The Plot Continues

[Read: Galatians 3:1-14]

Keep in mind as you read this post that this section of Scripture was written to Jewish Christians. Paul, himself, was a Jewish Christian…

Abraham is being held up as an example of faith NOT for his obedience to the law. It is suggested in this passage that Abraham was the first “believer”. In Paul’s mind, it seems clear, in this passage, that he sees himself as a true Jew, a true Christian, AND an heir of Abraham. In other words, Paul is suggesting in this letter that the chosen people of God (that is the people who lived by faith) in the Old Testament, were really believers.

I could launch off into a discussion about who comprises the “real” Israel, but I don’t think that would be very profitable. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this discussion and, frankly, it doesn’t benefit any of us to dive into irresolvable controversy. So, instead, I’m going to point out the beauty of God’s plan in this story.

God identified a people through the blood line of Abraham. Part of the promise he gave to Abraham was that MANY nations would be saved through his faith. Paul, being both in the blood line of Abraham (as a Jew) and a believer because of his belief in the resurrected Christ (Acts 9) serves as a liaison to the “other nations” referred to in the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12:3.

In other words, you and I (non-Jewish believers) were part of God’s plan from the beginning. As you are reading the letter to the Galatians you need to keep in mind that apart from the faith of the Jewish nation we would not know Christ. Their history is our history all the way up to the time of Christ. From the resurrection on, we – who are believers through the sacrifice of Christ – are also heirs to the same promise that was given to Abraham 4,000 year ago.

This stuff never gets old to me! As believers, we are part of the greatest story ever told, and through you and I the plot continues as we see people far from God filled with life in Christ.