Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 3:15-18.
“15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.
16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.
17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.” Galatians 3:15-18.
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Today’s Scripture presents four points as to why the Law does not invalidate nor change the promise of blessing by God. First, verse 15 focuses on the unchangeable (immutable) nature of the promise of God’s blessing. Second, verse 16 focuses on the recipients of God’s blessing: Abraham and Christ. We are blessed in Christ. Third, verse 17 focuses on the time sequence of the promise of God and the giving of the Law. The subsequent Law does not change God’s previous promise. Fourth, verse 18 focuses on the contrast between a conditional blessing based on man’s weak and changing performance under the Law compared to an unconditional blessing based on the strong immutability of God’s Word. God grants the blessing or inheritance on the basis of His promise, not on the basis of our performance under the Law.
In summary, the Law, given to Moses much later after God gave His unconditional and immutable promise of blessing to Abraham and his seed Christ, does not invalidate nor change this promise of God.
Reformed Doctrine a/k/a Calvinism teaches a salvation based on the unconditional and immutable promise of God. Arminianism a/k/a “man-centered gospel” teaches a salvation based on man’s free-will and man’s weak and changing performance under the Law.
Reformed Doctrine a/k/a Calvinism teaches a salvation in which God unconditionally and immutably promises and provides everything the elect need for salvation from “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism which is the Reformed Doctrine of salvation.
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. …” Ephesians 1:3-4.
“For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.” Article 8. of the Reformed Confession Canons of Dordt.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 