The Apostle Paul, in his letters to the Galatians and Romans, expounds on the legacy of faith exemplified by Abraham and how it perpetuates through his spiritual offspring. The faithful are identified as the seed of Abraham, and as his lineage, we are destined to inherit the blessings promised by God. This spiritual inheritance is founded on the principles of faith and grace rather than the works of the Law.
In Galatians 3:29, it is declared, "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." This profound statement encapsulates the Blood Covenant belief that alignment with Christ situates believers as direct heirs to God's promises to Abraham. The Abrahamic covenant's blessings, full of promises of prosperity and favor, are not limited to his direct physical descendants but are extended to all who have faith in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 4:1 further explains this heirship by drawing a parallel with a child who is to inherit yet waits until the appointed time. Although the heir is a master of all, he is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. This articulates a period of waiting and growth before the believer can fully inherit God's promises.
The promise given to Abraham and his offspring is discussed again in Galatians 3:18, emphasizing that it is not through the Law but through the righteousness of faith that we become heirs: "For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise." Apostle Paul redirects the focus from human effort via adherence to the Law to the divine gift given to Abraham through God's promise.
Bringing further insight, Romans 4:13 states: "For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith." Here, Paul delineates that the scope of the promise transcends national boundaries or ethnic lines; it is global and all-encompassing, made accessible through faith to all who believe.
Other scriptures echo the theme of faith and grace as the conduits for inheriting God's promises. Ephesians 2:8 underscores this: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."
Furthermore, James 2:23 adds richness to this understanding as it recalls, "And the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness'—and he was called a friend of God."
These verses converge to form a clear allegation: believers in Christ, as the seed of Abraham, receive the blessings promised to him. Abraham's faith is the same through which believers, regardless of lineage, are grafted into the lavish legacy of God's blessings. It is an inheritance not earned but graciously given, a divine endowment that transcends human qualification, cementing every believer's place as a cherished heir to the covenant blessings of God.
by TD Brewer