BLESSED WITH FAITHFUL ABRAHAM

Gal 3:6-9 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they, which are of faith, the same, are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they, which be of faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Previously in verses 2 and 5, Paul asked the members of the churches of Galatia this question: Did you become Christians by the works of the Law (of Moses), or by the hearing of faith (in the gospel message of Jesus Christ)? To those that answered by the hearing of faith, the apostle Paul tells them, "So did Abraham." Abraham believed God with a faith strong enough to motivate him to obey the commandments of God when He told him: Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Gen. 12:1b-3).

It is apparent that the faith God required of Abraham was a faith that was strong enough to cause him to obey all of God's commandments. Had Abraham refused to leave his native country, the Ur of the Chaldees; had he refused to depart from his father's house; had he refused to go to a land that I (God) will show thee, we know that Abraham's faith would not have been sufficient in the sight of God to receive His promises of becoming a great nation, ...a great name, ...a blessing, having God's protection from all other tribes and nations of people, and the ultimate blessing that in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (through his seed, the spiritual Son of God, Jesus Christ).

The lesson text follows this by saying, ...Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Paul, in his letter to the Roman Christians, repeated this same gospel message. There it was preceded by this teaching: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God (Rom. 4:2). It was not Abraham's deeds that brought about his justification with God, but his faith in Him that resulted in his obedience to God's will. It was by faith that Abraham heard, believed, and obeyed the commandments given to him by God. If Abraham could have attained justification with God on his own, that is, by the merit of his own righteous works, he would have reason to boast, glorify, praise and honor himself. The righteous praises of faithful Abraham came, not from himself, but from God, in whom he placed his faith. The righteousness of Abraham was not earned; it was bestowed on him by God.

Another lesson for all Christians is found in the verse that followed the lesson text: Know ye therefore that they, which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. The blessing bestowed on all nations of the earth by Abraham came through his seed, Jesus Christ. This blessing is the hope of eternal salvation, which is available to all people that are reconciled to God by the soul-cleansing power of the blood of Christ Jesus. It is the gift of God; it cannot be merited by one's works. It can only be attained by the same faithful obedience to God that was demonstrated by the patriarch, Abraham. It is by this same strong faith the one becomes, and remains, a child of God through Jesus Christ, the Royal Heir of Abraham. Jesus was the blessed seed of Abraham. Therefore each obedient child of God that accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior becomes an adopted child of God, a spiritual brother or sister of Christ, and a spiritual child of God, and His faithful servant, Abraham.

The promise of God to Abraham, that in thee shall all nations be blessed, was made many years before the Law of Moses was given specifically to the nation of Israel on Mount Sinai. This blessed promise was made to all families, or people, of the earth, including those referred to as heathen, or Gentile nations. So then they, which be of faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham. God's blessing of eternal salvation, through Christ, is not only made to the descendents of Abraham and the Jewish nation, but to all people of the world. Only those that demonstrate obedient faith to God, will be blessed with faithful Abraham.