37 lines
3.9 KiB
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37 lines
3.9 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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July 31
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<h1>God's Promises and God's Law</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Now to Abraham and his Seed were the <b>promises</b> made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. And this I say, that the <b>law</b>, 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 <b>promise</b> of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the <b>law</b>, it is no longer of <b>promise</b>; but God gave it to Abraham <b>by promise</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Gal', 3, '16-18');">Galatians 3:16-18</a>)</div>
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<p>Early in our meditations, we considered one of the most profound subjects in the Scriptures: the relationship between the <b>grace</b> of God and the <b>law</b> of God. These verses engage a comparable subject: the relationship between <b>God's promises</b> and <b>God's law</b>.</p>
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<p>Again, we are reminded of God's fundamental use of <b>promises</b> in bringing forth His will among mankind. <i>"Now to Abraham and his Seed were the <b>promises</b> made."</i> God made far-reaching promises to Abraham and his descendants, promises that included the coming of the Messiah, the anointed King, the Savior. Although these promises guaranteed an innumerable posterity to Abraham, this statement specifies one descendant in particular. <i>"He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of <b>one</b>, 'And to your <b>Seed</b>,' who is <b>Christ</b>."</i> The Lord Jesus Christ is in view here. The promises that were the root of the new covenant of grace were made by the Father to His Messiah (as well as to Abraham). <i>"Now to Abraham and his Seed were the <b>promises</b> made."</i> God provides us added assurance here. The Father's primary commitment was to His Son!</p>
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<p>Now, what about the law of God, which was added hundreds of years later? Could the law possibly have replaced the promises to Abraham and to the Son of God? <i>"And this I say, that the <b>law</b>, which was four hundred and thirty years later, <b>cannot annul the covenant</b> that was <b>confirmed</b> before by <b>God</b> in <b>Christ</b>."</i> The promises of God to Abraham and to His Son were not nullified by the giving of the law of God (<i>"that it should make the <b>promise</b> of <b>no effect</b>"</i> ). People, through their own law performance, cannot become heirs of that which God promises to His children. If they could, then God's blessings are no longer based on God's fulfillment of His promises. <i>"For if the inheritance is of the <b>law</b>, it is <b>no longer</b> of <b>promise</b>."</i> This cannot be, because <i>"God gave it to Abraham by <b>promise</b>."</i> God's work among mankind stands on His ability to fulfill His promises. It does not depend on our ability to live up to the perfect law of God.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Father, my heart is assured of these promises of blessing for man that you made to Your Son. My heart rejoices that Your work in my life rests on Your promises and not on my performance, Amen.</div>
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