Know then, the one through faith, these exist the sons of Abraham.*
The sons of Abraham exist by faith. Faith exists things that are not seen by the earthly man but of those who are heavenly, these have assurance, conviction, and hope in Jesus Christ. Qualification of being a son of Abraham is not based upon the flesh, it is not based upon the covenant of circumcision and it is not based upon the covenant of the Law which came later, but is based upon Grace, so that the promise comes to all, not just those under the Law but also those of the faith of Abraham. Through faith, according to grace, one exists a son of Abraham.
Now the promise was spoke to Abraham and to his Seed, not saying 'and to seeds' referring to many except 'also to your seed' referring to the one Christ.*
The word seed is also translated as descendant, so the promise was always referring to one descendant. Seed is singular meaning one person, from the lineage of David, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the author of faith so we come to know Him by faith and are counted righteous by faith, and it is according to grace as the promise is not based upon the Law.* Jacob received inheritance by grace as he and his mother foresaw the promise of inheritance by grace and Esau did not believe selling his inheritance.* This is what many Jews did with Jesus, they forfeited their inheritance rejecting Christ. If you don't believe what Paul writes, hear what Peter and John said,
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of your fathers, glorified his servant Jesus Christ, whom you delivered over and disowned in the view of Pilate, who decided to release him... You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your father, saying to Abraham, and in your Seed all the races of the earth will be blessed. God having raised up his servant, sent to you first, the one to bless you in turning away separately from your bad condition.*
We see the reason for repentance, that spoken to God's people, whom John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ who said, repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.* The kingdom of the old covenant was no more, a new kingdom of heaven was near. No more based upon earthly lineage and fleshly circumcision, repent and enter into the kingdom of heaven, and to enter one must become like a child being born again. The kingdom is not based on an earthly birth, a true Jew is not one by earthly birth. Jesus said, making clear the very distinction between the earthly and the heavenly, "what is of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the Spirit exists Spirit."* So we see the concept that the sons of Abraham exist not on the basis of fleshly inheritance, not of one people or nation but they exist of faith, of many peoples and nations, circumcised of the Spirit.
For not a Jew exists on the ground of, not even the act of circumcision, on the ground of the flesh, but a person is a Jew on the ground of, even circumcised the heart in the Spirit, not in written code, in whom the praise is not from man but from God.*
The whole concept of the promise being according to grace is that we boast or give praise to God. It is not based upon us being born into the family of God, on the grounds of fleshly circumcision but in that we are born from above, into the kingdom of God by the Spirit. The new covenant established in his death and by his blood, speaks to this very principle that we are children of God, co-heirs with Christ, who have inheritance in the kingdom of God. We are not servants or slaves who do not dwell in the house forever but we are sons. We receive this blessing, this promise of inheritance, fulfilled in that which is spiritual, when we believed in Christ. There is no other way to the Father, one must be born of Spirit.
You also in Him, hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Him also believing, you were identified in the act of the promise, the Holy Spirit, whom exists a pledge of our inheritance, to the extent of redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.*
The promise is a matter of inheritance. When we believe in Jesus we are identified in the act of the promise. How? the greatest testimony of Spirit, whom exists a pledge of our inheritance. By faith we receive the promise, in which we enter into inheritance, into the kingdom of God, being born of Spirit. A pledge is a solemn promise, so the solemn promise of inheritance is by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies that we are His children, and children of God have an inheritance in the promises of God. By the Spirit we know and cry out intimately Daddy Father, and the Spirit is pouring out into out hearts that our heavenly Father loves us. The promise rests on faith, according to grace, declared by God's word alone, an oath by no greater means than by the Word of God, Jesus, in whom we have assurance, hope, and conviction as faith exists in Him of things unseen.
For there exist three that testify; the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three agree to the extent of one.*
The sons of Abraham exist by faith. Faith exists things that are not seen by the earthly man but of those who are heavenly, these have assurance, conviction, and hope in Jesus Christ. Qualification of being a son of Abraham is not based upon the flesh, it is not based upon the covenant of circumcision and it is not based upon the covenant of the Law which came later, but is based upon Grace, so that the promise comes to all, not just those under the Law but also those of the faith of Abraham. Through faith, according to grace, one exists a son of Abraham.
Now the promise was spoke to Abraham and to his Seed, not saying 'and to seeds' referring to many except 'also to your seed' referring to the one Christ.*
The word seed is also translated as descendant, so the promise was always referring to one descendant. Seed is singular meaning one person, from the lineage of David, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the author of faith so we come to know Him by faith and are counted righteous by faith, and it is according to grace as the promise is not based upon the Law.* Jacob received inheritance by grace as he and his mother foresaw the promise of inheritance by grace and Esau did not believe selling his inheritance.* This is what many Jews did with Jesus, they forfeited their inheritance rejecting Christ. If you don't believe what Paul writes, hear what Peter and John said,
We see the reason for repentance, that spoken to God's people, whom John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ who said, repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.* The kingdom of the old covenant was no more, a new kingdom of heaven was near. No more based upon earthly lineage and fleshly circumcision, repent and enter into the kingdom of heaven, and to enter one must become like a child being born again. The kingdom is not based on an earthly birth, a true Jew is not one by earthly birth. Jesus said, making clear the very distinction between the earthly and the heavenly, "what is of the flesh is flesh and what is born of the Spirit exists Spirit."* So we see the concept that the sons of Abraham exist not on the basis of fleshly inheritance, not of one people or nation but they exist of faith, of many peoples and nations, circumcised of the Spirit.
For not a Jew exists on the ground of, not even the act of circumcision, on the ground of the flesh, but a person is a Jew on the ground of, even circumcised the heart in the Spirit, not in written code, in whom the praise is not from man but from God.*
The whole concept of the promise being according to grace is that we boast or give praise to God. It is not based upon us being born into the family of God, on the grounds of fleshly circumcision but in that we are born from above, into the kingdom of God by the Spirit. The new covenant established in his death and by his blood, speaks to this very principle that we are children of God, co-heirs with Christ, who have inheritance in the kingdom of God. We are not servants or slaves who do not dwell in the house forever but we are sons. We receive this blessing, this promise of inheritance, fulfilled in that which is spiritual, when we believed in Christ. There is no other way to the Father, one must be born of Spirit.
You also in Him, hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Him also believing, you were identified in the act of the promise, the Holy Spirit, whom exists a pledge of our inheritance, to the extent of redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.*
The promise is a matter of inheritance. When we believe in Jesus we are identified in the act of the promise. How? the greatest testimony of Spirit, whom exists a pledge of our inheritance. By faith we receive the promise, in which we enter into inheritance, into the kingdom of God, being born of Spirit. A pledge is a solemn promise, so the solemn promise of inheritance is by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies that we are His children, and children of God have an inheritance in the promises of God. By the Spirit we know and cry out intimately Daddy Father, and the Spirit is pouring out into out hearts that our heavenly Father loves us. The promise rests on faith, according to grace, declared by God's word alone, an oath by no greater means than by the Word of God, Jesus, in whom we have assurance, hope, and conviction as faith exists in Him of things unseen.
The greatest testimony is that of Spirit, in whom we receive when we hear the word of truth and believed, we were born of Spirit. Each exist as one, as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three so exist as one the three testimonies. There is a testimony of water and there is of the Spirit of God which exists in those who believe in Jesus. I was born of Spirit when I believed, "in Him, hearing the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in Him also believing, you were identified in the act of the promise, the Holy Spirit..." The Spirit is the greater testimony thus if I die before the testimony of water, it exists greater. The greater testimony is based upon a promise, upon faith according to grace, not on an act or commitment before men but before God. The Jews who rejected Jesus, rejected him on the basis of who he existed, the Christ, and they did so before the world. And more so, they did not just falsely accuse a brother but the Holy Spirit who was giving testimony through Him.
Canaan
For if the inheritance is based upon Law, it is no longer based on a promise, but God gave to Abraham through a promise.*
A promise is a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing. The promise of inheritance is not based upon the Law, as we would be justified and perfected in laws, or written codes. If inheritance was based upon a written code, then Esau would have received inheritance as the written code said the oldest received the inheritance. In like manner, inheritance is not based upon works or on obedience to written code but it is according to being chosen by grace. The concept of a free gift applies, if it were based upon works then it would no longer be a promise but a wage earned. It is a promise as it is based upon God's word. It is not earned nor deserved, lest we boast in our works and no longer praise and give glory to God.
I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.*
This is the promise given to Abraham, and in light of scripture we see the promise would be fulfilled in the one, the Seed, the Christ in whom all nations and all peoples who believe will be blessed. Some quote this verse today as, "all who bless the one nation of Israel will be blessed," but the truth in respect to the promise through the Seed is "in Christ all the nations of the earth will be blessed." Paul writes the promise was of inheritance and inheritance was not based upon circumcision of the flesh thus the Jew of the flesh can not claim rights to inheritance based upon the covenant of circumcision. The promise was not based upon the Mosaic covenant and Law which came over four hundred years later thus one can't claim inheritance through the Law. The promise comes through the Seed, Christ, "in your Seed all the races of the earth will be blessed." It is according to grace so the promise comes to all races and all nations.
And I will give to your descendant after you the land of your sojourning all the land of Canaan as possession, forever, I will be unto them God.*
Current belief concerning the nation of Israel has much basis in this verse, they say the earthly land is a forever promise of God. Of course if the promise is to one nation then this contradicts the new covenant scriptures, that the promise of inheritance is to all nations and all peoples through Jesus Christ. The promise is not based upon another covenant, not of the Law, nor of circumcision of the flesh, but the promise is fulfilled through the Seed. Jesus died for the new covenant, it is a covenant in his blood, so to atone for sin in any other way is a total rejection of Christ. Truly, the promise of land will be fulfilled, as John had revelation into this, where God dwells with his people on a new earth and in a new Jerusalem. This to me is a great promise, "forever, I will be unto them God."*
And a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away and the sea exists no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven from God, ready like a bride adorned for her husband and I heard a voice from the throne saying, behold the dwelling place of God with man and dwelling with them they exist his people and God himself exists with them their God. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, death exists no more, mourning, crying, and pain exist no more, for the former things have passed away. And the one at the throne said I am making all things new...*
It is an amazing concept, "I am making all things new" it speaks to renewal of all things. We exist in a mortal body which is being swallowed up in Life. One day we will have possession of our inheritance, all things will be new and complete. This speaks also, of a new body and of a new earth which Paul refers to as a body, as the earth is laboring in pain, moaning for the new. We are "identified in the act of the promise, the Holy Spirit, whom exists a pledge of our inheritance, to the extent of redemption of the possession." The Holy Spirit also testifies to this, moaning within us longing for this promise, redemption of the possession, a new body. Yes, the sons of Abraham exist by faith, longing for full possession of our inheritance.
In light of the promise being through the Seed, and in that the Holy Spirit is a pledge of this inheritance until we receive full possession, I am obligated to believe as Christianity past, that the promise of Canaan land refers to a heavenly home where one day we will cross the river Jordan. This corrupt body of the earth is not our true home, and one day we will cross over and enter there. We have such a guarantee of this inheritance in the Spirit which testifies we are his children and in this is our faith, which exists hope in that which is not seen, hope that one day we will receive inheritance as we exist the sons of Abraham. Know then that it is the one through faith who exist the sons of Abraham.*
by faith Abraham sojourned in the land, the one promised, as it were foreign, living in tents as did Issac and Jacob, heirs with him in the same promise, for he was looking forward to the city, the one having foundation, whose designer and builder is God.*
The earthly land God gave the children of Israel was not designed and architecture by God, but by the Canaanites. There is a better promise, in which the sons of Abraham have promise of inheritance, and a pledge as God dwells in His children. These exist his workmanship, in Christ Jesus, prepared beforehand. Jesus said to the disciples "I go and prepare a place for you..."* Yes, the sons of Abraham still sojourn in a foreign land, living in earthly bodies, but we are heirs of the same promise and are looking forward to a city whose foundations, whose designer, and builder is God.