Passage: Galatians 3:15-22
Point
1. God made a covenant (promise) to Abraham that he would bless his offspring, that is Jesus Christ.
2. The law which came 430 years later does not make void the promise or annul it. If the inheritance comes by the law it is no longer a promise.
3. The law was added because of the sins of man until the promise would be fulfilled in Christ. Righteousness does not come through the law but through faith in the promise as revealed in Christ.
Personalize
God made a promise to Abraham as recorded in Genesis. “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”. (Genesis 12:2-3)
The promise God made to Abraham was that “…in you all the families of the earth will be blessed”. We as the adopted sons and daughters of God through Christ are to be part of the blessing. As we move throughout the nations we are to be a blessing to the world. In all we do we should seek to bless others and glorify our Heavenly Father.
How do we bless others in the name of Christ? I believe it can come in many forms from a kind smile to the man driving the bus to giving a kind word to the lady working at the check out counter. It also goes beyond the simple acts of kindness but also takes on the works of Christ, “heal the sick, cleanse the leaper, encourage the broken hearted”. Let us seek to bless others in the name of Christ.
The promise made to Abraham but was fulfilled in Christ. The law kept individuals in check and showed them how to respect God and other individuals. It mandated being a blessing. When Christ came the law was no longer needed and through Christ the promise was fulfilled and the blessing was spread through all who follow Christ.
Prayer
Lord may we live by faith in your promise to trust in Christ. May we also be a blessing to others as You give us the opportunity.
