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Children of Abraham

Funke Otiwhor Ajigboye
Jun 11
4 min read

Galatians 3

Paul begins chapter three of his letter to the church in Galatia with a strong admonition: "Oh foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" (Galatians 3:1).

Paul explains the concept of faith: "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" (Galatians 3:6-7). Abraham believed and was blessed, so all who believe are blessed as he was. Paul emphasizes that no one is justified by the law (the laws of Moses) in the sight of God, for the Scripture says, "The just shall live by faith." The law has nothing to do with faith.

Paul further explains that Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Those who depend on obeying the law live under a curse. "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law'" (Galatians 3:10). Yet, the beauty of our inheritance as believers is that Christ came to deliver us from the law. Paul states, "Christ has delivered us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree'" (Galatians 3:13).

How Are We Children of Abraham?

The promise God made to Abram and his seed is found in Genesis 12:3: "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."

In Genesis 13, the Lord told Abram again, "Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered" (Genesis 13:14-16).

In Genesis 14, the Lord came to him again, saying, "And he brought him forth abroad, and said, 'Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them.' And he said unto him, 'So shall thy seed be.' And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 14:5-6).

In Genesis 17, the Lord changed his name from Abram to Abraham, meaning "Father of many nations." The Lord said, "As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee" (Genesis 17:4-7).

Paul explains that when Christ, the seed of Abraham, died on the cross for the salvation of mankind, the blessings promised by God to Abraham can now come upon the Gentiles (non-Jews): "That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

We become children of Abraham through faith. Jesus makes a distinction between the physical seed of Abraham and the true, spiritual seed of Abraham: "If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did" (John 8:39). What did Abraham do? He had faith; he believed God.

Paul explains that the promise was made to Abraham and his seed (Jesus) and was confirmed in Christ. The law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul that promise: "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified. But after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster" (Galatians 3:24-25).

As children of Abraham, we are heirs to the blessings of Abraham and his descendants. You and I can become beneficiaries of God's promises to Abraham if we have the faith of Abraham and belong to Jesus Christ: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26).

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29).

We are children of Abraham if we live by faith in the promises of God, which are summed up in Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of salvation. Thank You for Your promises. Today, I receive faith to walk in the new revelation of Your Word that I am a child of Abraham; therefore, I partake in the blessings of Abraham according to Your Word. In Jesus' name, Amen.