Galatians 3:29, 4:28; & Romans 4:13-14

[StJohnCalvin]

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



Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. (Galatians 4:28 ESV)



For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. (Romans 4:13-14 ESV)



As we can see clearly from these verses, if you belong to Christ, you are an offspring of Abraham by grace through faith, and therefore children of the promise (like Isaac) ; which includes being heirs of the world, through the righteousness of faith.

Notice the unity of the people of God herein described by Paul, not the division of the people of God into different (and what some have called opposing) groups.

In the other post on Galatians, we saw that the Law was not able to impart life or to make one righteous, and if justification came by or through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. Here we also see this point, in these words, "For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void."

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not allow anyone to suggest or hold that anyone has ever or will ever be justified by or through the Law; or that those who lived prior to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ was saved in any other way but by grace through faith alone in Christ alone.

Love in our Lord Jesus Christ for His glory in His Church by and through the Gospel

[heymikey80]

The daring words of Ephesians 2 have constantly pushed the envelope for me on how unified we really are. Taken to extremes they identify us with the Jewish state -- though I would say we're identical specifically for the purposes God formed the Jewish state: those weren't political/national purposes, but familial/relational purposes:
Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by those called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands -- remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ep 2:11-22

[beloved57]

As we can see clearly from these verses, if you belong to Christ, you are an offspring of Abraham by grace through faith, and therefore children of the promise (like Isaac) ; which includes being heirs of the world, through the righteousness of faith.

Notice the unity of the people of God herein described by Paul, not the division of the people of God into different (and what some have called opposing) groups.

In the other post on Galatians, we saw that the Law was not able to impart life or to make one righteous, and if justification came by or through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. Here we also see this point, in these words, "For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void."

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us not allow anyone to suggest or hold that anyone has ever or will ever be justified by or through the Law; or that those who lived prior to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ was saved in any other way but by grace through faith alone in Christ alone.

Love in our Lord Jesus Christ for His glory in His Church by and through the Gospel



I think you did a good job in developing the consitency of the seed concept! I would like to add that it the seed/ covenant concept was prominent in the preaching of the 1st sermon we have in the book of acts !

Acts chapter 2 : 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

Also in acts 3: 25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

[dcyates]

The daring words of Ephesians 2 have constantly pushed the envelope for me on how unified we really are. Taken to extremes they identify us with the Jewish state -- though I would say we're identical specifically for the purposes God formed the Jewish state: those weren't political/national purposes, but familial/relational purposes:Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by those called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands -- remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ep 2:11-22


You beat me to it. When I first saw the topic being reviewed on this thread according to the OP, I also was going to add this passage from Ephesians. I think it's further worth noting that the "dividing wall" Paul refers to here (2.14) was not likely some metaphor but rather something concrete and specific: the m'chitzah. The m'chitzah was the wall of the temple in Jerusalem that separated the outer 'Court of the Gentiles' from the inner courts only ethnic Israelites were allowed to enter into and thus gain access to God. Now, thanks to Jesus, all of us can enjoy free and easy access to YHWH; that wall is gone.

[Iosias]

Good OP :)