Galatians 3:7
7 Know ye [ginosko] therefore [ara] that [hoti] they which are
of [ek] faith, [pistis] the same [houtos] are [eisi] the children [huios] of
Abraham. [Abraam] KJV-Interlinear
7 Therefore, be sure that it is
those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. NASB
One of the biggest boasts of culture is the claim
to being a descendant of someone they recognize as great within their culture.
This is no less true in the Jewish race. Even the Muslims claim Abraham as being their
father and the beginning of their faith.
With the Jews, Abraham was the go-to figure when
they wanted to prove a point, even if their point was wrong. Somehow just associating a recognized name
seems to give credibility to an opinion, any opinion, especially to those who
are ignorant of the famous person’s true beliefs or deeds.
And it is that case here.
Abraham set the standard for all generations that
follow with respect to the formation and narrowing of the line of Christ.
Adam set the standard in faith as he believed and
that belief was evidenced by the clothes from animal skins which he wore. Those skins came off of dead animals,
needless to say, the animals died in the sacrifice ritual that taught the principles
of the savior who would crush the head of evil (the serpent).
Abraham set the standard in faith and distinguished
the difference between faith and works, making faith the foundation of the
spiritual life, and rejecting mans works as the evil distraction from life.
Now, God promised that, in him all nations would be
blessed.
That statement has a two-fold purpose. In him as a descendant, the Messiah would come. But also, in him as the pattern of faith, all
who pursue faith likewise have the right to call him father as he set the
pattern of faith for us.
Abraham did not sire us all. We all came out of Noah through his three
sons, but most of us did not descend out of Abraham. Our family trees came out of innumerable lines
that are unrelated to Abraham.
But genealogy is not the topic here, faith is.
By faith we are saved. By faith we are born into the family of God. By faith we receive eternal life. By faith we learn and understand and grow in
our spiritual life. By faith our spiritual
lives function as they should.
And faith comes from only one source, which is
doctrine, which must be learned and understood and used before it becomes effective
and successful in your life.
