Deuteronomy 28:1-29:29
As I was reading through the blessings for obedience I thought if only the people could keep following God’s commands they could live in perfection. But by now we should realise that the people won’t get it right and a whole lot of nasty stuff is gunna come there way for disobeying the LORD’s commands.
It’s amazing that God continues to fulfill his promises to Abraham even when he knows that the people can’t fulfill the law. I guess the great thing is that the promises made to Abraham weren’t dependant on the Israelites fulfilling the law but on God’s grace.
Have a read of Galatians 3:15-29.
15Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”[a] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
19What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ[b] that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
It is great news that sinners like you and me don’t get what we deserve but that through Jesus (the only obedient Israelite) we have the sure hope of living in perfection in the news heavens and the new earth.
As a side note, I really love Deuteronomy 29:29.
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of the law.
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