Gup20
Active Member
Gal 3:6-9 NASB 6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, [saying,] "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--
14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--
14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
We inherit the righteousness given to Abraham. This was Christ's righteousness. He became a curse for us and gave up his righteousness.
2Co 5:21 NASB 21 He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Hebrews 1:4
having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 13:20
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,
Hebrews 1:4
having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 13:20
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,
Jesus himself was raised from the dead through Abraham's eternal covenant. He proved it was valid. He gave up his righteousness to Abraham and inherited back through inheritance by being a faithful descendant of Abraham. Remember what the eternal covenant is:
Gen 17:7 NASB] 7 "I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
But remember, Paul says these word "decendant" (or "seed" in the KJV) was actually referring to Christ:
Gal 3:16 NASB 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as [referring] to many, but [rather] to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.
Paul explicitly makes reference to the fact that Jesus was the one to whom the promise was being made:
Gal 3:19 NASB 19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
This begs the question... why would God need to make a promise to Christ that he would be resurrected for faith (for it says until the seed would come to whom the promise was made)? Because as Hebrews 13:20 says above, Jesus didn't raise himself from the dead, but God raised him from the dead through Abraham's covenant. This is why it was a "credit" to Abraham until Christ came and actually lived a righteous life according to the law and had righteousness to give up.
Now that Christ has come, we have more detail and we can declare he was the promised One to whom the gospel that was preached to Abraham talked about. Now that He has come, we believe a more specific gospel, but what Abraham believed was still the same gospel (albeit with less revelation than we have now). We become children of God and descendants of Abraham by believing the same Gospel that Abraham believed (granted, we know more of the details now). Yet Jesus himself said, "your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad" confirming Abraham did indeed have faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Offering Isaac on the altar wasn't what made Abraham righteous... it was a demonstration of the faith he already had... a faith he was made righteous for more than 2 decades prior to offering Isaac on the altar. Works demonstrates that faith is valid... but faith alone saves (makes righteous).
I use this analogy: if a car is speeding towards me, and I say "the car will not hit me" but then at the last moment I dive out of the way, my actions demonstrated that I actually DID believe the car would hit me. So my works demonstrate my true belief. In the same way faith without works is dead. Works demonstrate our true faith, but faith alone is what qualifies us as descendants of Abraham and inheritors of Christ's righteousness.
Eph 1:13-14 NASB 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of [God's own] possession, to the praise of His glory.
Notice how the Holy Spirit's indwelling is the "seal of the righteousness of faith." Abraham experienced the same seal in circumcision.
Rom 4:11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
So the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is "circumcision of the heart." It intentionally follows the exact pattern of Abraham's salvation.
Galatians 3:7
Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:26
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 4:30
But what does the Scripture say? “CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”
Romans 9:6
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.”
8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
Hebrews 2:16
For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
Luke 19:9
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.”
Isaiah 54:1
“Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD.
Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:26
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:29
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
Galatians 4:30
But what does the Scripture say? “CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”
Romans 9:6
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.”
8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
Hebrews 2:16
For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
Luke 19:9
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.”
Isaiah 54:1
“Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD.
