Abraham's Blessing

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setfree

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In Galatians 3:14 it says that we might as Gentiles recieve the blessing of Abraham. What does this actually mean?
 

followerofchrist

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In Galatians 3:14 it say's:14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Though this raises the question of what exactly the promises of the spirit are. Well they're are many promises of the holy spirit made throughout the old and new testament and I am about to try and list some of them. I. THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT A. THE PROPHECY OF JOEL... 1. Recorded in Joel 2:28-32 (ca. 800 B.C.) 2. The elements of this prophecy included: a. The Spirit being poured out on all flesh - Joel 2:28 b. Sons and daughters of Israel prophesying , and Israel's young and old men seeing visions and dreaming dreams (note "your") - Joel 2:28 c. God's Spirit being poured out upon His menservants and maidservants (including Gentiles?) and their prophesying - Joel 2:29 3. This prophecy began to be fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost after the Ascension of Christ a. When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles in Jerusalem - Ac 2:1-4 b. Who enabled them to speak in foreign languages - Ac 2:4-13 c. Note that Peter ties the events of that day with Joel's prophecy - Ac 2:15-21 -- It will be necessary to consider other passages to determine the full extent of the nature of this outpouring of the Spirit and its ramifications for today B. THE PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH... 1. One recorded in Isa 44:3-5 (ca. 750 B.C.) 2. Elements of this prophecy include: a. God pouring His Spirit upon Israel's descendants - Isa 44:3 b. Connecting the promise of the Spirit with the figure of water given to him who is thirsty - cf. Jn 7:37-39 3. Another prophecy that might relate to the promise of the Spirit - Isa 32:15-17 a. Found in a section that appears to have Messianic implications - cf. Isa 32:1 b. The result of this pouring of the Spirit: justice, righteousness, and peace - cf. Ro 14:17 C. THE PROPHECIES OF EZEKIEL... 1. One recorded in Ezek 36:26-27 2. Elements of this prophecy: a. God promises to put His Spirit "within you" (an indwelling) b. It will cause (enable) one to walk in His statutes and keep His judgments - cf. Ro 8:11-13; Ep 3:16 3. Another prophecy that might relate to the promise of the Spirit - Ezek 39:29 a. A prophecy that looks beyond the captivity and restoration of Israel b. One that might not have been fulfilled until the coming of the Messiah D. THE PROPHECY OF ZECHARIAH... 1. Recorded in Zech 12:10 2. Elements of this prophecy: a. The Spirit of grace and supplication to be poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem b. Prompting people to look upon Jesus whom they have pierced, and mourn because of Him - cf. Ac 2:32-37 II. THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT A. THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST... 1. He spoke of One coming who would "baptize you with the Holy Spirit" - Mt 3:11; Mk 1:7-8; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:33 2. While he himself administered a baptism in water, there was One coming who would be the administrator of a baptism with the Holy Spirit 3. The promise was made to large crowds; only in its fulfillment can we determine its full extent a. We know that it is somehow tied to the events of Pentecost in Ac 2:1-4 b. Because of Jesus' comments in Ac 1:4-5 B. THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST... 1. The Spirit would be given to those who ask the Heavenly Father - Lk 11:13 2. The Spirit would be given as "living water" to all those who thirst and come to Him in faith, and drink - Jn 7:37-39 a. Might this "living water" be "the gift of God" Jesus alluded to earlier? - cf. Jn 4:10-14 b. Note again the comparison of the Spirit to water in Isaiah's prophecy - Isa 44:3 3. To His apostles, Jesus promised the "Spirit of truth" who would... a. Be a Helper, and abide with them - Jn 14:16-17 b. Bring to their remembrance all things Jesus taught them - Jn 14:26 c. Bear witness of Christ, together with the apostles - Jn 15: 26-27 d. Convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment - Jn 16:7-11 e. Guide the apostles unto all the truth, including things to come - Jn 16:12-13 f. Glorify Jesus, by taking of what is His and declaring it to them - Jn 16:14 4. Jesus told His apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they received the "Promise of the Father" - Lk 24:49; Ac 1:4-5 a. Which He clearly connects to the baptism of the Spirit spoken of by John b. In which they (the apostles) would receive power, and be eyewitnesses - Ac 1:8 C. THE PREACHING OF PETER... 1. On Pentecost, Peter ties the outpouring of the Spirit to the prophecy of Joel - Ac 2:14-16 2. Then, in the course of his sermon, Peter... a. Speaks of the outpouring of the Spirit as a promise Jesus received from the Father - Ac 2:33; cf. Ac 1:4-5 b. Offers the gift of the Spirit to all who repent and are baptized - Ac 2:38 c. Says the promise is to them and others - Ac 2:39 1) What promise does Peter have in mind? 2) What promise would have immediately come to mind to his hearers? 3) Would it not have been the promise he just alluded to? a) The promise received by Christ, and now poured out by Christ - Ac 2:33
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I.e., the Spirit which Jesus Himself promised to believers - cf. Jn 7:37-39 Hope this helps answer your question. ~follower
 

setfree

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Wow! that is a lot of information! Thanks! So Abraham only recieved the promise of the Spirit or did he recieve the blessing as well?
 

followerofchrist

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Wow! that is a lot of information! Thanks! So Abraham only recieved the promise of the Spirit or did he recieve the blessing as well?
we recieve the promises of the spirit because of the blessings of Abram
 

setfree

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A blessing is a word spoken to happen in your life. God spoke a blessing to Abraham, but he did not receive the Holy Spirit, Right? So the words spoken to Abraham was for his descendants....Where in the Bible does it speak of this blessing in the Old Testament as it was given to Abraham?
 

Christina

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This is the actual promise made to Abram (Abraham)Gen 121 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."..................Notice the Words used here many nations God chose a people through Abram at first it was the hebrews but as follower points out this later through Jesus Christ was extented to the World So God changed Abrams (meaning:exalted father)name to Abraham meaning: Abraham = "father of a multitude" or "chief of multitude"God often explains things through names Gen 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. Gen 17:6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. Gen 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
 

followerofchrist

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A blessing is a word spoken to happen in your life. God spoke a blessing to Abraham, but he did not receive the Holy Spirit, Right? So the words spoken to Abraham was for his descendants....Where in the Bible does it speak of this blessing in the Old Testament as it was given to Abraham?
As far as I know, no he did not recieve the holy spirit. We only read of people recieving the holy spirit in the NT, of course you must take into account that I haven't read the entire OT. So if somebody finds error in my statement please forgive me. But Abram (Abraham) received Gods blessing, he did not recieve the holy spirit.I believe Kriss has already answered the second part of your question.
 

setfree

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It seems in Gen.12 that Abraham is told to leave his Family. This seems to be a test, What if Abraham decided not to leave his family, I wonder if he would have received the blessing? I also found in Gen. 27-28, that the blessing is passed from Isaac-Jacob, is this the same blessing passed down from Abraham?
 

followerofchrist

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It seems in Gen.12 that Abraham is told to leave his Family. This seems to be a test, What if Abraham decided not to leave his family, I wonder if he would have received the blessing? I also found in Gen. 27-28, that the blessing is passed from Isaac-Jacob, is this the same blessing passed down from Abraham?
Thats something we can't know since it didn't happen, and the outcome would have been decided by God. But since it didn't happen it is really irrelevant.I only have like 2 minutes till my next class so I will have to work on trying to answer you second question later this afternoon. But I am sure Kriss will get to it before I have a chance
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setfree

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Seems like Abraham had more faith test to pass....He had to trust God to produce an off sping even when there time to conceive had passed.Also the big test and that is the sacrifice of Issac. Do you think we have to passed the same kind of faith tests today to walk in the Spirit?
 

Christina

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The sacrafice of Issac was a type fore runner to the Sacrafice of Christ God sacraficed his beloved Son for us this example shows us not only the emotions of Gods sacrafice but the Ram in the thicket that took the place of Issac is representative of the Christ to come
 

setfree

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The sacrafice of Issac was a type fore runner to the Sacrafice of Christ God sacraficed his beloved Son for us this example shows us not only the emotions of Gods sacrafice but the Ram in the thicket that took the place of Issac is representative of the Christ to come
Yes, the Old Testament points the Christ in many pictures. But do you think for us to walk in the Spirit (being filled), do you think we have to pass faith test as well?
 

Christina

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Yes but not exactly the same way we will have to choose whether we follow a fake christ or the real its why God fore tells us that the fake comes first. No one gets a free ride we all have to choose We at least have the benifit of being fore told of these things we need only show a tenth of the faith Abraham had to show and most men thinks thats asking to much.
 

setfree

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The Christ I believe in came first in a manger, crucified on a cross and rose again...to return again. So I believe in the first Christ! The only real one!
 

setfree

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I was studing some more in Gen. 28 and come across where Jacob in vs. 13 it says the land whereon thou liest to thee will I give it and to thy seed...Seems when God gives a Blessing it comes true..He releases supernatural to get it done...we will be awakened to his truth...When the angels were seen coming down and going up in vs. 12, I believe they are the messengers of God and they are still doing this today with our prayers.
 

Christina

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The Christ I believe in came first in a manger, crucified on a cross and rose again...to return again. So I believe in the first Christ! The only real one!
I was refering to the second coming not the first we are told before Christ returns the second time The Antichrist will come firstthats when our test comes thats what you asked if we were going to be tested
 

followerofchrist

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I was refering to the second coming not the first we are told before Christ returns the second time The Antichrist will come firstthats when our test comes thats what you asked if we were going to be tested
Yes this is the big test! But of course we all face smaller tests everyday where we have to choice to live a christ like life or we fall into sin.