Our Father Abraham

Matthew introduces his account of the Gospel of Jesus with these words: "A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matt. 1:1) To be conscious of one's past is essential for establishing confidence in one's future.

God in His sovereignty, choose to establish His plan in human history, through a man called Abraham (originally known as Abram), He was a Semite, and a descendant of Noah's son Shem (Gen. 11:10-30), and he was the first person in the Bible to be called a "Hebrew" (Gen. 14:13). All Jews trace their ancestry to Abraham as father of the Hebrew nation. The Lord proclaimed through his prophet: "Look to the rock from which you were cut...look to Abraham your father" (Isa.51:1-2).

Genesis 12 records the call of Abraham. God told him that his offspring would inherit the land of Canaan, and that he would have numerous descendants. God also promised Abraham, "all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you".

The New Covenant (Testament) Scriptures, along with the Old Covenant (Hebrew Scriptures). indicate that true Gentile believers, will become like the Jewish believers, and share in the promises God has given to Abraham. Before Abraham was circumcised, he believed God, and with faithful obedience, acted upon that belief. The promise was given to Abraham, and to all who would come from him, sharing the same belief, are heirs to the promise. 

Indeed, all true Christians believers, whether Jew or Gentile, find their origin in Abraham the Hebrew. As the Apostle Paul states: "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed. (Gal. 3:9) James the head of the church in Jerusalem, the brother of Jesus, links all Christian's to this exemplary patriarch by speaking of him as our ancestor Abraham (James.2:21).

The keys to understanding the New Covenant Scriptures, are to be found primarily in the Old Covenant (the Hebrew Scriptures). We seek to understand the Scriptures through the Revelation of the indwelling Spirit of God, and chiefly  through the eyes of Hebrew thought and culture, and not through the eyes of Hellenism (Greek thought and culture),