by Jerry Savelle
A Heritage of Favor
Before God ever spoke forth the words “Let there be light,” setting in motion the creation of all things that exist, He had a marvelous plan for mankind.
As Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians, that plan was for all people to be blessed: “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (Galatians 3:8-9, New King James Version).
The covenant God made with Abraham extended to both his natural and his spiritual posterity. Abraham’s natural lineage included his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, who later became Israel, after whom the whole Hebrew nation is named. The term gentile applies to all non-Jewish people, tribes and nations. By faith in Jesus Christ, gentiles become the spiritual seed of Abraham, as Paul goes on to explain:
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 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. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise" (verses 13-14, 16, 29, NKJV).
24 : BVOV : FEB '14
