Heirs of the World

Romans 4:13

“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

Paul finally situates law and faith in direct opposition. The promise of heirship was not made to Abraham because he earned favor with God by keeping the law. It had not yet been given. Abraham received it as a direct result of the mercy of God, through (via) the righteousness of faith.

God’s promise to give Canaan to Abraham and his heirs was a type (a foreshadowing) of the ultimate promise to give Christ not only the world he first created and later redeemed but also all those in it who believe.

While the ungodly attempt to gather to themselves the riches of this world, none of it belongs to them. The redeemed world belongs to the heirs of Abraham—and ultimately to Christ—that is, to all those who believe. Therefore, it is the meek who shall inherit the earth.

“For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait (hope in faith) for the Lord shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek (the bowed) shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.” -Psalm 37:9–11

““Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” -Matthew 5:5

Consider a smattering of additional testimony from Scripture:

“I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel….Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” -Psalm 2:7–9,12

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.” // “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Romans 8:22 cf. Hebrews 1:2)

“For God so loved the world (cosmos), that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world (cosmos) to condemn the world (cosmos), but in order that the world (cosmos) might be saved through him.” -John 3:16–17

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