+IV. Imposed no conditions of legal obedience.+--"If the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise" (ver. 18). The law is a system of conditions--so much advantage to be gained by so much work done. This is all very well as a general principle. But the promise of God is based on a very different ground. It is an act of free, sovereign grace, engaging to confer certain blessings without demanding anything more from the recipient than faith, which is just the will to receive. The law imposes obligations man is incompetent to meet. The promise offers blessings all men need and all may accept. It simply asks the acceptance of the blessings by a submissive and trustful heart. The demands of the law are met and the provisions of the covenant of promise enjoyed by an act of faith.
+Lessons.+--1. _God has a sovereign right to give or withhold blessing._ 2. _The Divine covenant of promise is incapable of violation._ 3. _Faith in God is the simplest and sublimest method of obedience._
Vers. 15-18. _The Promise a Covenant confirmed._
+I. The promises made to Abraham are first made to Christ, and then in Christ to all that believe in Him.+--1. Learn the difference of the promises of the law and the Gospel. The promises of the law are directed and made to the person of every man particularly; the promises of the Gospel are first directed and made to Christ, and then by consequent to them that are by faith ingrafted into Christ. 2. We learn to acknowledge the communion that is between Christ and us. Christ died upon the cross, not as a private person, but as a public person representing His people. All died in Him, and with Him; in the same manner they must rise with Him to life. 3. Here is comfort against the consideration of our unworthiness. There is dignity and worthiness sufficient in Him. Our salvation stands in this, not that we know and apprehend him, but that He knows and apprehends us first of all.
+II. The promise made to Abraham was a covenant confirmed by oath.+--Abraham in the first making and in the confirmation thereof must be considered as a public person representing all the faithful. Here we see God's goodness. We are bound simply to believe His bare Word; yet in regard of our weakness He ratifies His promise by oath, that there might be no occasion of unbelief. What can we more require of him?