Posted by Romans on Saturday, 20 June 2015
Romans 4:13
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 Jews also considered the Mosaic Law, a special revelation of God’s standards for human conduct, as the basis for their special standing before God. Therefore Paul turned next to it, declaring, It was not through Law (“not” is emphasized by its position at the beginning of the Gr. sentence) that Abraham and his offspring (lit., “seed”) received the promise that he would be heir of the world.
God’s promise in Genesis 12:1-3 preceded the giving of the Law by several centuries (cf. Gal. 3:17). Being “heir of the world” probably refers to “all peoples on earth” (Gen. 12:3), “all nations” (Gen. 18:18), and “all nations on earth” (Gen. 22:18), for through Abraham and his descendants all the world is blessed. He is thus their “father” and they are his heirs. These promises of blessing are given to those to whom God has imputed righteousness, and this, Paul added once again, is by faith. Believers of all ages are “Abraham’s seed,” for they enjoy the same spiritual blessing (justification) which he enjoyed (Gal. 3:29). (However, God has not abrogated His promises to Abraham about his physical, believing descendants, the regenerate nation Israel, inheriting the land [Gen. 15:18-21; 22:17]. These promises still stand; they will be fulfilled in the Millennium.)
