Sunday, May 22, 2016

Abraham the father of both Jew & Gentiles who believe in Jesus

Joan Boney ... apostle / prophet

In Romans 4, the apostle Paul speaks to us concerning Abraham being the father of "many nations", of both Jew and Gentile nations.

Paul says ...

1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.


Abraham believe God before he was circumcision.  Believing God is putting faith in God that God will do what HE says HE will do.  

Therefore our faith is in God ... in what God will do.  In HIS Word to us.

Our faith is not in what we do.

The work of God is to believe God.

Jn. 6 ...  28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

God spoke to Abraham and Abraham believed God would do what God said to him.

Later God established the covenant of circumsision with Abraham as a sign.

Then enter the Gentiles in the NT as people of God, given the Spirit of God.

Do they have to then circumcise the Gentiles.  The apostles ruled it was not needed, the Gentiles who believed were circumcised in heart.  (Acts 15)

In Romans 4, Paul explains the following:  13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law (those of the circumcision) be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:15 Because the law worketh wrath:for where no law is, there is no transgression.
 

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law (the circumcision), but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham (the Gentiles as well as the believing Jews); who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,)

Abraham is therefore the father of "many nations" ... of the nations of the Jews (the circumcision) and of the Gentiles (the uncircumcised who are circumcised in heart not in flesh)