SON OF ABRAHAM

Once our Lord’s royal claim to reign is verified, the good news of His pedigree of blessing is established. It was to Abraham and the chosen seed of Isaac and Jacob (Israel) that the promise was given, ‘in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed’, Gen. 22.18. As the son of Abraham, Jesus Christ is God’s answer for the blessing to all nations.

This blessing, however, is on a spiritual level, not a physical one. In chapter 1, the link with Abraham is seen to be essential for the Messiah. But, in chapter 3, natural descent from Abraham is of no value in itself. John the Baptist told the physical seed of Abraham, the Jews, not to trust in their pedigree of having Abraham as their father. For, John taught, ‘God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham’, Matt. 3. 9. They, the Jews, needed to repent of their sins.

Galatians chapter 3 declares that the blessing for all nations is justification by faith: a sinner being declared righteous apart from any meritorious works or rituals, and becoming a recipient of new life. That new life is when God, the Holy Spirit, comes into the heart. Now those of any nationality who are ‘in Christ’, since Jesus Christ is ‘the son of Abraham’, have indeed become, through faith, ‘Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise’, Gal. 3. 29.

Matthew chapter 1 verse 17 brings before us three generational divisions. The first is from Abraham to David. There we have the patriarchs in the formation of the nation of Israel who will bring blessing to all nations. The great truths of redemption and justification are learned, Exod. 12; Gen. 15. 6. The tabernacle, God’s dwelling place, is central among His people.

The second division is from David to the Babylonian captivity. There we have the ministry of the prophets and the truth of sanctification as they call the people to holiness. Solomon’s temple is now God’s dwelling place.

The third division is from the captivity to Christ. Here we have God’s preservation of His people. The rebuilt temple is now the central place. But the Lord Jesus Christ, the ‘Son of Abraham’ is come and now ‘Christ is all, and in all’, Col. 3. 11.