What then was the purpose of the Law? For the Law clearly was important, and occupies alarge portion of the Old Testament, both in terms of pure weight of pages, and in its impact.
Paul goes right back to Abraham again, pointing out that Abraham came before the Law, and the promise of blessing was given to Abraham. The covenant with Abraham was sealed by God and so cannot be broken. Therefore what happened to Abraham is of primary importance.
Paul then draws attention to the fact that the promise was given to seed not seeds, and that the one seed is Christ. Now Paul is not saying that the promise was given to only one person, for seed can be plural. Seed can be taken to represent a family, and what Paul is saying is that it was always God's intention that there be one family, not many. This family is the family of faith in Christ. The Judaisers wanted to divide between Jews and Gentiles, in Christ there is no such divide.
The promise to Abraham came 430 years before the Law, so it must have precedence. If the inheritance depended upon the Law, then it would set aside the covenant with Abraham for that was based on a promise. So Paul is saying that the Judaisers have got their understanding all wrong, for their interpretation introduces a contradiction into God's word, and this cannot be right.
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