If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Summary: How do you run a race? Are you a natural athlete or do you prefer being a couch potato?
Keeping up with Paul is challenging.
When I was in high school, my “sport” was track. Since my interests have always leaned toward academic pursuits, I confess that I was never much of an athlete. When I did run, I was better at the short events than the long ones. My “claim to fame” in cross country at the end of the season was “Most Improved.”
Being a sub-par runner, I spent most of my time following other runners. I could keep up with some longer than others, but the faster runners always left me in the dust. Trying to follow Paul’s logic is like that. I am always looking for clouds of dust to figure out where he’s been.
In today’s passage, Paul sums up all the running he’s done so far in Chapter Three. Remember “Abraham’s seed?” Paul says:
“The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.” (Galatians 3:16)
He then runs up a steep trail, making a point about the “seed” being singular, and therefore it means the seed is Jesus Christ. Meanwhile, his path runs through the trees and thickets when he explains “the promise.”
The promise partly refers to the “promise of the Spirit” (Galatians 3:14) but also refers to how the promise is delivered. It comes to us through inheritance, the promise of God to honor Abraham by ensuring God’s gift to Abraham is received by his heirs. This is what he means by “heirs according to the promise.”
Finally, he crosses the finish line in faith. He makes the point that faith in Christ is different than following the law. The function of the law is like the guideposts along the cross-country trail. It is there to show the way. Knowing we are on the right path doesn’t mean we can finish the race, but at least it means we try not to disqualify ourselves by taking shortcuts.
In the end, Paul sums it all up:
“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Application: Run with perseverance! (Hebrews 12:1)
Food for Thought: Please tell me again what ‘the promise’ is promising.
I think in the context of Galatians chapter 3, the point is that we receive salvation by grace through faith. Abraham received the promise of God by faith (Genesis 15: 6), not by any work such as a work of the law that had not even been fully administered at the time of Abraham.
So following his lead, we also take hold of eternal life through faith apart from any work. We also have salvation through faith alone by grace alone in Christ alone. Christ Himself is the promise that goes back to Genesis 3: 15 – the one born of a woman (and not a man) who would crush Satan’s head and deliver us from spiritual enemies and imprisonment. Salvation is in Christ. Abraham believed God. We should also believe God and take hold of the eternal life that comes through faith in Christ.
Thanks, Rich!
Nicely said. Trying to find “the point,” as you put it, is always a challenge with Paul.
If I look at the Word of God from a 30,000 foot view, and what the promise is, the promise is our Heavenly Father saying to mankind, because of your disobedience, we cannot be together, but I promise you, I will make it so we can again.
God can’t give us a “free pass” on sin. That would make the perfect, imperfect.
We can’t outweigh sin with self-righteousness. The imperfect cannot become perfect.
Jesus lived in perfection, died in perfection, rose in perfection, and lives in perfection. His sacrifice did not give us a “ticket to heaven” but fulfilled God’s promise to bring us back to Him. The promise is restoration, life, communion, a relationship. This is only possible because our sin is not counted against us, because Christ paid for our sin by giving His perfect life for our imperfect life. Only because our sin is not counted against us can we then have a relationship with our Heavenly Father again.
Thank you, Chris!
Jesus does provide the means of restoration. What a beautiful thing!
Please tell me again what ‘the promise’ is promising.
Our Christian life on this earth is much like a cross country race filled with distractions, rest areas, forks in the trail, people trying to direct our path, and obstacles to be overcome, avoided, All believers are winners and the “Most Improved” will go to those living focused on Christ, as they run with Patience.
Galatians 3:29, If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Our greatest obstacle is this world we continue to live in. We are surrounded by human beings who view our life in faith to be a fairy tail. Some are in our churches and will openly speak of the Word of God being out of date. They must be identified and avoided.
We must focus on living in the truth that God has left each of us on earth to fulfill His purpose for our lives, which is to mature in Christ and allow Him to minister through us to all those He brings into our sphere of influence. He has given us another Helper, the Holy Spirit of God as the power to distinguish good from evil and our task is to listen and act according to His guidance as we turn from this world.
Our promise of the Holy Spirit placed in our hearts by God when we receive Jesus Christ. He becomes our power to reject all powers on this earth as we live in His power over sin.
John 14:16, And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Ron,
I like how you built on the cross-country metaphor! Well done!!
🌟 🌟 🌟
You are right about the promise of the Holy Spirit. That is the key to all of the answers we are looking for.
Got the idea from a buddy of mine. A tried and true cross-country runner!
Now he’s running a better race.
🙂