PROMISED INHERITANCE

Sunday Morning:  May 11, 2003

Text: Galatians 3:14-18  "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man annulleth, or addeth thereto. 16. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot annul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise."

THE BLESSING IS THE PROMISE

Galatians 3:14  "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might [conditional] receive [aorist, an event] the promise [singular, a specific promise] of the Spirit through (stedfast) faith."

THE PROMISE IS THE INHERITANCE

Galatians 3:18  "For (conjunction connecting verses 14-18) if the inheritance (the blessing of Abraham) be of the law (It would annul the promise to Abraham, verse 17), it is no more of promise : but God gave it to Abraham by promise."

THE INHERITANCE A REWARD

Colossians 3:23-24  "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

PROMISED WITHOUT THE LAW

Galatians 3:17  "And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant (made with Abraham) that was confirmed before by God, that it should make the promise of no effect (not valid)." New King James Version

NOT BY THE CEREMONIAL LAW

Romans 4:14 "For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect"

BY FAITH AND GRACE

Romans 4:16  "Therefore (the promise) it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that (saved Jews) only which is [out] of the law (Heb. 11:27-35), but to that (saved Gentiles) also which is [out] of the faith of Abraham; . . ."

THE LAW GIVEN FOR THE LAND

2 Kings 21:8  "Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers (for inheritance); only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them."

THE PROMISE TO THE CALLED

Acts 2:39  "For the promise is unto you, and to your children (Israel), and to all that are afar off (Gentiles), even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

CALLED TO A HEAVENLY INHERITANCE

1 Thessalonians 2:12  "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."

OF THE LAW

Galatians 3:24  "Wherefore the law was our (saved) schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ (our high priest), that we might be justified by faith."

INHERITANCE OF THE CALLED

Hebrews 9:15  "And for this cause he (Christ) is the mediator (high priest) of the new testament, . . . (that) they (the many) which are called might receive the promise of eternal [kingdom age] inheritance."

THE PROMISE DEFINED

1 John 2:25  "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal [kingdom age] life."

THE PROMISE BY FAITH

Galatians 3:14  ". . . that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through (stedfast) faith."

FAITH PLEASES GOD

Hebrews 11:6  "But without (stedfast) faith (not an event) it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh (present, not an event) to God must believe that he is. . ."

BELIEVE IS AN EVENT

Acts 16:31  "And they said, Believe [aorist] on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (an event). . ."

FAITH IS NOT AN EVENT

Hebrews 11:1  "Now (stedfast) faith (not an event nor a verb) is the substance of things hoped [present tense] for (real), the evidence of (stedfastly seeking) things not seen (the heavenly city, verses 10, 16)."

NONE DESERVE THE PROMISE

Galatians 3:22  "But the scripture hath concluded all (saved) under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given [aorist, an event] to them that believe [present active, not an event]."

ALL ARE SINNERS

Romans 3:22-23  "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all (Jew and Gentile) and upon all them that believe [present active, not an event]: for there is no difference: 23. For all (saved) have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (in his kingdom);"

COVENANT BETWEEN MEN

Galatians 3:15  "Brethren, I speak after the manner of men (earthly prospective); Though it be but a man's covenant (contract), yet if it be confirmed (having witnesses), no man annulleth (cancels), or addeth (changes) thereto."

BETWEEN GOD AND ABRAHAM

Hebrews 6:13-15  "For when God made promise [aorist, an event] to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, (witnesses not needed) he sware by himself, 14. Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15. And so, after he had patiently endured [aorist, an event, his whole life], he obtained (aorist, an event) the promise."

SINGLE SEED

Galatians 3:16  "Now to Abraham and his seed (Israel) were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds (Ishmael and Isaac), as of many; but as of one (Isaac), And to thy seed [singular], which is Christ."

SEEDS

Galatians 4:22  "For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one (Ishmael) by a bondmaid (Hagar), the other (Isaac) by a freewoman (Sarah)."

NOT JOINT HEIRS

Galatians 4:30  "Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son (Ishmael): for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son (Isaac, a type of Christ) of the freewoman."

JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST

Romans 8:17  "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if (conditional phrase) so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

IF WE ENDURE

2 Timothy 2:12  "If we suffer (endure), we shall also reign with him (the blessing of Abraham): if we deny him, he also will deny us:"