(This series is taken from the book “Redeemed” by Jack Exum, published in e-Book format on Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/488224 (as well as on Amazon.com).

In Genesis 12:1-4, the LORD told Abram, “Go…So Abram left…” Between the ‘going’ and ‘leaving,’ we find seven important promises from God. (1) “I will make you into a great nation…” (A reference to Israel), (2) “I will bless you,” (3) “and make your name great” (4) “… you will be a blessing” (5) “I will bless those who bless you…” (6) “I will curse those who curse you” (7) “…all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”. The last one is the most important, since it refers to the coming of Messiah, the Savior for all mankind, through the descendants of Abraham.

Abraham doesn’t promise God anything, he doesn’t bargain with God, he doesn’t argue or complain, or try and earn these blessings from God… Abram believed the Lord, and he “left” his country. His “faith” in God, IS the basis of everything he ‘DOES’ in reference to God. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, “By faith Abraham…obeyed” (Hebrews 11:8). It is this faith, by which he obeyed God, this faith was “credited to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6), and without this faith, obedience is meaningless!
The test of Abraham’s faith where he was called on to sacrifice Isaac, the son which God promised him, was the most critical. “By faith Abraham…obeyed.” Isaac was spared, God provided a ram as substitute, and God knew Abraham’s faith was real (Genesis 22).

It was some 430 years later that the Law of Moses is given, but had no part in the “promise.” Paul repeats the promise, “IN YOU (Abraham) SHALL ALL NATIONS BE BLESSED” (Galatians 3:8). Paul recognized that God’s promise to Abraham as the ONE prophecy of the coming of Christ, resulting in salvation made available to Jews and Gentiles, brought together in one body… the church (Ephesians 1:23; 4:4-6). Jesus Christ was the ‘promised seed,’ that would come and break the hold of Satan on the world.

The PROMISE came before the LAW… actually about 430 years before the Law of Moses was given at Mt. Sinai to Israel. The Law of Moses does not make void the promise made to Abraham. When the Old Law was fulfilled by Jesus (Matthew 5:17-18), the Promise (“and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”) given to Abraham continued, and does so today, because of Jesus! The effect of the promise (salvation), is not based on keeping (the) law perfectly (because we can’t), but by faith like that of Abraham.

Now, if you have an OLD LAW (system) and NEW GRACE/FAITH (system) IN FORCE at the same time, you have dilemma… You have to make a choice as to which you will follow. You cannot depend on both covenants for salvation.

Christ came to deliver us from the curse of the law, (Galatians 3:13). Paul says His people are a people of FAITH, having been “baptized into Christ,” not a people of the Law. The result is (in Christ) “there is neither Jew nor Greek … slave nor free … male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus, And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29).

This is the good news, that all who are “in Christ,” are “Abraham’s seed” (‘faith’ descendents) and heirs of a marvelous promise… which is SALVATION through Jesus!

(All references are from the 2011 edition of the NIV.)