The more I read the Pauline Epistles, the more I come to appreciate Paul’s emphasis on the work of faith. Paul, known as the “Apostle to the Gentiles” was constantly having to affirm their standing that their salvation was by faith in Christ Jesus alone. Contrary to his former life as a Zealot that persecuted Christians.

He was converted by Jesus himself on the road to Damascus and later spent three year essentially off the grid contemplating his conversion. I believe during this season, and by way of revelation, he refined what it meant to be saved. I also believe he spent majority of this time studying the life of Abraham, and here’s why.

In the letter to the Galatians, Paul has to combat the false teaching of Judiaziers. These Jewish Christians were missionaries in the early church who insisted that Gentile believers must follow Jewish laws (Mosaic law, standard laws of Israel), particularly circumcision and dietary restrictions, to be fully accepted as God’s people.

Paul’s response especially logically in Galatians 3:15-29 encompasses the very reason of why Faith in Jesus is above the Law. See verse 17 below:

“This is what I mean: the Law, which came into existence four hundred and thirty years later [after the covenant concerning the coming Messiah], does not and cannot invalidate the covenant previously established by God, so as to abolish the promise. ”
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The very Law, which people during Paul’s day used to disqualify gentile converts came 430 years after God told Abraham that through him all nations would be blessed. That blessing was fulfilled in Jesus Christ which is why Paul reaffirmed the gentiles that all they had to do was have faith, and by this faith they have access to blessings and a blessed life. What does this mean to me? Whatever promises God told me will come to past as long as I accept him, the key is that I don’t have to uphold a set of standards due to the fact that recognition of Jesus conforms or molds me to the image of him. You’re probably asking John how can you prove this??

^“6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

The back half of verse 6 is a phrase that transliterates to the Hebrew word, ḥāšaḇ (khaw-shav), which means to interpenetrate. Meaning that Abraham literally came into agreement by conforming his will with the will of God over his life. This is the power of Promise. Coming into agreement with Gods promise over your life taps you into blessings and righteousness, not law keeping.