READ: Gal. 3:7–9 … So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Paul points to Abraham’s faith in God and His promises as the only means to receive forgiveness of sins by grace and to be accepted as God’s child. There was no work of Abraham himself involved. He wasn’t even circumcised when God accepted him. Paul also points out that in Abraham, not only his direct descendants but all nations would be blessed (Gen. 12:3).
So who may be considered children of Abraham, the one who received the promise of blessing in Christ? The Lord Jesus was clear about this when speaking to the Jews. He essentially told them: You say Abraham is your father, but he showed his faith by accepting God’s spoken word as truth; your father is the devil because you do not believe the truth (John 8:30–47).
In the letter to the Romans, Paul confronts Jews who claim to be Abraham’s children based on their works. In Rom. 4:13, he writes: “For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”
Abraham is the father of all believers, not of all who keep the law. Paul repeats this in Gal. 3:7. Gentiles who are blessed with Abraham must share in his faith, not in his circumcision or law-keeping.
What does Abraham’s blessing involve? It is the blessing of Christ, who is Abraham’s Seed (verse 16). Through Him come redemption and eternal life, but only if you believe in Him as your Saviour; if you do not believe, you are lost (John 3:15–18).
Why would you want to be a child of Abraham?
Sing: Ps. 103:1