Our Scripture verse today is short, but thrilling! “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” Galatians 4:28
Hence … we are NOT, as Ishmael was, children of slavery!
The Greek noun “brethren” has always interested me. It is “adelphos,” simply being a combination of “a” (like a prefix, but here denoting “union”) and “delphus,” a noun meaning a woman’s “womb!”
We, who are born-again in Jesus Christ, are … children of the same Womb!
The birth process involving the eternal Word of God, the invigorating Holy Spirit, believing faith … all devoid of human works!
But what is this about being born “of promise?”
This noun is “eppagelia,” meaning literally a “message!” It is translated just this way (“message”) once in the Bible, too! In 1 John 1:5, matter of fact. “This then is the MESSAGE (‘eppagelia’) which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
So … we are children of the “Message!”
What “message?”
The Gospel!
The Gospel of Jesus Christ!
The Gospel that tells the story of Jesus’ Death, Burial, and Resurrection!
We are God’s “children” because we believe the Truth of the Gospel!
So, in Greek, “promise” is spelled “eppagelia.”
And “Gospel” is spelled “euaggelion.”
See the same “root” built into both nouns, “aggelos?”
We become Abraham’s seed (spiritually, not literally) by believing the Promise, the Message, the Gospel, by faith! Not by works!
Just like Isaac also was born!
Promise, faith, trust!
Believing God’s Message!
Amen!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell