Again
Continue reading
The descendant of Abraham is Christ and the promise is given through faith in Christ
Galatians 3:15–29 (LEB) — 15 Brothers, I am speaking according to a human perspective. Nevertheless, when the covenant of a man has been ratified, no one declares it invalid or adds additional provisions to it. 16 Now to Abraham and to his descendant the promises were spoken. It does not say, “and to descendants,” as concerning many, but as concerning one, “
and to your descendant,” who is Christ. 17 Now I am saying this:
the law, that came after four hundred and thirty years, does not revoke a covenant previously ratified by God, in order to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise. 19 Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the descendant should come to whom it had been promised, having been ordered through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now the mediator is not for one, but God is one. 21 Therefore is the law opposed to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, certainly righteousness would have been from the law. 22
But the scripture imprisoned all under sin, in order that the promise could be given by faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were detained under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 24 So then, the law became our guardian until Christ, in order that we could be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are descendants of Abraham, heirs according to the promise.
The blessings and the fathership of Abraham are seen in multiple passages.
Gen 17:5Your name shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be
Abraham, for I will make you
the father of a multitude of nations.
Gen 18:18Abraham will surely become a great and strong
nation, and
all the nations of the earth will be blessed on account of him.
Romans 4:9–12 (LEB) — 9 Therefore, is this blessing for those who are circumcised, or also for those who are uncircumcised? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.” 10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised but while uncircumcised! 11
And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness by faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he could be the father of all who believe although they are uncircumcised, so that righteousness could be credited to them, 12 and the father of those who are circumcised to those who are not only from the circumcision, but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
Romans 4:13–17 (LEB) — 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants, that he would be
heir of the world, was not through the law, but through the righteousness by faith. 14 For
if those of the law are heirs, faith is rendered void and the promise is nullified. 15 For the law produces wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there transgression. 16 Because of this, it is by faith, in order that it may be according to grace, so that the promise may be secure to all the descendants, not only to those of the law, but also to those of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (just as it is written, “
I have made you the father of many nations”) before God, in whom he believed, the one who makes the dead alive and who calls the things that are not as though they are,
Genesis 12:1–3 (LEB) — 1 And Yahweh said to Abram, “Go out from your land and from your relatives, and from the house of your father, to the land that I will show you.
2 And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great. And you will be a blessing.
3 And I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse. And
all families of the earth will be blessed in you.”
Gal 3:8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news in advance to Abraham: “
In you all the nations will be blessed.”
Acts 3:25 (LEB) — 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘
And in your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed.’
Gen 26:3–4Dwell as an alien in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you, for I will give all these lands to you and to your descendants, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. And I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and I will give to your descendants all these lands. And all nations of the earth will be blessed through your offspring,
Gen 28:13–14And behold, Yahweh
was standing beside him, and he said, “I
am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The ground on which you
were sleeping I will give to you and to your descendants. Your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, and to the east, and to the north and to the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and through your descendants.
Your absurdity is to contradict many verses with one that you take out of context
12–26. The prophet’s object is to show the power of Jehovah to deliver the people from captivity. He emphasises two thoughts: (a) the wonderful order and proportion in the universe show His infinite power and wisdom (vv. 12–17), and (b) no representation can be made of Him. How futile are the idols that men make! (vv. 18–20).
20. RV ‘He that is too impoverished for such an oblation,’ etc. 24. Shall not] read the tenses as past (RV). The v. expresses the transitory character of earthly powers in the sight of Jehovah. 26. Faileth] is missing.
27. The foregoing argument is addressed to a people who had suffered so long, that they thought God had forgotten them, and were despondent
J. R. Dummelow, ed., A Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1936), 440.