Am I a Child Of Abraham? That’s a critical question. Knowing your identity in Christ is essential. Does being a child of Abraham pertain to you? Do the promises God made to Abraham relate to you? Galatians 3:6-9 explains that it’s about sharing Abraham’s faith with others. Faith is essential to your salvation in Christ. This passage makes it clear that we are children of God by having faith like Abraham. Join me as we dig deeper to discover the significance of our spiritual family tree.
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The Passage
6 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
Who Was Abraham?
Abraham was a patriarch of the Hebrew people and one of the most important figures in both the Old and New Testaments. He was the first to be called by God. And he had unshakeable faith and obeyed the Lord, even when it seemed God had abandoned him. Abraham is revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike for his role in history and his unwavering commitment to God.
The Apostle Paul references Abraham repeatedly in his epistles. He illustrates how faith in Christ is rooted in the example of Abraham here in Galatians. Additionally, Paul tells us about the promises God made to Abraham (Gal 3:16). Through the life of Abraham, we see the power of faith, devotion, and obedience to God. We also see the tremendous blessings that can result from following his example of faith.
Do you mean Abraham or Abram?
Abraham was born as Abram. The name Abram means ‘exalting fatherhood'”. Interestingly, when Abraham was still known as Abram, he fathered only one son, Ishmael. Think about this. Why did Abraham’s mother name her son “exalted father”? Maybe some insight into his future? How coincidental that his name would become a play on words in a sense.
Abraham, on the other hand (the name given to him by God), means “father of multitudes” or “father of many nations”. God changed his name to reflect Abram’s new identity and purpose. God called him to fulfill something different: to be the father of a ‘multitude of nations’, So Abram needed a new beginning.
By the way, God would bless Abraham and make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. Abraham’s name is a reminder of God’s faithfulness and promise-keeping.
Abraham’s Journey
The Legacy of Abraham – Talk about Abraham being called to go on a journey, and leave everything…. He made mistakes, bad ones too. But he kept going. And in the end, he is listed in the Hall of Faith (Heb 11).
God called Abraham to leave his home, promising to make him a great nation. Miraculously, Abraham and Sarah had a son, Isaac, in their old age. God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham obeyed, but God provided a ram for the sacrifice. Ishmael was also born to Abraham and Hagar. Jesus Christ was born through Abraham’s lineage. Through faith and obedience, Abraham became a key figure in the plan of salvation.
So, Am I A Child of Abraham?
Your faith in Jesus is what makes you a child of Abraham.
As a believer, you are a child of Abraham through faith in Christ (Gal 3:7).
Listen up! Your faith justifies you, just like it did for Abraham (Rom 4:3). And get this: through faith in Christ, you inherit Abraham’s blessings (Gal 3:9). You are even part of the gospel promise made to Abraham (Gal 3:8). That’s right, you are family, just like Abraham was (Gal 3:29). So don’t you forget it!
God has called you on a journey.
As a follower of Christ, it is essential to understand that God has called each one of us on a unique and personal journey. Just like Abraham, God has a specific plan and purpose for our lives that require us to step out in faith and trust in Him. Abraham was called to leave his home and family and journey to a new land that God would show him. Similarly, God has called us to leave behind our old ways of living and embrace a new life in Him. We are called to leave behind our past mistakes, sins, and regrets and embark on a journey of transformation and growth in Christ.
Just like Abraham, your journey with God requires you to trust Him fully and rely on His guidance and direction. Abraham had to trust God even when the journey was difficult and uncertain. Similarly, you must trust God in all circumstances and trust that His plans for your life are good and perfect. Your journey with God may not always be easy, but you can be assured that God will never leave you or forsake you. Just like Abraham, God has called you to a journey of faith that requires you to trust Him fully and step out in obedience to His calling. So, embrace the journey that God has called you to, knowing that He is with you every step of the way.
You Will Make Mistakes, Just Like Abraham.
You will make mistakes. We all do. The trick is to learn from them and move on, and up toward Heaven. Here are Abraham’s failures along with the corresponding references:
- Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister instead of his wife, which put her in danger (Gen 12:10-20; Genesis 20:1-18). In contrast, it’s unlikely you’ve told a whopper that big.
- Abraham took Hagar as a concubine and had a child with her, going against God’s plan for him and Sarah (Gen 16:1-16). Again, I’m hoping you’re not in his league on this one either. But, if you are, keep reading anyway. It’s easy to get impatient or jump the gun on God’s plans for you.
- Abraham failed to trust God’s promise of a son and tried to fulfill it through his own efforts by having a child with Hagar (Gen 16:1-16; Gen 17:15-21).
What is My Inheritance?
As a believer in Christ, you have been given an incredible inheritance. This inheritance includes eternal life (John 3:16), forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7), and adoption into God’s family (Gal 4:5). You have been made a co-heir with Christ (Rom 8:17), meaning that you will share in the glory and blessings that Christ has received from the Father. This inheritance is not something that you have earned or deserved, but it is a gift of God’s grace (Eph 2:8-9). Because of this inheritance, you can have confidence in your future and hope in your present circumstances, knowing that your ultimate destiny is secure in Christ.
In addition to this, your inheritance also includes spiritual blessings and resources that are available to you today. Also, you have been given the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14), Who empowers you to live a godly life and gives you spiritual gifts to use for the benefit of others (1 Cor 12:7-11).
Likewise, you have been given access to God through prayer (Heb 4:16) and the ability to understand the mysteries of God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:12-14). As you grow in your relationship with Christ and walk in obedience to Him, you will discover more and more of the abundant life that is available to you as a child of God (John 10:10).
Conclusion
So, now it’s your turn. What do you think? What are you struggling with? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time…
God Bless,
DonR
Dave
Wow, marvelous weblog format! How lengthy have you been running a blog for?