Simply by being Christ's, you are the progeny of Abraham (Galatians 3:29, New Jerusalem)
Abraham's place in Scripture is remarkably significant. Not only are the Israelites identified as the children of Abraham, but the Messiah himself is introduced as "the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1). Paul goes so far as to say in Galatians 3:29, "If you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise." Christians are Abraham's progeny! It is unlikely that a Christian assembly; without a single Jew among them; will think of itself as a gathering of children of Abraham.
When Paul insists that the real Jew is not one who is a Jew "outwardly," but one who is a Jew "inwardly" (Romans 2:28-29), he is thinking in terms of father Abraham. He even says that the gospel was first preached to Abraham (Galatians 3:8), and that the true "Israel of God" is the church (Galatians 6:16).
Even our Lord gave the patriarch unique significance in referring to the Creator as "the God of Abraham" (Matthew 22:32) and in referencing the blessed dead as being in "the bosom of Abraham" (Luke 16:22). He referred to him cryptically in saying, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56).
But it is in that cryptic reference that we have the answer as to why Abraham is our spiritual father; "the father of the faithful." He saw Jesus' Day(probably a prophetic reference to Jesus having his "Day" in the new age just as God had his "Day" in the old) when he witnessed the birth of Isaac.
Abraham's place in Scripture is remarkably significant. Not only are the Israelites identified as the children of Abraham, but the Messiah himself is introduced as "the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1). Paul goes so far as to say in Galatians 3:29, "If you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise." Christians are Abraham's progeny! It is unlikely that a Christian assembly; without a single Jew among them; will think of itself as a gathering of children of Abraham.
When Paul insists that the real Jew is not one who is a Jew "outwardly," but one who is a Jew "inwardly" (Romans 2:28-29), he is thinking in terms of father Abraham. He even says that the gospel was first preached to Abraham (Galatians 3:8), and that the true "Israel of God" is the church (Galatians 6:16).
Even our Lord gave the patriarch unique significance in referring to the Creator as "the God of Abraham" (Matthew 22:32) and in referencing the blessed dead as being in "the bosom of Abraham" (Luke 16:22). He referred to him cryptically in saying, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56).
But it is in that cryptic reference that we have the answer as to why Abraham is our spiritual father; "the father of the faithful." He saw Jesus' Day(probably a prophetic reference to Jesus having his "Day" in the new age just as God had his "Day" in the old) when he witnessed the birth of Isaac.
Not only was Isaac's birth a type of Messiah, but his "death" and "resurrection" as well. Abraham "saw" Jesus's death and resurrection when it was typified in Isaac.
Not that it was all that clear to Abraham. He "rejoiced" to see; which identifies the patriarch as having a heart for God; and he saw vaguely from afar. Peter says something like this about the prophets; they "searched diligently" in reference to future glory, but "it was not revealed to them, but to us they were ministering" (1 Peter 1:10-12).
I think of the daring statement made by Alexander Campbell: From Adam to Mary Magdelene there was not one person who believed in the death and resurrection of the Messiah. It appears to be the case; right up to the morning of the resurrection! Not even Jesus' own disciples after he told them again and again that he would be crucified and rise again!
But Abraham had a hint in Isaac, and that is the basis of his faith. God chose Abraham from the pagan world and told him he would make a nation of him; that through him all nations would be blessed, and that his progeny would be as plentiful as the stars of heaven. The Bible tells us that Abraham believed God and that it was accounted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6).
He seemed never to have the slightest doubt, even in the face of the impossible. There he was a hundred years old; and his wife Sarah was ninety; and he was told that they would have a son through whom the promised progeny would be fulfilled. He realized that his aged body was "as good as dead" and that Sarah's womb had long since been barren. Yet he believed; against all reason. He believed in the impossible. The KJV captures Paul's poignant way of describing it: "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief." He was "fully persuaded" that God was able to do what he had promised.
That is a good definition of faith: complete trust that God is able to do and will do what he has promised.
Sarah may have been surprised when she became pregnant with Isaac, but not Abraham. They both laughed when an angel made known the promise. Sarah laughed because she did not believe; Abraham laughed because he did believe.
But Abraham may have been surprised; or at least bewildered; when the same God of heaven tells him to offer up his son as a sacrifice. But he still did not waver. God allowed the drama to reach the brink. It was not until Abraham lifted his knife to take his son's life that God stopped him. "Now I know that you believe."
What did Abraham believe? The writer of Hebrews gives us the answer: "He was confident that God had the power even to raise the dead; and so, figuratively speaking, he was given back Isaac from the dead" (Genesis11:19, New Jerusalem bible).
In essence Isaac died on that sacrificial altar and Abraham received him back from the dead; and Abraham believed it would happen. He would kill his son, but God would raise him from the dead; because of the promise God had made.
This is why Abraham is the father of the faithful. This is why Christians are Abraham's progeny. Resurrection faith! This is what draws the line between between the world and the called-out Assembly, between disbelief and faith; the resurrection of Jesus Messiah.
Resurrection of the dead is against all reason. Dead men do not rise (period) It is impossible. It is the thesis of a secular world. Jesus may have been a great teacher and an exemplary leader, but that he was raised from the dead had to be invented by his followers.
Paul put the question to Agrippa, a pagan king: "Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead (Acts 26:8)? True, no man can raise himself, even Jesus did not raise himself. Paul is asking why it is incredible that God raises the dead. That was king Agrippa's problem; he did not believe in a God that raises the dead; and that is the world's problem. Disbelief.
When Paul tells the story of Abraham's faith in Romans 4, he concludes by saying that "it was not written for his sake alone . . . but also for us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead." Then follows the great affirmation of faith: "who was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised for our justification" (v. 25).
It is noteworthy that Paul never refers to the death of Messiah except in connection with his resurrection. And he makes it the centerpiece of Christian faith: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).
And that is why the community of faith today is the progeny of Abraham. The old patriarch was the first to believe in the resurrection of the dead. In witnessing Isaac's "death and resurrection" he saw through a glass darkly "Jesus's day" and the resurrection of the Messiah.
We are the heirs of Abraham because we too believe in the resurrection of the dead; not only the resurrection of our lord Jesus, but our resurrection as well.
Not that it was all that clear to Abraham. He "rejoiced" to see; which identifies the patriarch as having a heart for God; and he saw vaguely from afar. Peter says something like this about the prophets; they "searched diligently" in reference to future glory, but "it was not revealed to them, but to us they were ministering" (1 Peter 1:10-12).
I think of the daring statement made by Alexander Campbell: From Adam to Mary Magdelene there was not one person who believed in the death and resurrection of the Messiah. It appears to be the case; right up to the morning of the resurrection! Not even Jesus' own disciples after he told them again and again that he would be crucified and rise again!
But Abraham had a hint in Isaac, and that is the basis of his faith. God chose Abraham from the pagan world and told him he would make a nation of him; that through him all nations would be blessed, and that his progeny would be as plentiful as the stars of heaven. The Bible tells us that Abraham believed God and that it was accounted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6).
He seemed never to have the slightest doubt, even in the face of the impossible. There he was a hundred years old; and his wife Sarah was ninety; and he was told that they would have a son through whom the promised progeny would be fulfilled. He realized that his aged body was "as good as dead" and that Sarah's womb had long since been barren. Yet he believed; against all reason. He believed in the impossible. The KJV captures Paul's poignant way of describing it: "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief." He was "fully persuaded" that God was able to do what he had promised.
That is a good definition of faith: complete trust that God is able to do and will do what he has promised.
Sarah may have been surprised when she became pregnant with Isaac, but not Abraham. They both laughed when an angel made known the promise. Sarah laughed because she did not believe; Abraham laughed because he did believe.
But Abraham may have been surprised; or at least bewildered; when the same God of heaven tells him to offer up his son as a sacrifice. But he still did not waver. God allowed the drama to reach the brink. It was not until Abraham lifted his knife to take his son's life that God stopped him. "Now I know that you believe."
What did Abraham believe? The writer of Hebrews gives us the answer: "He was confident that God had the power even to raise the dead; and so, figuratively speaking, he was given back Isaac from the dead" (Genesis11:19, New Jerusalem bible).
In essence Isaac died on that sacrificial altar and Abraham received him back from the dead; and Abraham believed it would happen. He would kill his son, but God would raise him from the dead; because of the promise God had made.
This is why Abraham is the father of the faithful. This is why Christians are Abraham's progeny. Resurrection faith! This is what draws the line between between the world and the called-out Assembly, between disbelief and faith; the resurrection of Jesus Messiah.
Resurrection of the dead is against all reason. Dead men do not rise (period) It is impossible. It is the thesis of a secular world. Jesus may have been a great teacher and an exemplary leader, but that he was raised from the dead had to be invented by his followers.
Paul put the question to Agrippa, a pagan king: "Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead (Acts 26:8)? True, no man can raise himself, even Jesus did not raise himself. Paul is asking why it is incredible that God raises the dead. That was king Agrippa's problem; he did not believe in a God that raises the dead; and that is the world's problem. Disbelief.
When Paul tells the story of Abraham's faith in Romans 4, he concludes by saying that "it was not written for his sake alone . . . but also for us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead." Then follows the great affirmation of faith: "who was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised for our justification" (v. 25).
It is noteworthy that Paul never refers to the death of Messiah except in connection with his resurrection. And he makes it the centerpiece of Christian faith: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).
And that is why the community of faith today is the progeny of Abraham. The old patriarch was the first to believe in the resurrection of the dead. In witnessing Isaac's "death and resurrection" he saw through a glass darkly "Jesus's day" and the resurrection of the Messiah.
We are the heirs of Abraham because we too believe in the resurrection of the dead; not only the resurrection of our lord Jesus, but our resurrection as well.
Written by Leroy Garrett
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