3:8 What does it mean that the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen by faith preached the gospel to Abraham?
3:8 What does it mean that the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen by faith preached the gospel to Abraham?
Paul is using a figure of speech here, personifying the scriptures.
It conveys the thought that whatever God foresees is expressed in scripture (cp Lk 4:21; Jn 7:38-42; 19:37; Ro 9:17; 10:11; Ga 4:30; 2 Ti 3:16).
The scripture Paul was referring to in Ga 3:8 is Gen 12:3 (cp Gen 12:1-3 with Gen 18:18 and 28:14).
The gospel that God proclaimed to Abraham in effect was that someday a Saviour - Jesus Christ - would arise out of Abraham's offspring through whom by faith, all the nations of the earth would be saved. Abraham rejoiced, looking forward to that day (cp Jn 8:56).
God credited Abraham's faith to believe in Him implicitly to fulfil His promises as righteousness on the basis of Christ's future sacrifice of Himself for Abraham's sin (cp Ro 4:1-5, 16-17; Ga 3:5-6, 9).
We learn from these scriptures that the only means of salvation is by faith - hearing God's word and believing it - whether under the old covenant or the new (cp Ro 10:17).
God had a plan of salvation which He made known to everyone who ever lived in Old Testament times (cp Ro 10:18 with Ro 1:18-20).
It was predicted by all the Old Testament prophets and while it was independent of the law, it was revealed in all the rites and ceremonies of the law (cp Jn 5:46 and 1Pe 1:10 with Ro 3:21-22).
The entire sacrificial system of the Old Testament pointed to the future supreme sacrifice of Jesus.
All those who took part in the sacrificial offerings in the Old Testament actually saw demonstrated continually before their eyes the atoning death of their Saviour.
They "heard" over and over the word of God - the gospel of the coming Saviour (cp He 9:1-15; 10:5-10).
Even Abel who lived hundreds of years before the law made a sacrificial offering to God, proving he knew of the future redeemer (cp Gen 4:1-4).
Abel could only have known about a future redeemer from his father, Adam (cp Gen 3:14-15).
Abel heard the gospel of a coming Saviour and believed it, and got saved (cp He 11:4; 12:24; 1Jn 3:12).
Hearing the gospel and believing it is the only way anyone can be saved (cp Ro 10:8-17).
See also comments on Ro 3:24-26 (A & B), Ro 3:27, 4:1-5, 4:3, 4:9-10, 4:13, 4:18-22 and 4:23-25.
Ga 3:13 (A) Where is it written" cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree"? Deut 21 (cp Deut 21:22-23)