So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
Galatians 3:9

. . . that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:14

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. {29} And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:28-29

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
Galatians 4:28

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.
Romans 4:16

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
Romans 4:13

That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Romans 9:8

. . . having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
1 Peter 1:23

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Galatians 6:16

ABRAHAM
Model of Virtue

And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed,
and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:29

Believe the Good News!

Congratulations! If you are a Christian, you are a son of Abraham (see the sidebar, at left). Perhaps you haven't been as dedicated to this task as you should have been. The purpose of this page is to inspire you to follow Abraham. Ask God now to motivate you to do so. The Patriarch Abraham should be your model. Strive to be a son of Abraham.

The Rewards of Virtue

Because of his obedience to God, Abraham was a success. He was entrusted with great wealth. God knew that Abraham would use it wisely.

"Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold" (Genesis 13:2).

"The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. (Genesis 24:35)

"Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him." (Isaiah 51:2)

God entrusted Abraham with great wealth because He knew Abraham would be a good steward. Abraham and Sarah believed that they were created by God to exercise dominion and hospitality. They took literally hundreds of people "off the streets." They had faith in God. That's what Sarah and Abraham stood for. That's what they were all about. Faith.

Faith is the answer to our problems. Abraham is an inspiration to us all. All of our silly little problems fade into insignificance compared to the greatness of Abraham - because of his faith; because of the God in whom he had faith.

Abraham had good character traits. He had developed good habits. He obeyed God immediately, whenever his conscience prompted him to do something. Abraham was a man of Faith. That's what every Christian can be. We can't be men of action until we are men of Faith.

That means you need to believe the Gospel, the "good news."

And that means you need to read the Scriptures.

Abraham Heard the Gospel

Many Christians think the "Gospel" can only be found in the New Testament, and all those funny guys in the Old Testament just didn't have it.

They probably think that because they don't even know what the "Gospel" is.

Galatians 3:8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."

I love this verse. Notice the following:

1. "The Scripture preached the Gospel." Well, in the Book of Genesis we read about Abraham hearing the Gospel, but it's not like the Book of Genesis preached to Abraham. But God did. And to speak about the Scripture is as good as speaking about God. The Bible is the Word of God.

2. The "Good News" [ = "gospel"] which Abraham heard was not just for Israel. It was a global gospel. This is a big planet, and God has big plans for it. If I get out of my own little world of self, there's a lot to rejoice in.

3. So what is the "Good News"? Blessings to every nation. That's the Gospel, according to God. I mean the Scripture. I mean God.

4. So what are "blessings"? Well, there are two places in the Bible that really spell it out clearly. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 are long lists of "blessings" (and "curses") which God promises to those who believe (and to those who hate) the Gospel.* Here's a summary of the blessings in Deuteronomy 28:

1. Set thee on high above all peoples of the earth. (v. 1)
2. Blessed in the city (v. 3)
3. Blessed in the fields (v. 3)
4. Blessed children (v. 4)
5. Blessed crops (v. 4)
6. Blessed livestock (v. 4)
7. Blessed granaries (v. 5)
8. Blessed bakeries (v. 5)
9. Successful business (v. 6)
10. Peaceful International relations (v. 7)
11. Abundance in the barns (v. 8)
12. Success in every activity (v. 8)
13. Enemies at peace with us (v. 10)
14. Abundant goods (v. 11)
15. Abundant children (v. 11)
16. Abundant cattle (v. 11)
17. Lots to eat (v. 11)
18. His good treasure (v. 12)
19. Adequate rain (v. 12)
20. Business success (v. 12)
21. Debts paid (v. 12)
22. Investments (v. 12)
23. Respect (v. 13)

Well, I have to say that's GOOD NEWS!

Abraham believed God

James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

I want to be the "friend of God." If God is my Friend, there is no enemy I have to worry about.

When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Proverbs 16:7

But I have to focus on God and His "blueprints" for my life. I will fail if I look to blueprints made by the government, the media, the multi-national corporations, or any other big, trendy, powerful institution.

Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham is not a model for Jews alone. He is a model for me as well.

Romans 4:1-22 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? {2} For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. {3} For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." {4} Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. {5} But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, {6} just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: {7} "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; {8} Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." {9} Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. {10} How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. {11} And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, {12} and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. {13} 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. {14} For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, {15} because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. {16} Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all {17} (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed; God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; {18} who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." {19} And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. {20} He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, {21} and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. {22} And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Abraham's Faith meant Obedience to God's Commands

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. {9} By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: {10} For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. {18} Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: {19} Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Many people today believe that "law" is bad, and "commands" are not a good thing. But Abraham knew that God's Law was more valuable than gold and silver. Abraham knew that God's Law was a light to bring us out of darkness, and a power to set us free from the slavery of sin.

Find out more about God's Law.

God can Create more Sons and Daughters of Abraham

Being a lineal descendant of Abraham is not the ticket. What we need is to be spiritual descendants of Abraham.

Matthew 3:9  "Do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones."

That is to say, being a genetic, physical descendant of Abraham is not the issue.** What's important is believing God's Gospel, and being a man of faith.

The Promises to Abraham are Promises to Us

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

Galatians 3:6-18 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." {7} Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. {8} And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." {9} So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. {10} For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." {11} But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." {12} Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." {13} Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), {14} that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. {15} Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. {16} Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. {17} And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. {18} For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Luke 1:68-75 "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, {69} And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, {70} As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, {71} That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us, {72} To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, {73} The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: {74} To grant us that we, Being delivered from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, {75} In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

Luke 13:16-17 "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound; think of it; for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" {17} And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

We are Sons of Abraham

Galatians 4:22-31 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. {23} But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, {24} which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar; {25} for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children; {26} but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. {27} For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband." {28} Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. {29} But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. {30} Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman." {31} So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the freewoman.

Hebrews 12:18-24 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, {19} and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. {22} But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, {23} to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, {24} to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

True Children of Abraham Obey God's Law

Luke 19:8-9 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." {9} And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;

Here are the traits of a Godly Patriarch.

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Overthrow the Empire of Darkness: Learn about God's Law

* Isn't that interesting? The "gospel" is "blessings," which are given to those who believe the good news that blessings will be given to those who believe . . . it's kind of a circle. That's why I started out by saying that the pre-requisite is that you have to want to be happy. You have to want to be blessed. You have to want to be virtuous. Otherwise you are not believing the Gospel. Because the Good News is that the whole world will be Blessed. [back to text]

** No pun intended. [back to text]