AUGUST 12, 2025 – TESTAMENT AND HEIRS

READ: Gal. 3:15–18: … Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made … ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.

This passage contains profound words about the covenant God made with Abraham, a covenant that we may share in as Abraham’s children. It clarifies that the covenant God made with us—as a covenant of grace—has no prior conditions.

Paul uses a human example: If someone makes a will (in Greek, the same word as covenant) and establishes it without conditions for the heirs, then after his death, no one can add new requirements. Likewise, God placed no prior conditions on His covenant of grace—only faith: a sincere acceptance of what God freely gives.

Paul refers to covenant history. The promises of the covenant were made to Abraham before any law existed. These promises were the testament. So who are the heirs? Abraham and his offspring.

The Judaisers see only the circumcised Abraham and his physical descendants—the circumcised Jews—as heirs. For them, these are the only true children of Abraham. So when Gentiles come to faith, they must first be circumcised and keep the law in order to then become Abraham’s children and receive the promises.

Paul makes it clear that this is a serious error. Not only did God set no conditions on His promises of grace, but the legitimate heirs are Abraham with His one true offspring, Christ. And with Christ, all who believe in Him—Jewish Christians and uncircumcised Christians alike—are included. Sharing in salvation thus only occurs by grace through faith in Christ.

Even the law God gave 430 years later at Mount Horeb did not impose a condition for receiving salvation. Rather, it served to guide faith in thankful response to the salvation already received.

Has the law changed through Christ’s work?

Sing: Ps. 103:6