The idea of being a “child of Abraham” is a central theme that spans the entirety of scripture, beginning in Genesis 12 and continuing throughout the rest of Scripture and Apostolic doctrine. For Gentile believers in Jesus (Yeshua), understanding this connection is crucial for knowing our identity and living accordingly. In this article, I will demonstrate that being a child of Abraham transcends ethnicity. Instead, it hinges on faith and living in the way Abraham did.
The Call of Abraham: Genesis 12
Our journey begins in Genesis 12, where God calls Abram (later renamed Abraham) and makes a foundational covenant with him. In Genesis 12:1-3, God promises Abram three things:
- He will become a great nation,
- God will bless those who bless him, and
- All the families of the earth will be blessed through him.
These promises form the backbone of the Abrahamic Covenant and are essential in understanding who the children of Abraham are. It is important to recognise that this covenant is not limited to Abraham’s physical descendants but extends to all who come into the covenant through faith.
The Sign of Faith and Obedience
Abraham’s faith was tested multiple times, perhaps most dramatically in Genesis 22 when he was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Through obedience, Abraham demonstrated his unwavering faith in God’s promises, believing that even if Isaac were to die, God could still fulfill His covenant.
Genesis 15:6 says, “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” This moment, when Abram believed in the promise of descendants as numerous as the stars, is pivotal. It declares that faith, not just lineage, is the key to being considered righteous before God. This principle took Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, at least 14 to 17 years from his conversion to fully develop and seek approval for his gospel message, which included the principle of justification by faith, as seen in Genesis 15:6. This wasn’t an instantaneous revelation but a process of deep reflection, study, and confirmation with the council in Jerusalem.
The Role of Gentiles in Abraham’s Promise
The promise made to Abraham—that “all the families of the earth” would be blessed through him—hints at the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan. Though the covenant begins with Israel, it was always meant to bless the whole world. Gentile believers are drawn into this story through faith and are grafted into the greater commonwealth of Israel.
Yeshua’s Teaching on Abraham’s Children
In the Gospels, Yeshua addresses the issue of who the true children of Abraham are. In John 8:37-39, Yeshua challenges the Pharisees, saying, “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” The Pharisees replied, “Abraham is our father.” Yeshua said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did.”
Here, Yeshua distinguishes between physical descendants of Abraham and true spiritual descendants. The true children of Abraham are those who, like Abraham, listen to and obey God’s word. In this context, faith and faithfulness—not lineage—determine who is truly a child of Abraham.
Paul’s Explanation in Galatians
Paul’s writings in Galatians 3 further clarify the role of Gentiles in relation to Abraham’s promises. Galatians 3:7-9 states, “Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”
Paul links the faith of Abraham to the faith of those who follow Yeshua. Gentiles who place their faith in Yeshua are considered children of Abraham because they share in the same kind of trust and obedience that Abraham exhibited. The faith Paul speaks of is not abstract; it is rooted in the promises of God, which Abraham believed and acted upon.
Romans 4: Faith Beyond Conversion
In Romans 4, Paul explains that Abraham was justified by faith before the giving of the Torah (the Law), making him the father of both Jews and Gentiles who believe. Romans 4:11-12 states, “And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.”
Paul argues that righteousness comes through faith, not by works of the Law (IMPORTANT: “Works of the law” does not refer to following the Torah, but rather to practices such as circumcision that identify one as Jewish). Abraham, though circumcised later, was declared righteous while uncircumcised—proving that it is faith, not ritual, that defines one’s relationship with God. For Gentiles, this is especially significant because it shows that we are grafted into the family of Abraham by faith alone, without needing to become Jewish by birth or conversion.
Abraham’s Legacy of Hospitality, Faith, and Kindness
Being a child of Abraham involves more than faith alone. Abraham’s life was marked by key traits—hospitality, kindness, and faith—that serve as a model for all believers.
In Genesis 18, Abraham welcomes three strangers, who turn out to be angels. His quick response to offer them food and shelter shows the importance of welcoming others, not just into our homes but into our lives. Hospitality in Abraham’s example extends beyond convenience—it’s an intentional act of care, rooted in love for God.
Kindness, too, is a defining feature of Abraham’s life. From negotiating for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:22-33) to rescuing his nephew Lot, Abraham actively sought the welfare of others. Kindness, like hospitality, isn’t passive. It’s a deliberate act of love that mirrors God’s compassion and generosity.
Faith remains the cornerstone of Abraham’s character. His journey of trusting God, even when circumstances seemed impossible—whether leaving his homeland, waiting for a promised son, or being willing to sacrifice Isaac—exemplifies the kind of faith that goes beyond belief. It’s a faith that acts in obedience, despite uncertainty.
As believers, being a child of Abraham means emulating these traits. We are called to live out our faith through hospitality, kindness, and trust in God. Abraham’s legacy reminds us that our calling isn’t just to receive blessings but to be a blessing to others, reflecting God’s love in our everyday actions.
Yeshua as the Ultimate Seed of Abraham
Yeshua is the ultimate fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham. In Galatians 3:16, Paul writes, “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,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.”
Yeshua, as the promised seed of Abraham, is the one through whom all nations are blessed. By faith in Him, both Jews and Gentiles can partake in the blessings promised to Abraham. His death and resurrection opened the way for Gentiles to be grafted into the olive tree of Israel (Romans 11:17-24), fulfilling the promise that all the families of the earth would be blessed through Abraham’s lineage.
Living as Children of Abraham Today
For both Jews and Gentiles, being a child of Abraham is about more than claiming an inheritance. It’s about living in the same faith that Abraham had—faith in God’s promises, faith that leads to obedience, and faith that is expressed through actions like hospitality and kindness.
In Yeshua, the promise to Abraham is fully realized. Those who have faith in Him are grafted into the covenant made with Abraham and are now counted as part of the Commonwealth of Israel. As Paul emphasizes, it is faith in Yeshua, not ethnic heritage, that makes us children of Abraham.
Being a child of Abraham means sharing in the blessings of God’s promises and living out the values that defined Abraham’s life—hospitality, kindness, and faithfulness. Most importantly, it means embracing Yeshua as the ultimate fulfillment of those promises and living in the hope of the resurrection and the kingdom to come.
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