Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:25-29 NIV)

If you are a follower of Jesus did you know you are “Abraham’s seed?”

Ok, I know this title deserves an explanation.  “Abraham’s seed” isn’t exactly bumper sticker material (although, it would be an interesting one).

Abraham’s seed is a synonym for Abraham’s descendants.  Physiologically, they are the children of Jacob (Israel), the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham.  And as we know, Israel’s sons constituted the tribal divisions of the Hebrew people.

But now we know there is a spiritual seed of Abraham that includes both Hebrew children and Greeks.  It also excludes some physiological descendants of Abraham.  That’s right.  Abraham’s seed includes people were once considered far off by members of his family tree, and excludes some who would understandably assume they were in the household.

If we have accepted Jesus by faith, we have inherited the promise given to Abraham, and therefore are “Abraham’s seed.”  Jesus was the promise.  The Law, and everything Jewish carried the message and set the stage for the fulfillment of God’s plan.  And when it was fulfilled, the supervision of the Law ceased.  It retired from service.

I will be honest with you.  For some time I thought Abraham’s seed related mostly to Jewish people who were given the Promised Land, and through whom Jesus came.  I figured when Jesus came and people like me started following Him, we became the new people of God, and received the new promise of salvation through His Son.

But now I know, as a follower of Jesus, I am a descendent of Abraham and a recipient of his promise.  Both of us came to the Lord by faith, and both of us were rewarded with righteousness.  Abraham’s faith was “counted” as righteousness until such time Jesus would pay his penalty on the cross.  In the same way, I am made righteous through faith in Jesus, and unlike Abraham, I have the full revelation of His story.

What all of this means is, I must drastically rewrite my family tree.  I always knew I was Welsh and German, following in a line of Joneses, Hiebers and Baeslers.  Now I know I am a seed of Israel’s race.  I guess I am going to have to look into attending some new family reunions.

Wait a minute!  I already do…every Sunday when I share communion with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I always heard family connections can get complicated.

Dear God, thank You for making me a child of the promise.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.