Abraham’s Seed

In the course of history, few men have been esteemed higher than the man named Abraham. The Bible states that he was called the “Friend of God” (James 2:23). That was due to his great faith and obedience, which can easily be seen by reading, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:8-10). Abraham believed what God told him, and appropriately obeyed what he was commanded. It was to this man, that God made some very important promises. Before his name was changed, the Bible record shows, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:1-3). Further, God told him, “Neither shall thy name anymore be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham, for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee” (Gen. 17:5-7). Please notice that God said “thy seed”, as in singular, nor plural. We will see why that is so important later.

These promises would continue through Isaac and Jacob for many generations. until a very special person came (Gen. 17:19; 28:13-15). Then, in the genealogy of Abraham, a man was born named Jesus, “…who is called Christ” (Matt. 1:1-16). It was through this Jesus that God would greatly bless the seed of Abraham. The apostle Paul referred to this truth when he wrote, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Gal. 3:16). Only through Jesus would God fulfill the promise made to Abraham when He said, “In thee shall all nations be blessed” (Gal. 3:8). It is in Christ, that not only were the Jews able to be blessed, but also the Gentiles. Paul further stated, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal. 3:13-14). Anticipating some opposition to this, Paul asked “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator” (Gal. 3:19). The institution of the Law of Moses could not stop God from fulfilling His Word. The Old Law was a “…schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Gal. 3:24-25). The Jews could not correctly claim to be “Abraham’s seed” just because they had been given the Law of Moses (Matt. 3:9). On the contrary, it is written, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:26-29). Only in Christ do we find the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.

It is true that different groups claim affiliation with Abraham. Jews, Muslims, and Christians all assert some connection. Yet, as we have seen in Scripture, there is only one group that can rightfully be called the spiritual descendants of Abraham. If you have not obeyed the Gospel of Christ, and thus “put on Christ”, then you are outside of the promise. Do not delay! Make sure that you are Christ’s, and thus, Abraham’s seed.