Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Those who are of faith are the children of Abraham, counted as Abraham's seed and inheritors of the covenant promises through Christ. This includes believers from among the Gentiles, who belong to Abraham's family and share the promises through Christ, and it is not established by physical descent or circumcision, nor by taking on Jewish national customs and ceremonial requirements. Zaccheus was recognized as a son of Abraham because he received Christ as his personal Saviour, even though he was condemned as a sinner by the religious leaders. Steadfast women who remain firm in their profession of faith are counted as faithful daughters of Abraham, as Sister Haskell and Sister Wheeler were.
Being of faith means having Abraham's kind of believing faith, a faith that is counted for righteousness and makes one the friend of God. That belonging is shown in the heart and in a righteous life through Christ's grace, and is made manifest by works and obedience. That faith was made perfect when Abraham offered Isaac on the altar, with faith working together with his works. It is proved by doing the works of Abraham and by obeying God's voice and keeping His charge, commandments, statutes, and laws, for genuine faith is not believing alone while having nothing to do with keeping the law, faith without works is dead, and love to God is shown by keeping His commandments.
Remaining a child of Abraham is compatible with keeping the Ten Commandments while distinguishing living faith from dead formalism. The Jewish ceremonial rites, ceremonies, and sacrifices served as types pointing to Christ and His death and reached their fulfillment in His coming, so they are not required. Paul remained a child of Abraham while keeping the Ten Commandments, yet knew the rites had been fulfilled in Christ.
Though Israel according to the flesh failed the high destiny to which God had called them to become the light of the world, and in unbelief despised God's mercy and forfeited their blessings as His chosen people, God has not cast off the seed of Abraham, for the glorious purposes He undertook to accomplish through Israel are to be fulfilled. That fulfillment comes when all who through Christ become children of faith inherit the promises. Like Abraham, those who become children of faith are called to guard and to make known to the world the law of God and the gospel of His Son. They trust in the One whose day Abraham saw from afar, and their example should accord with the light and privileges they have received, so that the light of the gospel shines out through the disciples of Jesus to those in darkness and thousands from Gentile lands flock to the brightness of its rising, which is the increase and prosperity of Israel.
The verse belongs to the teaching on the law in Galatians over which there are differences of opinion, and those differences are not vital questions. The vital question is whether believers are Christians with a Christian spirit, true, open, and frank with one another, and even where the truth on this subject is held it sanctifies only when its fruits are after Christ's order. The truth on this subject will bear investigation and criticism without tottering and falling, so every person should investigate the Scriptures to know what the Lord says and to give a reason for the hope within with meekness and fear.
Those who are of faith are the children of Abraham, counted as Abraham's seed and inheritors of the covenant promises through Christ. This includes believers from among the Gentiles, who belong to Abraham's family and share the promises through Christ, and it is not established by physical descent or circumcision, nor by taking on Jewish national customs and ceremonial requirements. Zaccheus was recognized as a son of Abraham because he received Christ as his personal Saviour, even though he was condemned as a sinner by the religious leaders. Steadfast women who remain firm in their profession of faith are counted as faithful daughters of Abraham, as Sister Haskell and Sister Wheeler were.
Being of faith means having Abraham's kind of believing faith, a faith that is counted for righteousness and makes one the friend of God. That belonging is shown in the heart and in a righteous life through Christ's grace, and is made manifest by works and obedience. That faith was made perfect when Abraham offered Isaac on the altar, with faith working together with his works. It is proved by doing the works of Abraham and by obeying God's voice and keeping His charge, commandments, statutes, and laws, for genuine faith is not believing alone while having nothing to do with keeping the law, faith without works is dead, and love to God is shown by keeping His commandments.
Remaining a child of Abraham is compatible with keeping the Ten Commandments while distinguishing living faith from dead formalism. The Jewish ceremonial rites, ceremonies, and sacrifices served as types pointing to Christ and His death and reached their fulfillment in His coming, so they are not required. Paul remained a child of Abraham while keeping the Ten Commandments, yet knew the rites had been fulfilled in Christ.
Though Israel according to the flesh failed the high destiny to which God had called them to become the light of the world, and in unbelief despised God's mercy and forfeited their blessings as His chosen people, God has not cast off the seed of Abraham, for the glorious purposes He undertook to accomplish through Israel are to be fulfilled. That fulfillment comes when all who through Christ become children of faith inherit the promises. Like Abraham, those who become children of faith are called to guard and to make known to the world the law of God and the gospel of His Son. They trust in the One whose day Abraham saw from afar, and their example should accord with the light and privileges they have received, so that the light of the gospel shines out through the disciples of Jesus to those in darkness and thousands from Gentile lands flock to the brightness of its rising, which is the increase and prosperity of Israel.
The verse belongs to the teaching on the law in Galatians over which there are differences of opinion, and those differences are not vital questions. The vital question is whether believers are Christians with a Christian spirit, true, open, and frank with one another, and even where the truth on this subject is held it sanctifies only when its fruits are after Christ's order. The truth on this subject will bear investigation and criticism without tottering and falling, so every person should investigate the Scriptures to know what the Lord says and to give a reason for the hope within with meekness and fear.