Abraham's Promise

Introduction

I, Dana Baldwin, being of sound mind do hereby… You recognize these words as the beginning of a will. I have brought my will today. Several years ago, Barbara and I wrote our wills. All of us need a will. It is part of living in this culture. Not to just pass on our wealth to others, but to ensure that our wishes are carried out just as we would like when we die. Without a will, our relatives are left to the judgment of the legal system. I am not an expert at such matters, but we want to make sure that what God has given us goes to those we wish rather than to the government.

Covenant

Wills are legal documents which when written cannot be altered by anyone. Technically, the will is a binding document which no one can change. Once filed according to the legal requirements of our culture it binds all to abide by its statements. In the Bible, the word “covenant” is often used to describe this contractual agreement between parties. After all, a will is a contractual agreement between the deceased and all parties involved. Generally, the deceased makes the decision about what happens to property and assets. Generally, the recipients understand that the execution of the will does not happen until the death of the person. The recipients also understand that the will is a binding covenant based upon the promise of the one who signed it.

The word “covenant” has various meanings. Paul uses it in Galatians 3 to describe the agreement made between God and Abraham. Let’s review. In 3:1-5, Paul appealed to the Galatians’ experience to prove that salvation is by faith not by keeping the law or as he said in 3:3 “not by human effort.” In 3:6-14, Paul says that Abraham was justified by faith. This justification or pronouncement of being right with God was not based on Abraham’s goodness but upon his trusting in God. By faith we become Abraham’s offspring. By faith we receive the Spirit. By faith we come into a relationship with God. To rely on one’s ability to keep the law places one under a curse. Failure to keep every law completely and wholly results in separation from God. To trust then in one’s own goodness will result in a curse.

In 3:15-18, Paul demonstrates that God made a covenant with Abraham based upon God’s promise. Such a covenant is not set aside by the law which came 430 years after the promise. At the heart of Paul’s brief argument is what we believe about God and what we believe about ourselves. Here is the scene. God calls Abraham to be his man. He makes a covenant or agreement with Abraham. That agreement is stated in Genesis 12:2-3.

Who made this covenant? God and Abraham. Who initiated this covenant? God did. Who was going to make this covenant happen? God was. What had Abraham done up to this point which would make God reward him? Nothing. This covenant was not based on Abraham’s goodness. It was based on God’s promise. He promised to do these things and he was going to ensure that they were carried out. This will could not be changed.

This covenant based upon the promises of God were made to Abraham and his seed. The seed is Jesus. In other words, Paul’s understanding of the covenant was that Abraham was the recipient but Jesus was the fulfillment of it. Jesus was the one through whom the promises were to be completed. There is a 2000 year line connecting Abraham to Jesus. The promise was made resulting in an agreement or covenant. Jesus was the completion of the promise. When was the promise made? 430 years before the law.

The giving of the law to Moses and to the people of Israel did not set aside the agreement with Abraham. The promise made well in advance of the law was still in effect when God gave the law to Moses. Thus, it is futile to argue that the law must be kept in order to receive the inheritance. Then what is the purpose of the law? Paul will answer that in verses 19-25. The point he makes now is that the inheritance was given by God’s grace based upon a promise.

Application

So what does this have to do with us? Not only is that a valid question, it is one which at first glance is difficult to answer. But there are three points which Paul seems to be making.

First, when a will is written, the assets are given to those whom the writer of the will wishes to receive those assets. We call this an inheritance. This inheritance is given because the writer of the will wishes for the recipients to have such assets. While Miss McCarty gave before her death, don’t miss the point. She gave what she wanted to an institution. It was a gift to Southern Mississippi. My children have done nothing to deserve my assets except that I want to give my property to them. That is what a gift is—a generous demonstration of a person’s heart toward another. God made a covenant with Abraham. In that covenant he promised a great inheritance. It was a gift. It demonstrates the generosity of God’s heart. Abraham accepted the gift. He acted upon the gift. He followed God. He believed in God’s promise. Such faith resulted in God further declaring him to be a righteous man.

Second, the covenant was based on God’s promise. Abraham believed that God would fulfill what he promised. He trusted in God’s word. He decided that God was trustworthy. This covenant was not based on Abraham’s ability to keep the law. The law did not appear for another 430 years. God said he would grant Abraham an inheritance. Abraham believed God to be trustworthy. Such faith resulted in his being called righteous.

The people of Galatia were beginning to act as if God was not trustworthy. The people are beginning to believe that they must keep the law in order to secure the inheritance. Depending on how well they keep the promise depends on the level of the inheritance. Such a view meant that God was a liar and no longer capable of keeping his promises.

If people can do enough good things in order to gain the inheritance then it is no longer a gift and God’s word no longer means anything. If we can achieve our goal by our own effort, then God’s promise means nothing. Either God is trustworthy or we are, but it cannot be both.

Finally, just as there is a 2000 year old line between Abraham and Jesus that line continues to us. All who trust God to fulfill his promise; all who believe that God will give us our inheritance; then we like Abraham respond in faith. Such faith results in our being declared right with God. God’s will was put into effect because he spoke it into being. He chose Abraham to be initial beneficiary of this will. All who accept the work of Jesus as sufficient to deal with sin, will like Abraham become beneficiaries of the will. The will is not based on our ability to keep the rules. The will is based on God’s spoken promise. Only in Christ can one receive the benefit of the promise. Keeping the law is a curse. Trusting Christ results in an inheritance. Which will you trust—God or yourself? Will you trust God’s word to be sufficient or will you trust in your ability to keep the law completely and wholly.

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