Preparing for the Lord's Day
Have you ever known someone who was hoping for an inheritance but when the time came realized they had received nothing? Maybe it was someone who failed to save for retirement believing that their rich uncle would provide all that they needed, only to find out that he was not as rich as they believed. Maybe it was a friend who cared for their aging parent, sacrificing much, with the belief they would be financially compensated by the estate, only to find out that their parent made no such provision in their will. Or maybe it was a spoiled individual who had greedily lived off of their parents’ generosity but was written out of the will.
In 2007 the Wang family should have received an inheritance worth more than a billion dollars. However, Nina Wang the holder of this vast fortune changed her will. She voided her previous will which distributed her fortune to family and charities. Her new will designated Tony Chen, a feng shui master, as her sole heir. The reason? It is suggested that she left her fortune to this man in exchange for the guarantee of eternal life.
In our passage for this coming Sunday Paul explains how every Christian might have great confidence in the inheritance that has been promised. The Lord made a promise to Abraham that his children would receive the land of Canaan as an inheritance. This land represented God’s grace to return his people to the blessing of Eden. This promise, though located in a particular geographic location, was to be understood as ultimately fulfilled in the renewed world. As Paul explains in Romans 4.
“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.” (Romans 4:13 ESV)
The inheritance given by God to the children of faith is the whole world. This is a promise that will come to pass when the Lord Jesus returns and brings his people into their promised inheritance. We are like children who are trusting in the inheritance promised. We are hoping that the Lord will give to his children life everlasting. And in Galatians 3:15-18 Paul explains how every Christian can have great confidence in this promised inheritance. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Galatians 3:15-18, Genesis 15:3-5, Psalm 47:7-9, Romans 4:1-15, and Hebrews 11:8-16.
As we gather to worship our Humble King this Palm Sunday, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Opening Hymn “All Glory, Laud, and Honor”, the Acclamation of Praise “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus!” and the Hymn of Response “Lift High the Cross.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information:
Text: Galatians 3:15-18
Title: The Inheritance
Outline:
- Every Christian Must Believe that God’s Promise is Unchangeable (v. 15)
- Every Christian Must Believe that God’s Promise is Unbreakable (v. 16)
- Every Christian Must Believe that God’s Promise is Never-Ending (vv. 17-18)