As a result of revelation, Saul of Tarsus experienced a tremendous upheaval in his personal life

The Covenant (Gal. 3:15, 17)

A covenant is a legal commitment, especially a will or testament involving an inheritance. It is purposely stable and durable= . No one invalidates or changes an e= stablished covenant among men. A covenan= t by God is even more firm and enduring; no one has authority to nullify or amen= d it and God would never do so Himself.

God’s promise to Abraham depended only on God. Abraham did nothing to merit it; He simply believed God. God promised Abraham that in his s= eed all nations would be blessed (Gen. 12:3, 22:18); and that he and his seed w= ould be given the good land (Gen 12:7, 13:15, 17:8). God ratified His promise to Abraha= m as a covenant (Gen. 15:7-18).

The Heir, the Promised Seed (Gal. 3:16)

Jesus Christ is the u= nique, promised seed of Abraham for fulfilling and inheriting the promises. Christ fulfilled the promises, bec= oming a blessing to all the nations through His redemption and salvation. He also became the reality of the promised good land, for our continual enjoyment and supply. God granted us Himself in Christ a= s the Spirit to fulfill His promise (Gal. 3:14).= The blessing to all the nations is only found in Christ as the uniqu= e heir. We receive the blessing as co-heir= s with Christ (cf Rom 8:17). To do s= o we must be “of Christ” (by faith), in the one unique seed (Gal. 3:= 29) collectively.

The Law Not Changing the Promise (Gal 3:17-18)

Abraham believed God = and was given God’s promise before he was circumcised. The law came 430 years after the covenant with Abraham. God ma= de and ratified the covenant Himself, personally and directly with Abraham (Gen. 15:7-18). But angels delivered the law, indirectly, through a mediator (Gal. 3:19). The law came much later than the promise, was indirect, depended on both parties, and was far inferior to the promise. It did not alter God’s promise to Abraham. The law was irrelevant once Christ came as the heir and fulfillment of the prom= ise.

A covenant includes g= rants and favors from the giver’s wealth for the heir to simply receive. The law, however, is full of deman= ds, burdens and onerous requirements for the recipient to fulfill. Who would want to open a will to i= nherit duties and condemnation? The = law sternly demands, requires and takes away; the promise freely supplies, furnishes and gives. He that = is of the law is under curse, dependant on his own ability and merit; he of promi= se is blessed with God Himself in Christ as the Spirit, on Christ’s merit alone.

Our Inheritance in Christ<= /p>
In Galatia, some “Troublers” thought to add law to faith. In so doing they deprived others o= f the promise (Rom 4:13-14). Paul e= xposes their error and appeals to the believers to return to their inheritance in Christ. To receive salvation = and inherit the real promises is not by natural birth, work, merit, achievement, zeal to join an exclusive fraternity of extraordinary people - or through l= aw. Godly things or practices must not take precedence over God’s covenant with us in Christ: that we re= ceive Him as our unique qualification and blessing. We must remain in the seed, where = we have been placed already through faith.&nb= sp; We turn our heart to see and hear Christ where we are (Gen 13:14b-15= ), we “walk in Him” (Gen. 13:17, Col. 2:6) as the land, enjoying H= is indwelling us while we dwell in Him - through all our circumstances and trials. Something of Christ a= s our rich inheritance is granted us for our daily need and our future, full inhe= ritance.