Martin Luther on Galatians 3:18

Verſe. 18. For if the inheritaunce be of the lavve, it is no more by the promiſe. &c. Verſe. 14.So he ſayth in the .4. to the Romaines: For if they vvhich be of the lavve be heires, then is Faith but vaine, and the promiſe of none effect. And it can not otherwiſe be: for this diſtinction is plaine, that the law is a thing farre differing from the promiſe.A difference betvvene the lavve, and the promiſe. Yea naturall reaſon, although it be neuer ſo blind, is compelled to cōfeſſe, that it is one thing to promiſe, and an other thing to require: one thing to geue, and an other thing to take.To promiſe and to require are diſtinct things. The lawe doth require and exact of vs our workes: the promiſe of the Seede doth offer vnto vs the ſpiritual and euerlaſting benefites of God, and that freely for Chriſtes ſake. Therefore we obtaine the inheritaunce or Bleſſing through the promiſe, and not through the lawe. For the promiſe ſayeth: In thy ſeede shall all nations of the earth be bleſſed. The inheritaunce is geuē by the promiſe, and not by the lavve. Therfore he that hath the lawe, hath not enough, becauſe he hath not yet the Bleſſing, without the which he is compelled to abide vnder the Curſe. The lawe therfore can not iuſtifie becauſe the Bleſſing is not ioyned vnto it. Moreouer, if the inheritaūce were of the law, then ſhould God be found a lier, and ye promiſe ſhould be in vaine. Again, if the law could obtaine the Bleſſing, why did God then make this promiſe: In thy Seede? &c. Why did he not rather ſay: Doe this and thou ſhalt receaue the Bleſſing? or elſe by keping of the law, thou maiſt deſerue euerlaſting life. This argument is grounded vpon contraries: The inheritaunce is geuen by the promiſe: therefore not by the lawe.

Verſe. 18. But God gaue it vnto Abraham by promiſe. It can not be denied, but that God before the law was, gaue vnto Abraham the inheritaunce or Bleſſing by the promiſe: that is to ſay, remiſſion of ſinnes, righteouſnes, ſaluation, and euerlaſting life,VVhat the Bleſſing is, vvhich is geuē vs through Chriſt. yt we ſhould be ſonnes & heires of God, and felow heires with Chriſte. For it is plainly ſayd in Geneſis: In thy ſeede shall all nations be bleſſed. There the Bleſſing is geuen frely without reſpect of ye law or works. For God gaue ye inheritāce before Moiſes was borne, or before any mā had yet once thought of the law. Why vaūt ye then that righteouſnes cometh by the law, ſeing that righteouſnes, life, and ſaluation was geuen to your father Abraham wtout the lawe, yea before there was any lawe? He that is not moued with theſe things, is blind and obſtinate. But this argument of the promiſe I haue before handled more largely, and therefore I will now but touch it by the way. Hitherto we haue heard the principal part of this Epiſtle. Now the Apoſtle goeth about to ſhew the vſe and office of the lawe, adding certaine ſimilitudes of the Scholemaſter, and of the li[illegible: 1 letter]le Heire: Alſo the allegorie of the two ſonnes of Abraham, Iſaacke and Iſmael &c. Laſt of all he ſetteth forth certaine preceptes concerning maners.