Abraham Heir of the World Romans 4:13

Paul the apostle told the Jews in Rome that Abraham was,“the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised”, and in chapter four and verse thirteen of Romans, Paul referred to how Abraham, “should be the heir of the world” where we read:

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham,

or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

The verse begins, “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, ...” Paul began with the words, “for the promise” which means “because and since the announcement, assent, pledge and divine assurance of good”, “that he should be” or “that Abraham would be” “the heir” or “the one who receives his allotted possession or portion by right of sonship” “of the world” which means “the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, riches, advantages and pleasures”, “was not to Abraham” which refers to “was not toward the father of multitudes who was the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation”. Paul shared how God's “promise” was not to “Abraham” alone that he was to “inherit” all the nations of the world.

The verse continues, “... or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Paul added the words, “or to his seed” which means “or to Abraham's offspring, posterity and progeny”, “through the law” or “by means of the rule producing a state approved of God” “but through” which means “nevertheless and notwithstanding by means of” “the righteousness” or “the state of him who is as he ought to be and the condition acceptable to God” “of faith” which means “of the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ”. God's “promise” was not to Abraham's “progeny” by means of “the law”, but by “the condition acceptable to God” through “conviction and belief” in Jesus Christ.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we realize that God's “promise” was not to just “Abraham” or his “progeny” through “the law”, but by “belief and trust” in God that resulted in “righteousness”. This same application is for people who put their “faith and trust” in Jesus Christ. God, by His “grace”, imputes or puts upon a person “righteousness” by “believing” in His Son Jesus, and those who are wise shall put their “faith” in Him.

Next time Paul tells the people in Rome, “if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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