A promise looks to the future. Its design and tendency is to excite trust and confidence in him who makes it. The promise made to Abraham about the world being blessed in his seed inspired faith in the Giver of the promise. But if justification came by the law, there will be no looking forward to the coming of the seed of Abraham, which was promised. The same is true for trusting anything besides faith for justification. Those who depend on anything apart from faith for justification, cut themselves from the promise of the Messiah. This was the danger that Paul warned the Galatians against. If your confidence for justification lies in your good works, you cut yourself off the promise made to Abraham because there's no such promise made to the effect that man can be saved by his good works.
Unlike the promise that gives hope, the law furnishes judgment unto condemnation for its violators. Where faith is in operation, the law is entirely excluded because in Christ, the requirements of the law have been satisfied. When God makes a promise, He sees it as a thing already done, but it will only become ours when we believe. It is in this sense that He calls the things that are not, as though they are. For example, He promised that Abraham will be a father of many nations, but before he had a child, He changed his name from Abram to Abraham. But Abraham could only come into this promise by believing that God will do as He promised. So instead of telling Abraham, I will make you a father of many nations, He called him the father of many nations, calling the thing that is not as though it was.
What has God promised? It has been made available already in Christ, the only thing left is for you to believe, and it will be yours by faith.
Toni
