“ABRAHAM’s OFFSPRING!”

 Galatians 3:23-29                                           (ESV)

“23 Now BEFORE FAITH came, WE WERE HELD CAPTIVE under the law, IMPRISONED UNTIL THE COMING FAITH would be revealed.

24 So then, the law was our guardian UNTIL CHRIST CAME, in order that we might be JUSTIFIED by FAITH.

25 But now that FAITH has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

26 FOR IN CHRIST JESUS you are all sons of GOD, THROUGH FAITH.

27 For as many of you as were baptized into CHRIST have put on CHRIST.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in CHRIST JESUS.

29 And IF you are CHRIST's, THEN YOU ARE “ABRAHAM’s OFFSPRING”, HEIRS ACCORDING TO PROMISE.”

It can be confusing to understand what is meant by being “ABRAHAM’s OFFSPRING”?  Humanly speaking, everyone who was born in the bloodline of Abraham would be a descendant of Abraham.  But GOD IS SPIRIT (John 4:24) and to limit HIS efforts to solely the physical would be an insult to HIS MAJESTY!  We who are CHOSEN (Ephesians 1:4) continue to have our EYES opened to more and more TRUTH as we mature.  To be honest, I could not have handled some TRUTH when I was younger as I had to be humbled and groomed by the SPIRIT OF GOD to accept HIS instruction.  

BEFORE FAITH, I couldn’t identify with the transformation necessary to grasp Galatians 3:28!  We are whoever GOD CREATED us to be.  But GOD didn’t CREATE us to never be CHANGED, to never become a NEW CREATION (2 Corinthians 5:17)!  Since we are CREATED IN HIS IMAGE (Genesis 1:27), we also are spirits.  Romans 12:1 says “I APPEAL TO YOU therefore, brothers, BY THE MERCIES of GOD, to PRESENT YOUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, which is your spiritual worship.”  GOD’S MERCIES are on display as we Spiritually mature in this decaying body (2 Corinthians 4:16).  

Being “ABRAHAM’s OFFSPRING” has everything to do with being SET FREE from the IMPRISONMENT OF THE SINFUL life of our past!  Hebrews 11:6 says “And without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE impossible to please HIM, for whoever would draw near to GOD must believe that HE exists and that HE rewards those who seek HIM”!  We can be SET FREE in CHRIST, but we must accept that JESUS CHRIST has completed our Salvation, it is not something that we can improve upon.  FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST and HIS finished work is our only hope, and our saving Grace!

Whether we were created being Jew nor Greek, or slave nor free, or male and female, for you are all one in CHRIST JESUS.  Once we have been BROKEN by the SPIRIT OF GOD, THEN YOU ARE “ABRAHAM’s OFFSPRING”, HEIRS ACCORDING TO PROMISE.”  We cannot wish our way into Heaven, we cannot even do enough good work to enter Heaven!  We can only have FAITH in JESUS, exactly what ABRAHAM did!