MONDAY February 22, 2021

The Blessing of Abraham

…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

The Apostle Paul taught the truth about salvation. Salvation was intended for the Jews and also for the Gentiles––salvation was not exclusive. Remember, Paul rebuked Peter and the Judaizers for their hypocritical adherence to legalism in favor of the Jews in the church (Galatians 2:11-13).

Before Jesus came to earth, Abraham, in his life’s example, had given a proclamation of salvation to follow, “the just shall live by faith.” Abraham was a heathen; his father Terah worshiped the moon (Joshua 24:2). Yet God called Abraham and saved him. In Abraham, all the nations of the earth are blessed (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 18:18). Abraham became the Father of the Faith.

God saves people from all over the world, not just the Jews. Spiritually speaking, as Christians we have become sons and daughters of God (Galatians 3:6-7). Paul gave Scriptures to help believers understand that faith in Jesus Christ alone saves them. He also presented to them, the Law as a curse: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatian 3:13). Paul was referencing back to the Old Testament Scripture: “ ‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them’ ” (Deuteronomy 27:26).

If we, like the Jews, try to be saved by keeping the Law, we will remain under the curse of the Law. The problem is no one can keep the letter perfectly. Have you ever kept all the Ten Commandants perfectly? None of us can! Thank God for Abraham’s faith, and thank God for Jesus Christ coming to die for us on the Cross! Why? Salvation is for anyone who comes by faith to Christ for the Jew and for the Gentile.

When Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr, or the blood of one man for another; it was the life of God poured out to redeem the world.
~Oswald Chambers~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!