The Promise, The Law, Faith

The progression of righteousness for man was just that, a promise then the law and then faith. Isn’t it something when you think about it.

“¹⁶Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ referring to many, but referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ who is Christ.” – Galatians 3:16 (ESV)

“¹⁹Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.” – Galatians 3:19 (ESV)

“²⁵But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, ²⁶for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” – Galatians 3:25-26 (ESV)

We have been taken through it in order that we might find righteousness. It started with Abraham and the promise which gave way to the law and now by faith. We were never able to find it on our own. Something would have to be fulfilled for us to find righteousness.

There is something else to keep in mind here. Read the verses above again. The promise of God is still in place and has not been broken. The law was added because we needed guidance. Finally, God sent Jesus to end the law and get back to the promise.

“²⁹And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” – Galatians 3:29 (ESV)

We can now rely on Jesus as our brother and we are now back to the place in the promise that we are heirs with Him.

How are you getting to righteousness? Are you getting there by following the law and being good under it? What if you were to believe in, trust, and rely on Jesus to reach heaven as heir according to the promise?

Heirs Through Satisfied Law

“¹⁶The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” “³For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”– Romans 8:16-17 & 3-4 (ESV)

We have been recognized as living led by the Spirit. And as such we have been adopted as children of God. And as we are children of God, we are heirs with Jesus to the Kingdom of God. What a wonderful thing to have as my identity. I am a child of God and heir to Heaven. But, see in verse 17. We are heirs yes, but in that we will suffer. We will be persecuted as Jesus, our brother was persecuted.

Here is the thing, we will be persecuted, yes, but that persecution is from man, not from God. You see, we have been justified through our faith in Him. We have been set free from the burden that sin has on our lives. As Jesus came and took that burden away. God sent Jesus to appear as us, human, as an offering for sin, condemned our sin, and satisfied the law of sin for us. Jesus stepped in for us with God and satisfied our payment for the sin in our lives. He dismissed the case against us with prejudice to satisfy the law.

I am so grateful that I do not have to concern myself with the consequence of sin, death. I am free from sin and can lead my life focused on the work God has for me and that the Holy Spirit guides me in thanks to the grace afforded me through Jesus Christ. The law was satisfied and I get to live. And I get to live as an heir to Heaven with Jesus, my brother.

How do you qualify as heir to Heaven? Are you getting there for being a good person? What if you realized that it is because your sin has been satisfied by the grace of Jesus and the love of God?

We are all Named by God

You ever think about where your family name came from. Well I am here to tell you the mystery is solved. Your family is named by God.

“¹⁵from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,” – Ephesians 3:15 (ESV)

Okay, maybe you were not named directly by God, but your existence is due to the Father and His Grace and Glory. That is right, we exist thanks to the Father and therefor can attribute our name to Him who brought us forward.

I am the son of an earthly father and my Heavenly Father. I have the name of my earthly father and am in the Lamb’s book of life thanks to my acceptance of He as my savior and God as my Father. I am an heir to my earthly father’s estate and an heir to the kingdom of heaven. I was named by God.

What is your lineage? Are you living life knowing of only your earthly father? What if you were to live knowing that you have a heavenly father who named you and your are/could be heir to His kingdom with Jesus?