Blessed with Abraham

February 12, 2012


Background Scripture: Galatians 3:1 – 14
Lesson Passage: Galatians 3:1 – 14

Christians are a fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham. Through our faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross, we are made children of Abraham. This is because Abraham is the father of the faithful. God promised Abraham that through him all families (or nationalities) of the earth would be blessed. What an awesome promise to receive. Since Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, all who have received Christ as Lord have been fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. Because we are made children of Abraham, then we have become joint heirs with him as well. This is not something that we must work to become; rather, it is through our faith that God makes it so. As Abraham through his faith (or belief in God’s promise) was made right with God, so too are we, who likewise place our faith in Jesus Christ, brought into right standing with God. It is only through faith that we have this privilege. Abraham was not justified by what he did and neither are we. Abraham believed God and God counted his faith as righteousness. All who come to God through faith in Him are treated even as Abraham was treated. Anything else that is done to try to curry favor with God or to put one in right standing with God is under a curse. We could never get right with God by hoping that our good qualities will outweigh our bad ones. In fact, we are told through the word of God that just one offense outweighs all of the good we might do. Being a good person does not bring forgiveness for being a sinner. The wages of sin is death. The penalty of sin is not sickness or disease but eternal death. There was nothing Abraham could have done to overcome the death sentence and there is nothing we could have done about it either. The only solution is the one provided by God and it is received through our faith in God’s provision for us. God’s solution to our dilemma is the offering of the life of His only begotten Son Jesus. Jesus is the avenue by which the blessing of Abraham comes upon all Christians. Jesus was God’s answer before the foundation of the world. Abraham became heir of the promise four centuries prior to the giving of the Law. The Law established the righteousness of God but all who try diligently to fulfill it discover that we come short. Therefore the works of the Law can lead to righteousness if it were possible to truly live according to the Law. But there is always an offense to highlight our shortcomings. Just one offense makes void all of the good we might have done. On the surface it would appear that we have been given a roadmap that leads to nowhere. Quite the contrary, the Law is a roadmap but it does lead us somewhere. The purpose of the Law was to lead men to Christ. Once we have placed our trust in Christ, then the Law’s purpose has been fulfilled and we can receive righteousness as the gift of God. Once we submit ourselves to the guidance of Jesus, we no longer need a roadmap. Once we have given ourselves to Christ, then God’s promises are made manifest in us and we can know for sure that we are indeed blessed with Abraham.

Robert C. Hudson
February 1, 2012