How can we receive an eternal inheritance?
Jul 11, 2011
The Race for Grace - part seven in a series from the book of Galatians
By Mike Gaudet
God has promised that some will inherit eternal life.
How can we receive an eternal inheritance?
“Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.” Galatians 3:15-18
A “human covenant” is a binding agreement . . . like a contract or a will. Once ratified it cannot be “set aside” nor can someone either subtract or “add to” its provisions.
God’s dealings with mankind are expressed in covenant form.
The relational guidelines God operates by are carefully constructed. They are binding. Once God determines how His purposes will be accomplished He doesn’t change His mind. He doesn’t try one approach and then select another because the first one didn’t work out well enough. This is important to remember when we read the Bible.
There are two kinds of covenants.
One is a Royal Grant covenant. When a king wishes to bestow unconditional blessings upon His subjects, he issues a Royal Grant. There are no “ifs” in these contracts. They are unilateral pronouncements of blessing. The king graciously promises to bestow protection and provision with “no strings attached.”
God’s covenant with Abraham is an example of a Royal Grant covenant. God promised to bless Abraham and his descendant. There are no “ifs” in this covenant . . . no conditions that Abraham must fulfill. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2-3
The second kind of covenant is a Suzerain-Vassal covenant. When a more powerful king (Suzerain) promises to protect a less powerful king (Vassal) he draws up a Suzerain-Vassal covenant. This covenant is conditional. The Vassal’s responsibilities are stipulated in the covenant. “If” the Vassal abides by these covenant stipulations, the Suzerain will respond with blessing and protection. “If” the Vassal does not abide by the covenant stipulations, the Suzerain will respond with curses and punishment.
God’s covenant with Moses and the children of Israel is an example of a Suzerain-Vassal covenant. God promised to bless the Israelites in return for their adherence to the covenant stipulations summarized by the Ten Commandments. If the Israelites honored these covenant commandments, blessings would follow. If they disobeyed them, curses would follow. “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God . . . However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you . . .” Deuteronomy 28:1-2,15
What does this mean for us . . . which one of these two kinds of covenants does God operate by today?
God’s covenant with Abraham came first. It takes precedence over the covenant made with Moses four centuries later. “The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.”
The Royal Grant covenant God made to Abraham is still binding. God’s unconditional covenant with Abraham included his “seed.” This is referring to Jesus Christ. He is named as the beneficiary. We become “co-beneficiaries” via our faith in God the Father to honor the promises made to His Son and to those who place their faith in Him.
We cannot become recipients of God’s promises by trying hard to keep the Ten Commandments. “For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise
Focus on God’s promises to you rather than your promises to Him.
This is how to receive the promised “inheritance.”