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Q2. Children of Abraham


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Paul's argument for salvation by faith based on Abraham was, Abraham believed God's promise and it was credited to him as righteousness.

By faith alone Abraham believed God's promise to him.

We are "children of Abraham" in the sense that God promise Abraham that all nations through him would be blessed. Jesus is part of Abraham's ancestry. When a gentile accepts Christ,he becomes adopted into the family of God.

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Q2. (Galatians 3:6-9) What is Paul’s argument for salvation by faith based on Abraham? In what sense are we “children of Abraham”?

Abraham was justified by faith in a promise for life - an heir. At this point it was seemingly possible in the natural for Abraham to produce an heir, yet Abraham believed what God said; he believed God’s Word. If we believe God’s Word, we too are justified by faith in a God who does what He says He will do. We believe that God has given us salvation and righteousness through faith in His Son.

We are children of Abraham when we believe God’s at His Word. His Word states that Jesus is the only way to the Father, that we "are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ".

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  • 2 weeks later...

What is Paul's argument for salvation by faith based on Abraham? In what sense are we "children of Abraham"?

Galatians 3:6-9 ¶ Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Abraham is like a favorite hero so Paul uses him to get his point across. Some might think Abraham to be a role model of legalism but they would be wrong. Some might think that Abraham is the father of the Jews but this would be incorrect as well.

Abraham is the father of all who have faith. 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. 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: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Abraham had the understanding of the law by faith where others fell short, lacking faith and turned away from God. but make no mistake about it, Abraham is the father of us all. Abraham trusted in God and was faithful to Him, and that was accredited to his account as righteousness.

Paul makes it clear that no actions that Abraham did apart from trusting in God ever gave him one iota of righteousness or credit towards his account.

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  • 7 months later...

2a)Paul is saying that as Abraham was justified by believing Gods promise to him, which was credited to him as righteousness, we too are righteous and justified through our living faith in Jesus alone, our salvation is assured,we just need to believe and trust in Gods amazing promises

B)We are Abrahams spiritual children,God said all those who believe from all nations, are children of Abraham,God said Abraham would be the father of many nations Genesis 3:7, 18:18 Jesus is part of Abraham’s ancestry.As believers in Christ we are adopted sons &daughters of God.

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Abraham believed in God and the power of God and the love of God. He never had any formal training in religion or worship. He lived his life in a way that brought honor to God. He was able to have faith in the unknown. And this enabled him to get grace for his goodness. We are mostly Gentiles that believe in God and Jesus even though we were not of the Jewish faith. Abraham was the first and we take after him.

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  • 8 months later...

Q2. (Galatians 3:6-9) What is Paul’s argument for salvation by faith based on Abraham? In what sense are we “children of Abraham”?

Paul's argument for salvation by faith based on Abraham is that by faith he believed God and that was accredited to him as righteousness.

It is through Abraham that we are his spiritual children because, just as he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness, so we too who believe in Christ and what he has done for us, it is accredited to us as righteousness.     

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  • 1 year later...

Q2. (Galatians 3:6-9) What is Paul's argument for salvation by faith based on Abraham? In what sense are we "children of Abraham"?

Abraham's faith in God is without question. It is well established throughout Genesis. Justification was given to Abraham due to his faith (Gen 15:6). All nations are blessed through Abraham. Christ is the seed of Abraham whose crucifixion and resurrection secured God's grace for all nations. By believing in Christ we become the spiritual children of Abraham. 

 

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  • 3 months later...

ARGUMENT FOR JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN LOOKING AT ABRAHAM: Abraham modeled the work of faith - he believed in God's ability to perform what was promised; accepted by God as righteous and so the patriarch was justified before he was circumcised; provision made for all nations as well as only those who have faith to receive the blessing of justification; Paul turned to an example from scripture to support his teaching of salvation by faith alone; Abraham's belief was the precedent over legal circumcision - considered righteous because he believed God; exemplified faith in God when he responded in faith, he was not saved by the deeds of the law; leading trait in the character of Abraham - trusting God regardless; he illustrated the truth of justification is by faith alone - challenged to be a witness to all; he completely and unquestionably trusted God - proof he did what God said (believed and obeyed); gave life totally to God

WE ARE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM: being a descendant of Abraham, Jews believed they were automatically the people of God because of their heritage; all people who believe are declared righteous because of their faith in Christ; belief is the first and only step to salvation; it was God who planned from the beginning to justify Gentiles by faith - response required means an active trust or commitment; personally rely on him which parallel the response of Abraham through Christ; God made the blessing available to all who would imitate Abraham's obedient belief in God; sufficient for salvation to say we are the children of Abraham; true sons of Abraham are those who believe God; those who are of faith are judged righteous with Abraham - all an act of God - God takes a man's faith and counts that man's faith as righteousness

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  • 4 years later...

Basically those who exercise faith--like Abraham... exercise faith in God, partake with him in the same salvation which he received from God.  We the saints of God are blessed with salvation, rather than those who depend upon good works.

A true principle---God's rule of action on the basis of which He operates for all time. Justification occurs by faith not by the Law of Moses.  Abraham was justified by faith prior to circumcision.  We Gentiles become spiritual children of Abraham by like faith, not by circumcision.   For time and eternity, our guilt and penalties incurred are removed; we are now RIGHTEOUS.  By the grace of the Holy Spirit, we partake of the divine nature and life; Christ the eternal Word of God "deifies" us; we go from glory to glory.  Our good works are results of Christ's inward workings us toward outworkings in our daily lives.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Paul, a Pharisee, would have known that Abraham's status as a Jew was a contentious topic for Jews count their origin at the time the Torah and the supposed 613 commandments were given -- Jews started with Moses, that is. Some Jews say that Abraham was the first Jew based on something called the "noahide laws" of which there are only six or seven. These laws apply to all humanity.

So, in arguing with Jews about the inclusion of gentiles, Paul may have been making the point that just as Abraham is deemed a Jew because he followed the vague noahide laws (which was enough to please God) so are gentiles included for the same reason. Abraham's goodness (not faith) is what most Jews point to when they talk about him. We, obviously, point to his faith. "Consider Abraham: 'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." We stress the "believed" part of that verse sentence; Jews stress the righteousness part.

Abraham had many descendants before the time of Moses. Some of them, like Abraham, were accepted by god because of their faith. "Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham."

Now Paul says that the SCRIPTURE foresaw that God would justify the gentiles by faith. The scripture?  Does this refer to the Torah or later Jewish teachings and laws (Midrash, Mishnah, etc.)? The Scripture is strangely personified in Paul's argument. It "announces" the gospel "in advance" to Abraham as if it were human. It may be God. God, knowing the future, tells Abraham what will happen through him -- "all nations will be blessed."

So, we/gentiles are children of Abraham because we have the same faith in God that Abraham had, the faith that existed before the Mosaic laws.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

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