There are claims by some preachers that Jews will be saved even if they deny Jesus, prompting the need to ask who the seed of Abraham are.
Share
There are claims by some preachers that Jews will be saved even if they deny Jesus. Let's ask the question “who are the seed of Abraham?”
1. There is the Seed of Abraham (Seed being singular).
2. There is the seed of Abraham physically (descendants of Abraham according to the flesh).
3. There is the seed of Abraham spiritually (those who, like Abraham, have faith in God).
In the first case, the (singular) Seed of Abraham is Christ, as Galatians 3:16, quoting Genesis 12:7, says, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ (singular) meaning one person, who is Christ.” This inheritance was promised to Abraham’s Seed (Christ) apart from the Law. Later, the Mosaic Law was introduced, but it did not annul the promises made to Abraham or to Abraham’s Seed (Christ).
"If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).
The seed of Abraham can also refer to the Hebrew people who descended from Abraham through Isaac. Still more broadly, the seed of Abraham could include Arabs, who trace their lineage through Ishmael. This is the physical seed of Abraham. The spiritual seed of Abraham, all believers in Jesus Christ, is comprised of people of all nationalities and ethnicities.
The Jewish religious leaders of the first century took pride in that they were Abraham’s seed. They saw their physical connection to Abraham as a guarantee of God’s favor. This attitude kept them from seeing their need for repentance of the heart—and brought condemnation from John the Baptist, who warned them to repent.
“Do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham” (Matthew 3:9).
Jesus dealt with the same issue later. In speaking to the unbelieving Jews, Jesus emphasized their need to receive his words as truth and obey his commands. They replied, “We be Abraham’s seed” (John 8:33KJV). Jesus then rebukes them for plotting ways to murder him.
“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 KJV)
Their stubborn response was again, “Abraham is our father” (verse 39a). At this, Jesus makes a distinction between the physical seed of Abraham and the true, spiritual seed of Abraham: “If you were Abraham’s children . . . then you would do what Abraham did” (verse 39b). The conversation heats up. “Are you greater than our father Abraham?” they ask Jesus (verse 53). Jesus replies “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad” (verse 56).
“Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”(John 8:58 KJV) Jesus Christ is from all eternity. He have existed before all ages. He has an existence before Abraham’s days.
The Jews are incredulous that Jesus would claim to be a contemporary of Abraham, and that’s when Jesus brings the exchange to the ultimate conclusion ". . . before Abraham was born, I am!” (verse 58).
Being the physical seed of Abraham is not enough—they had to be born again (John 3:3).
Selie Visa