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.”

Abraham’s faith and salvation were well before the Mosaic law came on the scene. Approximately 500 years before the law was given to Moses (see chart below).

Abraham’s believed what God said

Genesis 15:1-5

‘After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” But Abram said, “Lord God , what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”’

‘And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.’

Genesis 15:6

‘For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.’

Romans 4:14-15

In other words, if we work for our salvation (because of the demands of the law) our faith is meaningless. Similarly, another biblical passage comes to mind. Turn to Galatians 4:4 and recall that this letter was sent specifically to the Gentiles at the church in Galatia, reminding them that they were not under the Law, but rather Grace. Remember that the Judaisers (Acts 15:1-5) sought to subjugate them to the law. Therefore, the purpose of this letter was to demonstrate to these Gentile believers that they were not under the Law but rather under Grace. Paul compares Isaac and Ishmael in this passage. Ishmael was fleshly, earthly, and not of the spiritual seed or the promises that Isaac possessed.

Galatians 4:30,31

“Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son (Hagar and Ishmael, they stood for the Law, the flesh): for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman (they could have no interrelationship). So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.”

The Conclusion

Is summed up clearly in Galatians 5:1.

Galatians 5:1

“STAND fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised (and you can put in there anything that man can do to merit Salvation. In Paul’s day it was circumcision, today it is many other things), Christ shall profit you nothing.”