Here is what I mean. The law came 430 years after the promise. But the law does not get rid of God’s covenant and promise. The covenant had already been made by God. So the law does not do away with the promise.

我是这么说，神预先所立的约，不能被那四百三十年以后的律法废掉，叫应许归于虚空。

我是这么说，上帝预先所立的约不能被四百三十年以后的律法废掉，使应许失效。

我是这么说，神预先所立的约不能被四百三十年以后的律法废掉，使应许失效。

我的意思是：四百三十年后颁布的律法不会废除上帝先前立下的约，以致应许落空。

我要这样说，神预先立好的约，那四百三十年后才有的律法，不能把它废掉，使那应许落空。

我说的这话是：四百三十年以后出现的律法，不能废弃神预先立好的约，使那应许无效。

我是這麼說，神預先所立的約，不能被那四百三十年以後的律法廢掉，叫應許歸於虛空。

我是這麼說，上帝預先所立的約不能被四百三十年以後的律法廢掉，使應許失效。

我是這麼說，神預先所立的約不能被四百三十年以後的律法廢掉，使應許失效。

我的意思是：四百三十年後頒佈的律法不會廢除上帝先前立下的約，以致應許落空。

我要這樣說，神預先立好的約，那四百三十年後才有的律法，不能把它廢掉，使那應許落空。

我乃是說、上帝所豫先立定的約、並不是那四百三十年後成立的律法所能取消、使那應許無效的。

我說的這話是：四百三十年以後出現的律法，不能廢棄神預先立好的約，使那應許無效。

我謂上帝預立之約、非四百三十年後之律所能廢、使所許者為虛、

我亦云、昔上帝、既緣基督預立盟約、則非四百三十年後之律法所能廢、使應許無有、

我言昔天主為基督有原文抄本無為基督句所預定之約、四百三十年後之律法不能廢之、使所許者歸於虛、

故吾曰：主之恩諾既已確立於前、則產生於四百三十年後之律法、又安能廢棄之、而致前諾於無效乎？

What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.

This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.

This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise.

My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God and thus cancel the promise.

What I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

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.

Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect.

And I say this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God and cancel the promise.

And this I say,[ that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise.

Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

Then the Lord said to him,“ You can be sure of what I am about to tell you. For 400 years, your family who comes after you will be strangers in another country. They will become slaves there and will be treated badly.

All these people were praised because they had faith. But none of them received what God had promised.That’s because God had planned something better for us. So they would only be made perfect together with us.

God has made a great many promises. They are all“ Yes” because of what Christ has done. So through Christ we say“ Amen.” We want God to receive glory.

In the past, God gave us grace through the law of Moses. Now, grace and truth come to us through Jesus Christ.

The Lord who rules over all has planned it. Who can stop him? He has reached out his powerful hand. Who can keep him from using it?

When God made his promise to Abraham, God gave his word. There was no one greater than himself to promise by. So he promised by making an appeal to himself.He said,“ I will certainly bless you. I will give you many children.”( Genesis 22:17)Abraham was patient while he waited. Then he received what God promised him.People promise things by someone greater than themselves. Giving your word makes a promise certain. It puts an end to all arguing.So God gave his word when he made his promise. He wanted to make it very clear that his purpose does not change. He wanted those who would receive what was promised to know this.When God made his promise, he gave his word. He did this so we would have good reason not to give up. Instead, we have run to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope is set before us in God’s promise. So God made his promise and gave his word. These two things can’t change. He couldn’t lie about them.

Christ did not send me to baptize. He sent me to preach the good news. He commanded me not to preach with wisdom and fancy words. That would take all the power away from the cross of Christ.

What if some Jews were not faithful? Will the fact that they weren’t faithful keep God from being faithful?

Abraham and his family received a promise. God promised that Abraham would receive the world. It would not come to him because he obeyed the law. It would come because of his faith, which made him right with God.Do those who depend on the law receive the promise? If they do, faith would mean nothing. God’s promise would be worthless.

But I don’t want anyone to fool you with words that only sound good.

Brothers and sisters, let me give you an example from everyday life. No one can get rid of an official agreement between people. No one can add to it. It can’t be changed after it has been made. It is the same with God’s covenant agreement.

The Israelites lived in Egypt for 430 years.Then all the Lord’ s people marched out of Egypt like an army. That happened at the end of the 430 years, to the exact day.

He was chosen before God created the world. But he came into the world for your sake in these last days.

“ Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to his people and purchased their freedom.He has acted with great power and has saved us. He did it for those who are from the family line of his servant David.Long ago holy prophets said he would do it.He has saved us from our enemies. We are rescued from all who hate us.He has been kind to our people of long ago. He has remembered his holy covenant.He made a promise to our father Abraham.He promised to save us from our enemies. Then we could serve him without fear.He wants us to be holy and godly as long as we live.“ And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him.You will tell his people how they can be saved. You will tell them that their sins can be forgiven.All of that will happen because our God is tender and caring. His kindness will bring the rising sun to us from heaven.It will shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death. It will guide our feet on the path of peace.”

I will make my covenant with you last forever. It will be between me and you and your family after you for all time to come. I will be your God. And I will be the God of all your family after you.You are now living in Canaan as an outsider. But I will give you the whole land of Canaan. You will own it forever and so will all your family after you. And I will be their God.”

Your covenant with death will be called off. The agreement you made with the place of the dead will not stand. When the terrible plague comes to punish you, you will be struck down by it.

Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace.

“ Would you dare to claim that I am not being fair? Would you judge me in order to make yourself seem right?

God isn’t a mere human. He can’t lie. He isn’t a human being. He doesn’t change his mind. He speaks, and then he acts. He makes a promise, and then he keeps it.

Here is what God said to him.‘ For 400 years your family after you will be strangers in a country not their own. They will be slaves and will be treated badly.

Do I mean that food sacrificed to a statue of a god is anything? Do I mean that a statue of a god is anything?

God gave Christ as a sacrifice to pay for sins through the spilling of his blood. So God forgives the sins of those who have faith. God did all this to prove that he does what is right. He is a God of mercy. So he did not punish for their sins the people who lived before Jesus lived.

But suppose her husband doesn’t allow her to keep her promises when he hears about them. Then she doesn’t have to do what she promised. She doesn’t have to do what she agreed to do without thinking it through. The Lord will set her free.

So is the law opposed to God’s promises? Certainly not! What if a law had been given that could give life? Then people could become right with God by obeying the law.

The old rule is set aside. It was weak and useless.

Brothers and sisters, what I mean is that the time is short. From now on, those who have a husband or wife should live as if they did not.

Here is what I’m telling you. I am speaking for the Lord as I warn you. You must no longer live as the Gentiles do. Their thoughts don’t have any purpose.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They didn’t receive the things God had promised. They only saw them and welcomed them from a long way off. They openly said that they were outsiders and strangers on earth.

On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram. He said,“ I am giving this land to your family who comes after you. It reaches from the River of Egypt to the great Euphrates River.

Your father Abraham was filled with joy at the thought of seeing my day. He saw it and was glad.”“ You are not even 50 years old,” they said to Jesus.“ And you have seen Abraham?”“ What I’m about to tell you is true,” Jesus answered.“ Before Abraham was born, I am!”

The Lord blocks the sinful plans of the nations. He keeps them from doing what they want to do.

Then God said,“ Yes, I will bless Ishmael. But your wife Sarah will have a son by you. And you will name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him. That covenant will last forever. It will be for Isaac and his family after him.

They wanted to find out when and how this salvation would come. The Spirit of Christ in them was telling them about the sufferings of the Messiah. These were his sufferings that were going to come. The Spirit of Christ was also telling them about the glory that would follow.It was made known to the prophets that they were not serving themselves. Instead, they were serving you when they spoke about the things that you have now heard. Those who have preached the good news to you have told you these things. They have done it with the help of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Here is what I mean. One of you says,“ I follow Paul.” Another says,“ I follow Apollos.” Another says,“ I follow Peter.” And still another says,“ I follow Christ.”

Here is something to remember. The one who plants only a little will gather only a little. And the one who plants a lot will gather a lot.

Abraham had faith. So when God tested him, Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham had held on tightly to the promises. But he was about to offer his one and only son.God had said to him,“ Your family line will continue through Isaac.”( Genesis 21:12) Even so, Abraham was going to offer him up.Abraham did this, because he believed that God could even raise the dead. In a way, he did receive Isaac back from death.

So I say, live by the Holy Spirit’s power. Then you will not do what your desires controlled by sin want you to do.