Heirs to The Promise

                                                                     Sunday School Lesson
                                                                         February 19,2012
Lesson Focus:

In Christ we are adopted
as God's Children
Lesson Scripture:
Galatians 3:15-18;
4:1-7
Introduction:

God made a binding agreement with Abraham concerning his seed.The term seed is one person, Christ.The Jewish people thought the seed refered to Abraham's children,the Jewish nation.But Paul was teaching the Galatians, and all believers,differently.Christ is the channel,the way, to inherit God's blessing,not joining or identifying with the Jewish nation.When God established the promise with Abraham it included many blessings and benefits..When non-believers rather Jew or Gentile place their trust in Christ these promises become theirs because of their connection with Christ.

The eed Of Promise
Galatians 3:15-18,KJV
¹⁵Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
   ¹⁶Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
   ¹⁷And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
   ¹⁸For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Footnote:

In trying to help the Galatians understand that people become children of God by faith in His promises and not by keeping the law, Paul turned to an example from everyday human affairs. Through out history, people have conducted personal and public business by means of convenants or contracts between one another.The ability to trust that people will keep their word is critical. This is the point that Paul was making to his readers.God made unconditional promises to Abraham and his seed,the ultimate fulfillment being in one person,the Lord Jesus Christ.And because God never breaks His word,the subsequent covenant He made with Moses and the rest of Israel at Sinai 430 years later didn't replace the promise to Abraham.Inheritance of God's blessings through Abraham comes by faith in the promises to Abraham'seed(Christ) and not by keeping the law. 

The Children of Promise
Galatians 4:1-7,KJV
  ¹Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
   ²But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
   ³Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
   ⁴But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
   ⁵To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
   ⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
   ⁷Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Footnotes:

In the time when Paul is writing,an heir did not come into full rights of his inheritance until he reached the appropriate age,as designated by his father.Under the law ,God's people were much like the underage heir,awaiting the divinely appointed time.That fullness of time came when God sent forth His son to be born in Bethlehem,live a perfect life under the law,minister and teach the ways of His heavenly Father,and die  on a cross, in order to redeem those under the Law as well as all who were enslaved to the basic elements of this world system,rather Jew or Gentile.Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except by me".He is our fulfilled promise from God.Everything God promised mankind was fulfilled in Christ Jesus.