It amazes me how much time Paul spends repeating the idea that righteousness and salvation come by faith, with no dependence on our keeping of God's laws. He has been driving home this point over and over, applying it to different ideas and beliefs - so that there is no argument against it. How important this doctrine must have been for Paul's audience to understand! How important it must be for us to understand!
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
In chapter 4, Paul has touched on the idea that Abraham's circumcision had nothing to do with his salvation, he has asked if the Jews really thought salvation was only reserved for the Jews - based on circumcision or their heritage, and he has explained that Abraham was the father of those with true faith - not simply those who kept the law.
Now, Paul rewords the idea that salvation is not by keeping the law, but by faith - this time concerning the promise given from God to Abraham and his offspring. This promise was not based on Abraham's ability to or track record of keeping the law - it was based on his faith in God alone.
What does it mean that Abraham and his offspring are "heirs of the world?" I believe this is a promise directly from God that we can not skim over - promises such as this are so encouraging when we spend time just meditating on the depth, power, and absolute truth of them.
Heir:
(English Dictionary) - a person who inherits or has a right of inheritance in the property of another following the latter's death.
(Greek) - sharer by lot, inheritor, possessor
Both of these definition indicate that as "heirs" of the world, Abraham and his offspring are going to be given "the world" as an inheritance.
The other questions that begs to be answered - what is "the world?" I think, in Abraham's time, it literally may have meant the Promised Land that God would eventually lead the children of Israel to. Spiritually, and more fitting when speaking of Abraham and his true offspring - children of faith, God's children - I believe Paul is saying that we will be heirs of the new world.
It's so ironic, we see people everywhere, saved and lost, working day and night attempting to fill a void, to make their life mean something, to accomplish something. We know that we can't take it with us, it will all be gone someday, yet we spend so much time pursuing the things of the world. Then God promises us that we are "heirs of the world"...we will be given the world anyway?
A couple of verses that comes to mind:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Rev 21:1
and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:17
While we, as the human race, are consumed with chasing down as much as we can obtain on this earth, God has promised us something so much better than what we are experiencing now. We are going to inherit this earth anyway - and it is going to be brand new! That's not all, either - guess who we are co-heirs with...Jesus Christ, our Awesome Lord and Savior!
God has PROMISED - we are going to be given, as fellow heirs with Jesus Christ, an inheritance that includes the new earth!
How? Not based on our works, but...
Because we have been ADOPTED into the family of God, we are now a part of His family, we are His children, He is our Dad!
Who? Not those who claim the name of Christ as an "add-on" to their righteous works, but...
Those who are justified by faith ALONE, through grace ALONE!
When? In the future, we will see it literally come to pass, but...
It starts now, through a RELATIONSHIP that has been restored with our LORD, the God of Abraham!
If this doesn't get your blood pumping, I don't know what will! What an amazing God to promise us something so much more than we could ever even dream of!
Lord, I pray that you will open our eyes to your promises. We know you have given them to us to encourage us, strengthen us, and cause us to fall more in love with you. Please don't allow us to skim over them, help us to see the depth of them, the power they contain, and we plead with You to cause us to understand that they are absolute Truth, promised to us by a faithful God who does not go back on His Word! We praise you Lord, and ask that you forgive us when we take our eyes off of your eternal promises and instead look to temporary earthly distractions. In Your Son's Name we pray - Amen!
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