Monday, 11 April 2016
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29
As was noted in the commentary on verse 16, the “seed” mentioned in that verse is speaking of those who are in Christ. Verse 19 mentioned the “Seed” and it was speaking of Christ. Understanding what Paul has been communicating shows us that we are “in Christ” and “heirs according to the promise.” This verse then sums up the entire discourse on the issue of Abraham, the promise, and the seed.
For those who have called on Christ, believing in His work and not attempting to be justified by deeds of the law, but by simple faith in what He has done, we are then reckoned as “Abraham’s seed.” Though the word is singular, it speaks of all that issues from a single seed. One seed can bear a hundred-fold, and those hundred can then bear another hundred-fold, and so on. It is only those who are of the nature of Abraham, and who are contained within the issue of that one seed of promise, who are being spoken of. It is those who are “heirs according to the promise.”
Paul speaks in the same manner in Romans 8 with these words –
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:16, 17
Turning again to Romans, Paul says this in Chapter 4 –
“Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.” Romans 4:16
Physical descent from Abraham has no bearing at all on whether one is saved or not. Rather, those who believe in God’s word and promise, which is realized in Christ, are those who are reckoned as descendants of Abraham and thus adopted sons of God.
Life application: Where in the verses of Galatians 3 is there any hint that we are required to work deeds of the law in order to be pleasing to God? The answer is, “Nowhere.” Rather, the law is contrary to the promise. It stands opposed to it. Don’t be so foolish as to be duped into believing that you can be “more pleasing” to God by exercising your religious life through keeping precepts of the law. It is utterly contradictory to the very words of the Bible. Have faith in Christ; rest in Christ; be reconciled to God through Christ.
Lord God, Heavenly Father – Your tender care of Your people isn’t always evident in how our lives turn out from day to day. We suffer, we have trials, and heaps of bad times come our way. But we will not become disheartened! Your tender care is evident in the surety of what lies ahead. You have broken open the bonds of death, You have released the captives, and You have promised us a heavenly home. This life is of little consequence when the realization of such great promises awaits us! Thank You for what You have done through Jesus to secure our eternal future. Amen.