Galatians 4:28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
This short verse holds a key that is important for you to know. Here, you and I are linked directly to Abraham; in fact, just as Isaac was
his son, so are we. Isaac was the manifestation of God’s promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. We Gentiles,
who have been born again by Christ Jesus, whether we are American, Mexican, Filipino, or Ugandan, are the children of promise. This
direct link speaks of the covenant struck between God and Abraham 2000 years before Christ. (see Genesis 15)
I am constantly amazed by the error that often comes from pulpits that link Abraham with the “Old Covenant” and declare that we in
the “New Covenant” have a better covenant than Abraham. The truth is that we in the New Covenant stand in covenant with God within
His covenant with Abraham. The “Old Covenant” speaks of the Law of Moses; (Hebrews 8) it is now obsolete and has been replaced
with what originally was created some 430 years before Moses went to the mountain and received the Ten Commandments. The first
has become last. Study this passage from Galatians 3:
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,”[i]who is Christ.
17 And 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.
The Old Covenant was a specific covenant struck between God and a particular nation, the nation of Israel. It was launched at Mount
Sinai and ended when Jesus took His place at the right hand of the Almighty. The Abrahamic covenant, on the other hand, has no end.
It was created between God the Father and Jesus His Son. We, who come into Christ, enter that blessed covenant and because Jesus
is eternal, so are we and so is our covenant status with God. The Abrahamic covenant is not the Old Covenant and it has not ended.
Whenever I teach on the blood covenant, one of the most important truths taught is that the word “covenant” denotes a family
relationship. Just as an infant is born into a family and becomes a member of that family, so it is with one who is born again of the Spirit
and becomes a family member in the household of faith. All of the rights and privileges along with all the responsibilities of being a
family member come into place in that instant of birth. Paul calls that person a new creation who has been born again. He is something
that never existed prior to that instant – he is a child of promise just as Isaac was. He did not earn his covenant status through
performance, as was the case in the Old Covenant, but rather God has promised righteousness to anyone and everyone who believes
in Jesus Christ His Son and who receives Him as Lord and Savior.
Your entry-point into the covenant [new birth] is the promise of God to all who believe. That is why you are called a child of promise.
The good news is that God’s promises do not stop there. No indeed they do not! You find promises stacked upon promises in the
pages of the New Testament that God intends for you to enjoy fully – and they are certain to you! (II Corinthians 1:20) So, child of
promise, rejoice over your covenant with God and give Him thanks for all His wonderful promises that are “Yes!” to you because you
have believed. Amen.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
This short verse holds a key that is important for you to know. Here, you and I are linked directly to Abraham; in fact, just as Isaac was
his son, so are we. Isaac was the manifestation of God’s promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. We Gentiles,
who have been born again by Christ Jesus, whether we are American, Mexican, Filipino, or Ugandan, are the children of promise. This
direct link speaks of the covenant struck between God and Abraham 2000 years before Christ. (see Genesis 15)
I am constantly amazed by the error that often comes from pulpits that link Abraham with the “Old Covenant” and declare that we in
the “New Covenant” have a better covenant than Abraham. The truth is that we in the New Covenant stand in covenant with God within
His covenant with Abraham. The “Old Covenant” speaks of the Law of Moses; (Hebrews 8) it is now obsolete and has been replaced
with what originally was created some 430 years before Moses went to the mountain and received the Ten Commandments. The first
has become last. Study this passage from Galatians 3:
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,”[i]who is Christ.
17 And 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.
The Old Covenant was a specific covenant struck between God and a particular nation, the nation of Israel. It was launched at Mount
Sinai and ended when Jesus took His place at the right hand of the Almighty. The Abrahamic covenant, on the other hand, has no end.
It was created between God the Father and Jesus His Son. We, who come into Christ, enter that blessed covenant and because Jesus
is eternal, so are we and so is our covenant status with God. The Abrahamic covenant is not the Old Covenant and it has not ended.
Whenever I teach on the blood covenant, one of the most important truths taught is that the word “covenant” denotes a family
relationship. Just as an infant is born into a family and becomes a member of that family, so it is with one who is born again of the Spirit
and becomes a family member in the household of faith. All of the rights and privileges along with all the responsibilities of being a
family member come into place in that instant of birth. Paul calls that person a new creation who has been born again. He is something
that never existed prior to that instant – he is a child of promise just as Isaac was. He did not earn his covenant status through
performance, as was the case in the Old Covenant, but rather God has promised righteousness to anyone and everyone who believes
in Jesus Christ His Son and who receives Him as Lord and Savior.
Your entry-point into the covenant [new birth] is the promise of God to all who believe. That is why you are called a child of promise.
The good news is that God’s promises do not stop there. No indeed they do not! You find promises stacked upon promises in the
pages of the New Testament that God intends for you to enjoy fully – and they are certain to you! (II Corinthians 1:20) So, child of
promise, rejoice over your covenant with God and give Him thanks for all His wonderful promises that are “Yes!” to you because you
have believed. Amen.
| WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE! |