How are we ever to know God and to receive his blessings and promises? Is it through our spirit or our knowledge or our lineage? Is it through our faith to believe or through our goods works to earn a place with Him?
I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Gen 22:17-18
The above passage is God speaking through an angel to Abraham. It talks about blessings, many descendants taking possession of cities and because of these offspring everyone will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed God. This blessing came just after Abraham was stopped by an angel when he was about to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Was Abraham relying on his good works or was he relying on his faith? Was he obedient in his efforts or was he obedient in his belief?
The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. Gal 3:7
Those of faith are sons of Abraham? We believing by faith in God and His only son Jesus, are Abraham’s seed ?
What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith. Gal 3:8-9
By having the same faith we now share the same blessings and promises told to Abraham.
And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Gal 3:29
So what is promised to us as Abrahams seed?
So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel), to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build,houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full Deut 6:10-11
The above verse is one of my favourites – its a picture of our new home in the new Kingdom to come – beautiful cities full of good things that are prepared for us. Its a promise made to those of us who believe in God and His only begotten son Jesus. Who has risen and is now King of the new Kingdom and rule over us acting as High Priest. But what is Jesus doing now?
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. John 14:1-3
Jesus is getting our home ready, a home forever with Him. Amen. What did Abraham do? He believed through faith that this would happen, this was the land promised to Him. And through obedience to the commandments Abraham knew he would get there. We are Abrahams seed, if we in faith believe in Jesus and follow His commandments and can look to enjoy such beautiful promises.
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 1John 2:3