For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
18. If the inheritance be of the law. His opponents might still reply, that nothing was farther from their intention than to weaken or disannul God’s covenant. To deprive them of every kind of subterfuge, he comes forward with the assertion, that salvation by the law, and salvation by the promise of God, are wholly inconsistent with each other.
Abraham was justified by faith, and so are all believers. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the heathen through faith in Christ; therefore believers of any nation, blessed as Abraham was, are justified in the same way he was.
AI summary
Commenting on Galatians 3:6-18
For if the inheritance be of the law,.... By the inheritance is meant, either the eternal inheritance, everlasting life and happiness in heaven, which is the gift of God through Christ, and not attained to and enforced by the works of the law; or particularly the blessing of justification, promised in the covenant to Abraham, and his spiritual seed; even to the Gentiles, and inherited...