The Promise of the Spirit

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law…so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14)

What is the curse of the Law?

“…sin is the transgression of the law...the wages of sin is death” (1 John 3:4: Romans 6:23)

The curse of the law is DEATH and we all will eventually face and experience that curse.

But Christ Jesus came and has "redeemed us from the curse".  Therefore we will not stay dead but will "receive the promise of the Spirit". 

So what is the promise of the Spirit?    LIFE...Abundant, Everlasting LIFE.

"The Spirit gives LIFE; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and LIFE....the letter kills, but the Spirit gives LIFE..The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have LIFE, and have it abundantly." (John 6:63; John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 3:6)

It really is that simple. Mankind are sinners and the wages of that sin is death, but nevertheless, sinners have been "redeemed" from that curse as the free gift of God.  When resurrected, we will "receive the promise of the Spirit"...Abundant and Eternal LIFE.

“For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive...For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:21-23; Romans 6:23)

So what does he mean when he says we receive the promise "through faith"? Is it "faith" that seals the deal?  

NO, the grace of God seals the deal. Eternal life is a "free gift of God".  Faith is the means of enjoying "the promise of the Spirit" until it becomes a reality.

For now, the "promise of the Spirit" is just that - a PROMISE. And we can only receive the promise if this life by believing it is true.  We can have the JOY and PEACE of knowing that after we die, the SPIRIT will give us abundant, eternal life.

The Blessing of Abraham

“…the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14)

What is the “blessing of Abraham”? It was the promise to him that “...all peoples on earth will be blessed" (Genesis 12:3)

And what is the “promise of the spirit” that "all peoples" "might receive" and "be blessed"?

“…the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit...There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 3:28)

When people hear and believe they “receive" and are “sealed” with the "Holy Spirit". And as I said yesterday, the Bible teaches me that ALL peoples of the earth will eventually hear and believe…

“For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God….of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. " (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11)

This occurs, in my view, when all of the dead are gathered "before the throne" after the resurrection...

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away….and I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne…" (Revelation 20:11-12)

There "every knee shall bow" and "every tongue give praise to God" and all "will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”. And to do so they will have had to be "marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" for…

“…no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)