What Old Testament promises connect with the message in Galatians 3:7? Family Ties by Faith “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:7) First Promise: Genesis 12:1-3 The Lord’s opening covenant with Abram lays the groundwork: - “I will make you into a great nation… and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” - From the outset, blessing is aimed at “all the families,” foreshadowing Gentile inclusion through faith. Righteousness Credited: Genesis 15:5-6 - God shows Abram the stars: “So shall your offspring be.” - “Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” - Paul quotes this one verse earlier (Galatians 3:6) to prove that faith—not ethnicity or works—brings right standing before God. Father of Many Nations: Genesis 17:4-5 - “You will be the father of many nations… for I have made you a father of many nations.” - The plural “nations” (gōyim) anticipates Gentile believers becoming Abraham’s spiritual family. Global Blessing Confirmed: Genesis 22:17-18 - “Through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed.” - Paul sees “offspring” culminating in Christ (Galatians 3:16); by union with Him, all peoples receive Abraham’s blessing. Passing the Promise Along - Isaac: “Through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 26:4) - Jacob: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.” (Genesis 28:14) The covenant never narrows to one ethnic group; it keeps its worldwide horizon. Echoes in the Law and Prophets - Deuteronomy 7:9 — God “keeps His covenant… for a thousand generations” of the faithful. - Habakkuk 2:4 — “The righteous will live by his faith.” Paul later unpacks this in Galatians and Romans. - Isaiah 51:1-2 — “Look to Abraham your father… I blessed him and multiplied him.” - Micah 7:20 — God promises “loving devotion to Abraham… as You swore to our fathers.” Connecting the Dots for the Galatians - The Galatian believers, mostly Gentiles, share Abraham’s blessing because they share Abraham’s faith. - Scripture never limits the covenant to bloodlines; it always anticipated a faith-family. - The same pattern—promise, belief, righteousness—runs from Genesis through the prophets and finds fulfillment in Christ, making Galatians 3:7 the natural outflow of centuries-old, Spirit-inspired promises. Key Takeaways • Faith, not lineage, was always the entry point. • Every major stage of the Abrahamic story keeps the nations in view. • Galatians 3:7 is Paul’s Spirit-guided reminder that, when you trust Christ, you stand inside those ancient, unbreakable promises. |
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