Galatians 3:18

The inheritance. That is, the promises of the covenant (see on v. 16). In a material sense this refers to the land of Canaan; in an ethnic sense, to Israel’s role as God’s chosen people; and in a spiritual sense, to the blessings of salvation through the Messiah. Although it is true of the first two that their basis was the covenant promise and not the law, Paul is here concerned more particularly with “the inheritance” of salvation by faith in Christ. In other words, God gave and they received “the inheritance” by virtue of their faith in God’s covenant promise, and not by their promise to fulfill the requirements of the legal system (see on Ex. 19:5, 8).

The law. Literally, “law” (see on Rom 2:12; Gal. 2:16).

No more of promise. That is, on the basis of the promises incorporated into the covenant made with Abraham (see on vs. 16, 17).

By promise. The record is clear. The inheritance came by promise, not by law. Abraham had nothing but God’s promise. His literal descendants were accorded the status of being God’s chosen people and were given possession of Canaan by virtue of that promise. It is true that they were to retain their status and possession of Canaan only if they complied with the law, but they did not earn title to their inheritance. Title was theirs only by virtue of faith in the promise; their fitness to retain that title was to be measured by their compliance with the will of God as expressed in “the law” (see Vol. IV, p. 34). Thus it is with the inheritance of salvation in this life (see on Heb. 5:9) and with the eternal inheritance of the saints in heavenly Canaan.