to give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. [galatians 3:15]
the blessing of salvation comes through faith in a promise. not the law.
paul meets the galatians on a very logical level here to illustrate that the promises of God to abraham are valid and still stand true even after the Israelites were given the law of moses.
in this day, a covenant was a legally binding agreement that could not be undone once it was made. if this kind of promise was made, it was permanent. and if a man-made covenant was so binding and permanent, surely no one could add or subtract from a covenant made between an infinite and almighty God and those he has chosen.
the promise of God was the presence of God. the blessing of God was himself and his all satisfying glory. this is why we were made, to enjoy this glory forever and to magnify him forever! and this is the promise that abraham believed. that he and his chosen descendants might belong to God as his children, and that he would dwell with them forever. and glory be to our merciful God who extends this promise to us through the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ, who came to die, that we might live forever, with God.
do you believe this promise?
trust in Jesus to mend the broken relationship that sin has made between you and your Creator, and you will be saved. so come to him, he is waiting!
Jesus said to her, “i am the resurrection and the life. whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. do you believe this?”
she said to him, “yes, Lord; i believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
[john 11:25-27]
today, in the presence of an infinitely holy and immeasurably gentle God who loves you, tell him that you believe his promise. the promise of himself, offered to you through Jesus Christ his Son. trust him and follow him. he is calling!
~ arwen eastman