August 25th - 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 perish in death but will "receive the promise of the Spirit".

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

Humanity sins and the wages of that sin is death. Nevertheless, humanity has been "redeemed" from that curse as the "free gift of God". When the final resurrection of each human comes to pass, all will have received "the promise of the Spirit" - Abundant and endless 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 eonian LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord...For by grace are you saved through faith..." (1 Corinthians 15:21-23; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8)

WQhat does Paul 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" while we wait for  it to become a reality at our resurrection.

For now, the "promise of the Spirit" is just that - a PROMISE. And we can only enjoy the promise in this life by believing it is true. We can have the JOY and PEACE of knowing that after God is finished with us and those we love, the SPIRIT will give us endless life, and we will "have it abundantly".