Inheriting the blessing of Abraham through Christ

Inheriting the blessing of Abraham through Christ

Galatians 3:29 says: “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

What is it look like to be the Children or heir of Abrham through Christ?

Galatians 3: 7 – “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.”

Romans 4:16 – “ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.”

We as Christians are inheriting the promise of Abraham through Christ.

What is Abraham’s Original Promise: Through the Lens of the book of Genesis

When God called Abraham (then his name was Abram) out of paganism – idol worshipping, God made an unconditional covenant that shaped the rest of human history. 

There are 4 steps to understand the Promise Scripture: 

Step 1

A. The original promise can be found in the book of Genesis in the following chapters:

1. Chapter 12: Verse 1-3,
2. Chapter 15: Verses 5-6 and
3. Chapter 17: Verses 1-8. 
4. The Call of Abram

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

² “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”

1. Genesis 15:5-6 – New International Version

⁵ He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

⁶ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 17:1-8

New International Version

1. The Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. ² Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

³ Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, ⁴ “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. ⁵ No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. ⁶ I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. ⁷ I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. ⁸ The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

God promised three foundational elements:

• A Multiplied Seed (offspring):  God promised that Abraham’s descendants would be as countless as the stars in the night sky (Genesis 15:5).  He was promised to become the “father of many nations” (Genesis 17:4)
• The Land (Inheritance): God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham’s offspring as an everlasting possession – Genesis 17:8
• The Universal Broader Blessing:  God said, “I will bless you and make your name great….and in you all families of the earth shall be blessed” – Genesis 12:2-3.  This was the global mandate; the blessing was never meant to stay confined to one bloodline.  This is why believers are considered as one family in Christ. 

Step 2:

B. How Jesus Christ fulfils this Promise

Throughout the Old Testament books, the history of Israel reveals that Abraham’s biological descendants struggled to keep God’s laws, eventually falling under the “Curse of the Law” due to disobedience.  Jesus Christ step into history to completely fulfil what man could not. 

• He is “the Seed” – Singular Seed: 

In Galatians 3:16 – New International Version

¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.

Paul here points out a profound grammatical detail in the Genesis Promise.  “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.  Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds.’ Meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.”

Jesus Christ is the ultimate, focal-point heir of Abraham. 

• Jesus Christ Absorbed the Curse:  To unlock the blessings for the world, Jesus had to remove the legal barrier of Sin. 

Galatians 3:13 – New International Version

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

By hanging on the Cross, He paid the debt of our failures/trespasses/Sin, which displayed highest form of Agape Love toward mankind.  He is our Redeemer and redeemed us through His death and death on the Cross. 

• Jesus Christ Opens the Door to the World:  Because Jesus is the True Heir, anyone who belongs to Jesus Christ is automatically grafted into this inheritance.  He fulfilled the promise that “all nations” would be blessed by making salvation global.

Step 3

C. How, We Christians Inherit This Promise:

As a Christian, our inheritance of Abraham’s blessings happens by our proximity and bonding through our union with Jesus.  We do not earn it by our ancestral records or by performing any religious practices. 

• Inherited by Faith, not of Flesh:  Galatians 3:7 New International Version

               “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.  Just as in

               Genesis 15:6 – New International Version

                              ⁶ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

               We, Christians also inherit righteousness as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ.

• We have the Spiritual Citizenship:  When we become the true descendant, Galatians 3:29 established our legal right. “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  Another translation says this way, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
• The Promised Land Now Expands to the Kingdom:  While the physical land of Canaan was the focus in the Old Testament promised Land, The New Testament reveals a grandeur fulfilment through Christ.  Abraham himself looked forward to an eternal, heavenly city – Hebrews 11:10.  In Christ, we now inherit our citizenship in the unshakable Kingdom of God and the renewal of all Creation as said in Matthew 5:5. 

Step 4

D. How, We Christians Follow on In Our Lives with This Blessing:

• Walk by Faith, Not by Sight:  Abraham left his homeland without knowing where he was going, simply trusting God’s voice – Hebrews 11:8.  Following on in this blessing means, simply living with an active, trusting obedience – taking God at His Word even when circumstances look impossible.
• Live as a Conduit, not a Reservoir: This means we Christians must believe that we are not a taker but a Giver, not to be blessed but to bless others. The mandate remains: “I will bless you….and you will be a blessing” – Genesis 12:2.  We do not experience God’s favour, peace and material or spiritual provision just to hoard it.  We are called to bless the family of Christ, the Church and His ministers who do his works.  We ought to be blessings to those who are hurt, who are in need, who are sick both in our community and in our workplace. 
• Operate in the Power of the Holy Spirit:  We ought to remember Galatians 3:14 0 the tangible form Abraham’s blessing in our lives today is the indwelling Holy Spirit.  We should live our lives out of divine empowerment, utilizing the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit to manifest God’s Kingdom on earth.