Rev. Don Campbell
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, JANUARY 16, 2019: CLAIMING OUR INHERITANCE [Gen 12-15]
From Genesis chapter 12 through Revelation 22, the story is about one man and his descendants: “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’” (Gen 12:1-3).
The promise “in you all families of the earth shall be blessed” is quoted by Paul: “Abraham ‘believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’ Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith’” (Gal 3:6-9). He further said, “If the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (Gal 3:18).
It is not those who have Abraham’s DNA, but those who have his faith who are blessed: “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal 3:26-29).
How can we be sure that our baptism is a valid act of faith? Hear Paul: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God” (Gal 4:4-7). Hear him again: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:21-23).
The validity of baptism does not depend on the person baptizing or on a formula uttered, but by the Spirit of sonship manifesting itself in the fruit of the Spirit.
CONNECTIONS
1. If we lack the spirit of sonship does that prove that we are not children of God or could it be that we have allowed false teachers to rob us of that confidence? (Gal 5:1-12)
2. God’s promise to us through Abraham depends on faith and rests on grace (Rom 4:16). What should faith resting on grace bring us? (Rom 5:1-3)
