The Promises of God Triumph by Our Victory in Jesus How? ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba %

Over the last two weeks, we have looked very seriously at Paul’s heartfelt concern for the churches in Galatia. They were being drawn to a false gospel by others. It was a gospel that brought in works as the means of “maintaining their salvation.” Salvation, however, is by Grace through faith and not of works. It is based on the promises of God since Adam reconfirmed in the promises of God to Abraham. Those Promises of God triumph only by our Victory in Jesus. His redemptive work on the cross is what saves us. And it is His substitutionary death on the cross, followed by His resurrection that wins us that victory. Paul believed he had been so clear about that. Yet the churches in Galatia had been bewitched by those who wanted to make it more about their humanistic ideas. And thereby less about Jesus.

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Galatians 3:1-4 NKJV

If it was impossible to be saved by the works of the law. How can you believe that now you can keep the law in your human flesh? Our only hope of righteousness is faith in the completed work of Christ. First, for salvation and later for our sanctification. We are sanctified (transformed into the likeness of our Lord and Savior) by the work of the Holy Spirit. Never is it by our own works.

The Promises of God Triumph by Grace by faith

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:5 NKJV

To further understand this, we need to recall where the Galatian churches are located. And recall some of the miracles there as recorded in Acts 14.

The Book of Acts records Paul’s travels through “south Galatia,” including the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 13–16). Paul also visited Pergaand Attalia in the region of Pamphylia on the Mediterranean coast (Acts 13–14). Three recent archaeological discoveries suggest that these cities in Pamphylia were part of Galatia when Paul visited the region:¹_{https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/who-were-the-galatians-in-the-bible/ accessed 3/1/2026}

Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there. And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. Acts 14:1-13 NKJV

So, here they were not only misrepresented by the Judaizers. But also the worshippers of Zeus. And all the people believed them to be the gods due to the miracles. Talk about a tough crowd to preach to! Yet Paul and Barnabas were not deterred. Instead, they were appalled and preached on that Our Victory in Jesus is by faith in Him. Their works were by the Spirits work. Read on.

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. Acts 14:14-18 NKJV

Paul exemplified that The Promises of God Triumph by Our Victory in Jesus

Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. Acts 14:19-20

Not only did Paul not die (though they thought he was). Rather, he went right back into the city the next morning where he had been stoned. Covered with bruises no doubt, but alive and ready to stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. Acts 14:21-28 NKJV

Whose Power Makes the Promises of God Triumph

God Himself through faith in the Victory of Jesus. He it is that supplies to Paul and every believer the power of the Holy Spirit, indwelling in you. Not by works you do, but by grace through faith. That was even true for Abraham.

Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? —just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore, know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:6-9 NKJV

If we come alongside “believing Abraham”, we have all the blessings of Abraham. Our faith is counted to us for righteousness. The fulfillment of Jesus’ birth through the lineage of Abraham was the fulfillment of this promise to Abraham. Through him, all nations would be blessed. By faith, Abraham believed and was willing to sacrifice His Only Son of promise. Isaac was the one through whom the Messiah would come. That had been made clear to Abraham. Trusting that God would make a way Abraham walked on. He went to the top of the mountain prepared to do as God commanded. How? He believed God would either provide a substitute or raise Isaac from the dead. What great faith he demonstrated.

Why by Grace alone?

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” Galatians 3:10-12 NKJV

So, what was the law for? Remember that the law was not written or given to Abraham. Instead, it was written many years later. The covenant promises of God were given to Abraham. The law came to be a constant reminder to the people that they could not fulfill the law. Not by the outward letter of the law which is what many tried. But even further away was the heart. They could not keep the heart of the law and God judges the heart.

The purpose of the law is to remind all of us that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Too easily, without the law, we want to believe in the humanistic ideologies. We want to say we are all somehow divine ourselves. Or that we are moving to become more like God within our own selves. But the truth is the Promises of God Triumph only by Our Victory in Jesus. How? Through faith in His Redemptive work on our behalf.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV

So, what of the promises of God triumph by Our Victory in Jesus?

All of them. Listen to this argument by Paul.

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 NKJV

Covenants were legal, binding documents among men. They could not be broken or changed. So, let us continue.

Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Galatians 3:16-18 NKJV

It was an unbreakable legal covenant Promise of God to Abraham. That supersedes the law which came 430 years later. The Covenant Promises of God Triumph cannot be broken or prevented from being fulfilled. Nothing stands in the way of Victory in Jesus through faith. Certainly, not the law.

So again, what was the Purpose of the Law?

What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Galatians 3:19-20 NKJV

Our mediator is Jesus Christ.

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time I Timothy 2:5-6 NKJV

Paul goes on to explain further.

Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:21-25 NKJV

Tutor?

Particularly during Paul’s time, there was a tutor assigned. That tutor was responsible for ascertaining the child went to school. And then, once at school, behaved properly at school-fulfilling all they were assigned to. The law acts as a tutor for humanity pointing us to Christ. Once saved we do not need the tutor. Why? We now have the Holy Spirit to guide us in all we need to learn.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29 NKJV

Therefore, all the covenant promises of God triumph through our Victory in Jesus. We are not made Jews, but our faith is counted to us as righteousness. Our inheritance is that we are the children of the living God, who made us and saved us. Joint heirs with Christ Jesus. How Amazing is That!

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Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

¹ J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

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