Galatians 3:17 – Blessings of Abraham in Christ

^“This is what I mean: The laws {given to Moses} 430 years after God had already put his promise {to Abraham} into effect didn’t cancel the promise {to Abraham}.”
(Galatians 3:17 GW)

Though the words In Christ are not in the original Greek text, it certainly is fulfilled in Christ. Paul was further explaining what he said in the previous verse. “Now 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.” (Galatians 3:16)

In other words, the law did not change the fact of that the promise to Abraham has not been changed or annulled. God made the promise to the seed of Abraham—to both his children by birth, Isaac and Jacob and to Jesus. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29)

We are heirs with Christ if we are in Christ. The promises given Abraham are our inheritance also. “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” (Galatians 3:18) The law has nothing to do with it. It didn’t affect our position in Christ to receive the promises of Abraham. It’s part of our inheritance as joint heirs with Christ.

The law had a purpose. It showed us that we need a savior because the law just brought guilt, punishment, and condemnation and no one could keep it anyway. The promise was about blessing, not cursing. “Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.” (Hebrews 6:14) That blessing came through Christ. We who are in Christ, are partakers of the blessings of Abraham, which are still in effect in Christ.