What is the meaning of Galatians 3:7? Understand, then • Paul has just quoted Genesis 15:6: “So also, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” (Galatians 3:6). The “then” invites a logical conclusion from that citation. • Scripture expects thoughtful engagement. Jesus “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45). Paul urges, “Reflect on what I am saying” (2 Timothy 2:7). We are called to let the Bible settle how people are made right with God. that those who have faith • God’s requirement has always been faith, not works or heritage. – “A man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). – “For by grace you are saved through faith … not by works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). – “To the one who does not work but believes … his faith is credited as righteousness” (Romans 4:5). • Faith is personal reliance on the Lord’s promise and provision in Christ. This was true for pre-law Abraham and remains true for every believer today. are sons of Abraham • “Sons” speaks of family, inheritance, identity. Faith links us to Abraham’s covenant family. – “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). – Romans 4:11-12 calls Abraham “the father of all who believe.” – Jesus said, “If you were children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham” (John 8:39)—namely, believe. • The result is real participation in the blessings promised to Abraham: righteousness, divine favor, and an eternal inheritance (Genesis 12:3; Hebrews 6:17-18). Ethnicity or law-keeping never grant this status; faith alone does. Summary Galatians 3:7 teaches that, because Abraham was counted righteous through faith, everyone who trusts God in the same way is counted as Abraham’s offspring. The true family of God is gathered not by bloodline or religious effort but by simple, saving faith in the crucified and risen Christ, receiving the full inheritance God promised to Abraham. |
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