Who Are the "SEED OF ABRAHAM"?

Why is This Important?

Some people might say “Why is this worth considering?”. But - for one thing ...

The SEED OF ABRAHAM is mentioned over 60 times in the Bible - from beginning to end.

For example,

17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:17–18)

6 O seed of Abraham His servant, You children of Jacob, His chosen ones! (Psalm 105:6, NKJV)

8 “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The seed of Abraham My friend. (Isaiah 41:8)

16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16, NKJV)

16 For indeed He does not lay hold of angels, but He does lay hold of the seed of Abraham. (Hebrews 2:16)

Note also...

Abraham’s SEED Includes Gentiles in the Church

16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many Gentiles”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many Gentiles, according to what was spoken, “So shall your seed be.” (Romans 4:16–18)

29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29)

Are ABRAHAM’S SEED just believers - or more than that?

Most commentators suggest that the SEED OF ABRAHAM is simply those who believe in Jesus for eternal life = Christians. But this does not seem to fit the Scriptures…as we will see.

Note, for example, these two parallel verses in Galatians..

29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29)

24 And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)

The words highlighted above correspond to χριστοῦ Christou = belong to Christ in the Greek text. Another example of of use of this word is...

41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. (Mark 9:41, NKJV)

Note that Jesus was speaking about His disciples - who were doing miracles in His name . They were more than just believers. They were openly identified with Jesus Christ. Notice, also, in Galatians that to BELONG TO CHRIST does not include all believers....

29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29)

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. (Galatians 5:19–24)

Not all believers are crucifying the flesh with its passions and lusts = producing the fruit of the Spirit. This shows clearly that....

THE SEED OF ABRAHAM = THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST = THOSE WHO ARE LIVING BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT = THOSE WHO INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD

...whereas those who who are NOT the SEED OF ABRAHAM will NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Are there other Scriptures which teach this same thing?

Note Rom 4:13 and Heb 2:16...

13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13, NKJV)

16 For indeed He does not lay hold of angels, but He does lay hold of the seed of Abraham. (Hebrews 2:16)

The New King James Version Study Bible comments on Rom 4:13...

The NKJV Study Bible Chapter 4

Heir of the world means that Abraham and his seed, in particular Christ, will inherit the earth, a promise that will be fulfilled in the kingdom to be established when Christ returns

Hebrews 2:16 is simply reinforcing the point that God is NOT going to give the RULE OF THE WORLD TO COME to ANGELS but to THE SEED OF ABRAHAM....

5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. (Hebrews 2:5–8)

Both of the above passages are showing that...

THE SEED OF ABRAHAM = THOSE WHO WILL RULE OVER THE WORLD TO COME WITH JESUS CHRIST.

To be of the SEED OF ABRAHAM is CONDITIONAL

Note...

29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29, NKJV)

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:17, NKJV)

25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:25–28, NKJV)

To be of ABRAHAM’S SEED means we must keep on LIVING BY FAITH - as Abraham did - in the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT and KEEPING CHRIST’S WORKS TO THE END of our lives. Then we will INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD = RULE WITH JESUS CHRIST - as Abraham will.

Believer, do you want to be one of ABRAHAM’S SEED?