Therefore know that
only those who are of faith
are sons of
Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing
that God would
justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel
to Abraham beforehand,
Saying, “In you all
the nations shall by blessed.
So then those who are
of faith are blessed
with believing
Abraham. For as many as are
of the works of the
law are under the curse; for it is written,
“Cursed is everyone
who does not continue
in all things which
are written in the books
of the law, to do
them.” But that no one is justified
by the law in the
sight of God is evident,
for the just shall
live by faith.” Yet the law
is not of faith, but
“the man who des them shall
live by them.”
Galatians 3:7–12;
cf. Genesis 12:3;
18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14:
Habukkuk 2:4; 3:12;
Leviticus 18:5; 3:13
Abraham
declared righteous by God because Abraham believed God (Genesis 15:6; Romans
4:3; James 2:23). Paul in the opening
Scripture states that: “those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” Notice, that by Abraham’s faith, before he
was circumcised the Gentiles would be declared righteous due to their
faith. Abraham had this unusual
pronouncement given over him: “In your seed all the nations of the earth
shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice” (Genesis 22:18). Abraham justified by his faith before the
sacrament of circumcision and before the law that was to be a source for
servitude. Faith is accounted as
righteousness for one who is no longer under the works of the law and has the
love for God due to their faith and not out of fear, not a fear of respect, but
not under a phobic fear, an unjustified fear.
If you are of faith, you are one of the sons of Abraham and God’s
promised to Abraham, that wonderful pronouncement that the Gentiles, that is,
anyone who is not a direct descendent of Abraham, are to be blessed. How are you blessed? You are justified by your faith, and that
faith is in God’s Son Jesus Christ. The
Jews were natural descendants of Abraham, but, and this is a big BUT! There were no considered to be a child of
Abraham because they were not doing the works of Abraham: “They answered and
said to Him, ‘Abraham is our father.’
Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the
works of Abraham” (John 8:39).
Jesus makes this clear for us: To do the works of Abraham is not to be a
natural Jew and have Abraham’s work be applied to you due to this natural
generation. No, to be reckoned as one
of Abraham sons is to have faith, and that faith is in God and not in works for
Abraham faith was faith and justification before works; especially the work of
circumcision. Remember, there is not
the law that given to the Israelites by Moses, written on stone by God. It is by faith and that faith justifies you
and you receive the promised blessing, not because you are a natural descendant
of Abraham, rather because God promised to all the nations that those believing
in Him and in His promise would be justified and that justification is never
taken away and all you have before you is eternity. The opposer who rants and raves vehemently that the Bible is only
man’s words and not the inspired words of God are correct in this; The paper,
the ink, the actual writings are inanimate, and cannot know future events, but,
the Holy Spirit and he meaning which lies hidden in the letters predicted
things to come after many centuries.
God gives to man, by means of the Holy Spirit to write that which He
wills written and in those promises is where we find that they are fulfilled
even after many centuries. Notice this:
“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed….” (Genesis
22:18a). The word “seed” is singular and the apostle Paul gives us
aid for our understanding and the fulfillment of this promise: “No to Abraham and his Seed were he
promises made. He does not say, ‘And to
seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ”
(Galatians 3:16). We are not to
extrapolate any other meaning when it is said that all nations would be blessed
to mean that all peoples, every single one of them would receive a blessing for
not everyone has faith in the “seed”, in Jesus Christ. Yet, there is this blessing: Jesus Christ
died to pay the debt of sin that every man owes to God. Now, by the payment of debt God applies to
those to whom He has chosen that paid debt to them and by faith in His Son
Jesus Christ they by this faith are blessed no matter what nationality they
are, no matter what nation they are citizens.
It is in Jesus Christ alone that they praise God. Those who have in Jesus Christ, the “seed,”
will be blessed as one of Abraham’s children.
You have a new name, a hallowed name, “Christian.” You are not under works, you are not under
the ceremonial laws given to Israel, you are under the Ten Commandments for
they are for every person for all time.
The works we do, we do as Christians, as one who has faith, as one who
is blessed for God has blessed you with eternal life. No matter the circumstances this life may throw at you, you are
blessed. We are temporary people in
this world, for our citizenship is in heaven, there is where God is preparing a
mansion for you to live with Him forever.
How long is forever? Forever!
Praise God.
Behold, the Lord God shall come
With a
strong hand,
And His arm shall rule for Him;
Behold, His
reward is with Him,
And His work before Him. He will feed
His flock
like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry
them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young.
Isaiah
40:10–11
Seek today to know Him: That is His will
Richard L. Crumb
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