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Day 133 Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Therefore, He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? — 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore, know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just will live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them will live by them.” 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 This I say that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Do you believe the promises people give you? What about the promises your parents give you, do you believe those promises? How about the promises given to you by the authorities? People break their promises every day. They forget they made them, or conveniently forget them and deny all knowledge of them. God made a promise to Abraham 430 years before He gave the law to Moses. He never forgot His promises to His people but told them He would bless the nations of the earth through Abraham. Paul told the Galatians they were sons of Abraham because they had faith to believe God’s promises. He told them that those of faith were blessed with believing Abraham. The law God gave Moses brought with it a curse. He told Moses that anyone who hung on a tree was cursed. Paul pointed out that Jesus hung on a tree. He was their curse so they could live by faith having believed the promise God gave Abraham. As Christians, you believe the promises God gave His people. You believe and like Abraham, it is counted to you as righteousness. You are children of faith just as God’s chosen people are His children because you believe by faith. Yet many Christians don’t believe God’s promises. Or rather, they believe the promises, but not for themselves or for today. What does God’s Word say: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8. Therefore, if Christ is the same and never changes, then the promises God gave His people through Abraham are alive today. You only need to grasp them, believe them, and live in them. Paul said the just will live by faith. What faith? The faith in believing Jesus took all your sins, nailed them to the cross and declared you not guilty by His blood. Faith in believing you have eternal life because of His promise of salvation. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. (NKJV) Where is your faith? Do you believe the promises God gave His people? Do you believe you are one of God’s chosen people because you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord? Or do you believe that because you are a Gentile, you are not part of the promises God gave to His chosen people? Abraham wasn’t called a Hebrew until He believed God’s promises. God gave the promise of a Savior to him and blessed him because the Promise would come through him. God gave you His promises before you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. When you accept Jesus and live in His promises, you live in the faith found only in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the promise fulfilled. In Abraham, ALL the nations of the world would be blessed. You are blessed because you are a son of Abraham when you have faith in Jesus. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for Your promises that make me one of Your chosen people because I believe in Your Son, Jesus. Help me stand on Your promises and live in the faith I received through Your Son. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 26 November 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.