ABRAHAMS CHILDREN

ABRAHAM’S CHILDREN
(Faith is the Evidence)

If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. (John 8:39)
These are the words of Jesus Christ to the unbelieving Jews who boasted of their lineage to Abraham, stating that they were Abraham’s seed, and that Abraham was their father. These same men also claimed that God was their Father. What we have here is a people who claimed Abraham as their father nationally, and God as their Heavenly Father. These men seemed to have the idea that since they were the seed of Abraham that qualified them to be the children of God as well. Notice what Jesus said to these people, I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. (Vs. 37-38) Jesus was saying, I know that you are the national or natural seed (off-spring) of Abraham, and you want to kill me because my Father is not your father, you do what your father (the devil) does, he is a murderer, and that is what you do. To this the Jews answered, Abraham is our father. Then Jesus said to them. If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. (Vs. 39-40) Notice, they made the claim that Abraham was their father, but Jesus said, Abraham is not you father, if you were his children you would do what he did, you would by faith believe in me as he did, he did not seek to kill me as you do, so it is evident that you are not his children. Then Jesus said unto them, “Ye do the deeds of your father. And they answered saying, we be not born of fornication: we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (Vs. 41-42) Now these men made the claim that they were the children of God because God was their Father. But Jesus said God is not your Father, if he were you would love me. This is an important statement because it gives evidence once again that these people were not the children of Abraham.
Jesus said the children of Abraham do the works of Abraham. What are the works of Abraham? Simply put, the works of Abraham are works of faith. Abraham was a man of faith, therefore believed in God, and served him by faith. All who are of faith are said to be the children of Abraham. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Gal. 3:6-7) Also see Romans chapter four.
Because faith works by love (Gal. 5:6), those who are of faith love the Lord. Conversely, those who do not love the Lord do not have faith, and therefore are not the children of Abraham. Furthermore, since faith is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), those who do not have faith do not have the Spirit, and do not have God as their Heavenly Father, or Christ as their Savior. Those who have no faith are those whom Paul referred to when he wrote, Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. (2Th. 3:1-2) Notice what Paul wrote to the Romans teaching them something about the marks of identity of those who are not the Lord’s people and those who are. So then they that are in the flesh (unregenerate) cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Ro. 8:8-9) Again Paul said in Hebrews 11:6, that without faith it is impossible to please God, so, since faith is the fruit of the Spirit it is obvious that one who is not in the Spirit, but in his lost state of nature (flesh), cannot please God, because it takes the Spirit and its fruit to please him. I close with a quote from the Apostle Paul, which again identifies Abraham’s children or seed. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:29) Note we are not Christ’s if we are Abraham’s seed, but if we are Christ’s, then we are Abraham’s seed or children.
W. R. Daniels Jr.