p. 326 | The Sabbath-School

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 28, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 21.

The Sabbath-School.

LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—JUNE 20.

Inheritance of the Saints.

REVIEW.

1. To whom were the promises made? "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Gal. 3:16.

2. From which one of Abraham's sons was the seed to be reckoned? "And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called." Gen. 21:12. "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children; but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called." Rom. 9:7.

3. To whom did the expression "the seed" specifically refer? "He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." Gal. 3:16.

4. Then what must one be to be one of Abraham's children? "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal. 3:29.

5. If we are heirs, with whom are we joint-heirs? "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Rom. 8:17.

6. Does the fact that one is a literal descendant of Abraham, make him an heir of the promise? "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance; and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Matt. 3:7-9. "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children; but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." Rom. 9:7, 8.

7. What does mark one as a child of Abraham? "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal. 3:29. "They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham." John 8:39.

8. What were the works of Abraham? "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." Gen. 26:5.

9. Then, according to Gal. 3:29, what will characterize the follower of Christ? Since to be of the seed of Abraham is to be Christ's, and none are the children of Abraham except those who do his works, which are defined in Gen. 26:5, it follows that to be Christ's one must keep the commandments of God.

10. What other thing did Abraham possess in a marked degree? "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Gal. 3:6.

11. Then what must all his children possess? "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Gal. 3:7.

12. What New Testament verse gives a brief but complete description of the children of Abraham? "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12.