Seed of Promise

Some say, “Promises are made to be broken.” That’s easy to believe when we look at the world around us. When we give our word, hopefully, our character speaks to the will to keep our promises. But being human we are bound by the uncertainties of the day, the weaknesses of our flesh, and time.

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When God speaks a promise He is bound by his character. He doesn’t dwell in time. His power enables him to perform his word. His all-knowing wisdom and knowledge eliminates uncertainties. When He made promises to Abraham…

“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made…” Galatians 3:16.

• “And I will make of thee a great nation, and
• I will bless thee, and make thy name great;
• and thou shalt be a blessing:
• And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:
• and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:2,3.

The moment God spoke the fulfillment became certain. Abraham longed for the day he could not see except through faith in the One who spoke it.

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” John 8:56.

His faith established his righteousness not the law which would not be given for over 400 years.

“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Galatians 3:8.

The completion of God’s promise depended upon the climax of the history of the world some 2000 years after the promise was made.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the promise. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.

He saith not, And to seeds, as of many;

but as of one.

And to thy seed, which is Christ.”

Galatians 3:16.

He redeemed us from the law we could not keep by paying its full price, allowing us by faith to receive the promise. He is the promise.

• “no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:
• for the just shall live by faith…
• Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law;
• being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
• That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ:
• that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:11,13,14.

The law could not give life. It testified to our propensity to sin. It served its purpose to bring us the promise of life.

• “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin,
• that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe…
• Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,
• that we might be justified by faith…

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:22,24,26.

Which brings us full circle back to the promise.

“And if ye be Christ’s

then are ye Abraham’s seed,

and heirs according to the promise…

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was,

are the children of promise.”

Galatians 3:29;4:28.

Being children of promise, we are all one in Christ Jesus, adopted into his family with God as our Father.

• “There is neither Jew nor Greek,
• there is neither bond nor free,
• there is neither male nor female:

for ye are all one in Christ Jesus…

But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

• To redeem them that were under the law,
• that we might receive the adoption of sons.
• And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
• Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son;
• and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Galatians 3:28;4:4-7.

God is bound by himself to perform his word. He lives in eternity where time does not exist. There is another part of this promise yet to be fulfilled for Israel and for us. Be certain it will happen.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

• The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness: 
• but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
• but that all should come to repentance.
• But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night:
• in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat,
• the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:8-10.

It’s only been a few days to the eternal when this promise was spoken. Be careful to think He is not returning because we measure the promise in our time. If you have received by faith the promise of Jesus Christ found in Galatians, the promise found in Peter’s letter keeps us watching for the coming of the new heaven and earth. And it encourages us to,

“not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Galatians 6:9,10.

As we remember God performs all his promises.