The Promise is Through Righteousness

God made a promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations.  This promise was not made to Abraham because Abraham was good at keeping rules or the “law”.  In fact, there was no God given “law” at that time.  Genesis records that “Abraham believed God and God accounted it to him as righteousness”.  God made a promise to Abraham and Abraham believed God, by faith.  Here is how Paul writes about this in verses 13-15:  “13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.”  Notice how Paul is reinforcing this idea over and over…as if we need to hear it several times for it to sink in.  No one becomes an heir of God’s promises through the law; only because of faith. The law brings wrath because it demonstrates man’s inability to be holy on his own.  It shows man’s culpability before God.  “Do not touch” signs on park benches produce within some, maybe most, a desire to touch.  If you are an heir to the promises of God it is because you have believed in Jesus and God’s promises to you are activated through the righteousness that He has granted you, by grace through faith.

Share

Leave a Reply