Title: How to Claim Your Inheritance
Once again, we ask the question “What’s it mean to be saved?”
This morning’s answered is this.
To be saved is to live free from condemnation by God’s promise, not by our performance.
?- Have you ever fallen for one of those invitations in the mail that offers a free gift.
Kelly and I received a card in the mail that had a car key attached to it.
Apparently, somewhere in North America, the key that would start the car was mailed.
But in order to find out if the key we had was the one key, we had to go to show up and try it.
Well as it turned out, we had to sit through a long presentation and sales pitch for something we’d never
want.
Yep, we were young, dumb, and had too much time on our hands.
?- What if all the promises of God for His people were dependent on us having the special key?
?- What if it were some sort of lottery where only a limited number of people would win? like, say 144,000.
?- What if God’s promises were only intended to get us on the hook, and we couldn’t count on them
actually coming to fruition.
?- How sad would that be?
This morning, we’re talking about how to claim your inheritance
How you claim your inheritance is not by your performance but by trusting God’s promise.
Get this - those who trust in Christ for their salvation, you’re inheritance is as sure as Jesus’ inheritance is.
You might remember that we’re in the middle of Paul explaining that God’s gift of salvation is extended to
all those who trust Jesus as their Savior.
The Galatians have been a little confused about this because false teachers have been telling them that
they need to become a part of the Jewish community before they can become Christians.
This would mean following the performance/ the legalism of the Mosaic Law.
In response to this, Paul references back to the first person who was a part of God’s special people.
Abraham was given a relationship with God by grace through faith.
And Abraham was promised that his offspring would have the same privilege.
The next question that Paul anticipates is this “If the Mosaic Law came after God’s promise to Abraham,
doesn’t that mean it supersedes it?”
Let’s see what God says through His Apostle Paul in Galatians 3:15-29
* 15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it
once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not
say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously
ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer
comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
* 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the
promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an
intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
* 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could
give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything
under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would
be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by
faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all
sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 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. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
The first way we can live the truths of what we’re taught in these verses is to -
1. TRUST GOD TO KEEP HIS PROMISE OF SALVATION.
God’s original promise of salvation by grace was not changed into earning salvation by works.
[Lead] -?- How is it that we receive the promised Holy Spirit by faith as descendants of Abraham?
* 15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it
once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not
say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
?- How does the existence of a Law that defined the Jewish people affect the promise given to Abraham?
Paul introduces his argument by referring to what we would know as a “Last Will and Testament.”
We’ve all seen or experienced the reading of a will.
No one is allowed to interject and insert a new item into a will once the person has passed.
Similarly, nothing was able to change the promise which God made to Abraham and his descendants.
There’s a funny thing about the term “offspring.”
It can refer to a group of people -
“a grandfather points to his kids and grandkids and says, this is my offspring.”
Or it can refer to one person - a father saying to his child, “You are my offspring.”
Here, having argued that followers of Christ are Abraham’s descendants, Paul shows that Jesus is
Abraham’s “offspring.”
The coming of the Redeemer is the fulfillment of the promise and also our assurance of the inheritance
we’ve been promised as descendants of Abraham.
Essentially, Paul’s point is that the promise God made to Abraham of his descendants living in a grace
relationship with God is in effect for all eternity
vs. 17-18 point-out that the Mosaic Law didn’t then make it all about legalistic requirements
* 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously
ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer
comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
The definitive statement is the final one of v. 18 - God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
The verb “gave” can be better understood “gave freely.”
It reflects God’s grace in His relationship with Abraham and his descendants.
It reflects that “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
Just because the Old Testament Law was enacted more recently doesn’t mean that it annuls God’s promises
of grace.
This would be like your family sitting for the reading of the will of your wealthy grandma.
And you learn that each of her grandchildren been graciously bequeathed $100,000.
Then your ornery uncle sits up and interjects, “But first they must prove that that they’re worthy of it!”
Another family member might pipe up and say,
“If grandma wanted them to earn the money, she wouldn’t have simply promised it to them as a gift.”
Thankfully just because Uncle Killjoy made a more recent statement doesn’t mean that he gets to ruin your
grandma’s gift to you.
This is what’s meant when we read in v.18
if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a
promise.
If you know Christ as your Savior, you need to understand that God has always intended for you to receive
his grace by faith.
It is never a matter of him gifting you with grace in response to your works.
Otherwise it would not be grace.
If you do not know Christ as your savior, stop thinking that you need to clean yourself up and make yourself
acceptable to God.
As it was in Abraham’s relationship with God, it is still today.
A saving relationship with God is based on the fact that Christ sacrificed himself so that you do not have to
perform in order to know God as your father.
Instead, it is a matter of believing his promise of salvation based on what Jesus did for you.
Our second take away from our verses comes from v.19-22, and from them you should -
2. TRUST CHRIST AS SAVIOR BY ADMITTING YOUR SIN.
God’s promise of salvation is available to those who admit their sin and put their faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul answers the anticipated question, “Why did the law exist?”\”Why did God provide it?”
* 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the
promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an
intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
There’s three reasons given here for why the Law isn’t going to save anyone.
1. The Law existed so that sin could be shown to be sin - described here as transgression
The term transgression requires something to transgress - like trespassing requires a boundary to be
crossed.
The Law showed what should and shouldn’t be done.
And we’ve transgressed it ever since.
2. The Law was only intended to be in use until Jesus arrived.
3. The Law was put in place through an intermediary.
It was put in place as a covenant with the nation of Israel with Moses as the intermediary
But the grace of God’s promised Redeemer was established by God Himself
Paul takes a moment to explain that he’s not saying that the Law was a bad thing.
* 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could
give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
Much like Jesus proclaimed that He came NOT to eliminate but to establish or fulfill the law.
Paul is saying that, if legalistic attempts could actually save someone (give life) then it would be legit.
[Illus - Mirror vs Face Cleanser]
If a mirror could make your face clean, it would be sold as a facial cleanser.
But that’s not what a mirror does.
It shows us the dirt on our faces.
In the same way the law and legalism does not make anyone clean it only shows us how dirty we are.
Now, we don't throw out all the mirrors because they don't clean our faces.
In the same way, we Should appreciate the display of God’s holiness in the Mosaic Law.
But we’re also not going to pursue a relationship with God through trying to abide by legalism.
v. 22 explains some of how the OT set the scene for the gospel
* 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be
given to those who believe.
There’s sometimes when I get done reading in the OT and I don’t exactly feel good about humanity.
Some of the worst sins imaginable are described there.
And many of them committed by God’s people who had His Law to live by
That’s what’s meant by v. 22, which the NIV states as “ But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a
prisoner of sin…”
It’s kind of like the prim and proper lady who gets arrested on a technicality and ends up in the county jail.
She might look at the unsavory women, drunks, and thieves in the holding tank and say to the guard, “I
don’t belong in here with these people.”
Well, she broke the law and she’s where she belongs.
In the same way, the OT shows us just how sinful our hearts are through the Law that no one can keep
But this was so that a promise of redemption might shine ever brighter.
And those with faith in Jesus Christ are able to come to God according to the promise He graciously gave.
It’s been said,
“before you can get someone saved, you first have to help them get lost.”
In other words, a person needs to realize they’re lost before they can be saved.
I have a lot of appreciation for Law-based evangelism.
It’s where you’re talking with someone and if they don’t think They've done anything to deserve hell, you
ask…
Have you ever stolen anything?
Have you ever told a lie?
Have you ever lusted?
Have you ever hated someone?
The Law condemns us as sinners for common inescapable sins.
The hope is that the person will realize that they’re a sinner in need of salvation.
But the person who has trusted Christ as their Savior shouldn’t feel condemnation when they read the 10
commandments.
We should be able to trust that Jesus fulfilled the Law for us.
And now commandments are our guides for how to please the Lord and live a fruitful life.
As my high school youth pastor once said,
“Before we trust Christ as Savior, God’s commands are over us in condemnation. After trusting Christ, they
are laid out before us like a much needed map for life.”
As Christians, we continue to trust Christ as our Savior by admitting our sins through confession.
When we’re convicted by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, we should confess our sin to the Lord, agreeing
with Him that we’re wrong and His ways are right.
This is a part of continually trusting Christ because we’re trusting in and even celebrating our forgiveness
in Christ.
The application of all these verses culminate in the call to -
3. TRUST GOD FOR THE FULL RIGHTS OF BEING HIS CHILD.
There are no second-class Christians because we are all the heir apparent/top-heir of God’s promised
inheritance through faith in Jesus Christ.
The faith that is described as coming in v. 23 is what v. 22 calls “faith in Jesus Christ.”
* 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be
revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by
faith.
Prior to the possibility of people having faith in the person and work of Christ, all mankind were stuck with
the Law and the promise of a Redeemer.
People like Abraham and other OT saints obeyed God.
But they hoped in the coming Redeemer for their salvation.
They’re described in v. 23 as being guarded in a sort of protective custody.
And they’re also described as having a guardian or a governess.
Think of Maria to the Von Trapp kids in The Sound of Music.
A governess would demand good behavior and might discipline the child in their charge.
In a similar way, the OT Law restrained the sin of those who lived under it.
A child’s care by a guardian or governess was never to be permanent.
Once a child became of age, they would be free to have their parent alone as their authority.
And in the same way, upon Christ’s coming, the idea is that the guardian of the Law stepped aside.
With the opportunity to have faith in Christ as our promised Redeemer, the legalism of the Law was to be
put aside.
* 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of
God, through faith.
We are free to live in the light of our relationship with God as our Father without a governess over us.
I want to make sure we don’t miss something significant in v. 26, which will also help us understand the
following verses.
The explanation we’re given for our no longer being under a guardian is that we’re “ALL sons of God
though faith.”
We might be tempted to just say, “You’re all sons and daughters of God.”
But this would miss the significance that connects with the theme of our verses.
The theme has been that salvation has always come through faith in a promise of an inheritance as God’s
child.
In the culture of the day, it was only the sons that were eligible to inherit from their fathers.
By calling us “ALL sons of God” we’re being told that all who trust in Jesus as Savior receive the promised
inheritance as God’s child.
And it’s further explained by the fact that those who are baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
* 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
The idea of baptism here is what takes place spiritually when we receive Christ as Savior.
We become “in Christ” which is what our physical baptism represents.
v. 27 is explaining why it no longer matters what is a person’s ethnicity, gender, or social status when they
trust Christ as their Savior.
They “put on Christ” and take on His status and rights to God’s inheritance as Abraham’s offspring.
Lead - This brings us to the statement of just how complete our being in Christ is.
v. 28 is a well-known and often misunderstood one.
* 28 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.
This verse is not teaching that all distinctions are removed in Christ.
There are still different roles in marriage based on gender.
There certainly is not to be a blurring of the lines in terms of same-sex marriage or God’s instructions on
church leadership.
V. 28 lists categories from the culture of privilege versus under-privilege positions.
Jews considered themselves more privileged than Gentiles.
In fact, it was common for a Jewish man to pray, “Thank you, God that you didn’t make me a Gentile
or a woman!”
We understand the privilege that a free person has over a slave.
Males had privileges of inheritance over women as we’ve already noted.
In Christ Jesus, we are all made into the one offspring of Abraham who gains the promised inheritance.
And this is true no matter our ethnicity, gender, or social status.
Lead - This is what we’re told in v. 29
* 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
A better understanding would be “if you are part of Christ’s body then you are the offspring of Abraham.”
And what does it mean that you are in Christ - Abraham’s offspring - the heir of the promise?
It’s the promise that was GIVEN not earned.
It’s the promise that was unconditional and eternal.
It’s the promise that wasn’t negated by the giving of the Law.
It was intended for the Redeemer as the offspring of Abraham.
And in Christ, we receive His inheritance of knowing God by grace through faith.
What if you were sitting at the reading of God’s “Last Will and Testament.”
Now, we’re not saying God died.
We’re saying that the inheritance of God’s kingdom is about to be doled out.
Well, Jesus is there.
So, of course you’d expect for the inheritance of all that God has to go to Jesus as the heir apparent.
But you hear your name read along with Jesus’.
You find out that you’re receiving the inheritance as God’s heir, just as Jesus is receiving it.
This is what it means to be the offspring, just as Jesus is because you are Christ’s (v.29), you’ve put on
Christ (v.27).
And we share this privilege together because we’re all one in Christ (v.28)
If you think that being a Christian just means that you’ve gotten your ticket for heaven secured,
you’re misunderstanding what it’s about.
Trust God for the full rights of being His child and live according to your rights as His child in faith.
- your right to come before your heavenly Father to find grace and help in time of need.
Rejoice in the fact that You are made a full heir with Christ rather than having to worry about your status
as His child.
Don’t settle and sit back.
Run this race with endurance in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the shadow of Christ as you follow Him.
We’re not just waiting for our inheritance as our only benefit of being in Christ.
We’re called to live now as heirs of God’s kingdom.
Prince William is the heir apparent of the throne of King Charles.
It means that he holds a special place in the royal family.
He’s guarded 24/7 because the future of the British Empire is embodied in his wellbeing.
He carries special responsibilities and roles as an heir to the throne.
And I’m certain he feels a strong sense of honor for carrying his title.
Prince William doesn’t worry that he’s going to fail to ascend to the throne due to poor performance.
There’s not a list of things that he must accomplish in order to one day become king.
But at the same time, he’s banking his entire life on what’s basically a promise that he will be the
successor to his father, the king.
His whole life and his future is based on a promise and not on his performance.
If you know Christ as your Savior, you carry far greater honor than Pince of England.
You are a fellow heir with Christ.
You hold a special place in the family of God - just as special as anyone else.
You also carry special responsibilities and roles as God’s ambassador for the gospel to the world.
You’re guarded by God, sealed by His Holy Spirit with no one being able to remove you from His hand.
You live free from condemnation based on God’s promise and not on your performance,.
