"The Ultimate Beneficiaries"Galatians 3:15-16
Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.
Thoughts for Today:In our passage today, Paul says, "Let me use an example you're familiar with -- if two parties execute a contract, neither one can unilaterally add or take away from its terms."
The Greek word for "seed" is SPERMA, which according to Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon means "the grain or kernel which contains within itself the germ of the future plant". In most people's minds, the term "seed of Abraham" is synonymous with the Jewish people. However, the promises were not made to seeds (plural), but to the one seed (singular). The one seed is Jesus Christ.
The contract or promise God made with Abraham to bless the world through his seed was directed to Jesus, not the Jews as a people group or a nation. And they couldn't subsequently add themselves into the contract. Therefore, the promises made to Abraham personally come to all of us who are saved by our faith in Christ Jesus. Why? Because Jesus is the spoken "seed of Abraham", and through Him all believers (whether Jews or Gentiles) become the ultimate beneficiaries of the promise.
Questions to Ponder:Paul is spending a lot of time discussing faith from a number of different perspectives. How is faith expressed in your life? What are some of your acts of faith? How will you demonstrate it today?
Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.
Thoughts for Today:In our passage today, Paul says, "Let me use an example you're familiar with -- if two parties execute a contract, neither one can unilaterally add or take away from its terms."
The Greek word for "seed" is SPERMA, which according to Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon means "the grain or kernel which contains within itself the germ of the future plant". In most people's minds, the term "seed of Abraham" is synonymous with the Jewish people. However, the promises were not made to seeds (plural), but to the one seed (singular). The one seed is Jesus Christ.
The contract or promise God made with Abraham to bless the world through his seed was directed to Jesus, not the Jews as a people group or a nation. And they couldn't subsequently add themselves into the contract. Therefore, the promises made to Abraham personally come to all of us who are saved by our faith in Christ Jesus. Why? Because Jesus is the spoken "seed of Abraham", and through Him all believers (whether Jews or Gentiles) become the ultimate beneficiaries of the promise.
Questions to Ponder:Paul is spending a lot of time discussing faith from a number of different perspectives. How is faith expressed in your life? What are some of your acts of faith? How will you demonstrate it today?
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