Hebrews, Israelites and Abraham's Descendants

2 Corinthians 11:21-22 - To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.


Romans 2:29 - No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

1 Corinthians 12:13 - For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:14-16 - For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Colossians 3:11 - Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Philippians 3:3-6 - For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

Application:

· Have I repented of my hard heart? Have I received the Holy Spirit? Have I been enabled by the Spirit to live a new life characterized by obedience to God?
· Am I united with the body of Christ?
· Unity in Christ transcends ethnic and social distinctions
· Have I been re-created in the image of Christ?
· Do I see Christ transcending all cultural, racial and national barriers? Christ alone matters
· Do I use rules to merit God’s approval and blessing?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Children Of God

Galatians 3:6-7 - Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.

Genesis 15:6 - Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Romans 4:3,12 - What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."… And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

John 8:31 - To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Conclusions:

• Abram is the father of all who believe, and Genesis 15:6 is the first specific reference to faith in God's promises
• It also teaches that God graciously responds to a man's faith by crediting righteousness to him
• Romans 4:3 references Genesis 15:6, where nothing is mentioned about works
• Abraham had kept no law, rendered no service and performed no ritual that earned credit to his account before God
• Abraham's belief in God, who had made promises to him, was credited to him as righteousness
• Abraham was the physical and spiritual father of the Jewish race
• In Galatians 3:7, all believers are called Abraham's spiritual children
• All believers are also referred to as the seed or descendants of Abraham
• Believed in John 8:31 seems to mean made a formal profession of faith
• The Jew's words in John 8 show that they are not true believers
• Abraham is also the father of believing Jews
• Thus Abraham's story shows that for Jew and Gentile alike there is only one way of justification--the way of faith

Application:

• Has righteousness been credited to you?
• Do you think keeping laws, rendering service and performing rituals credits righteousness to you?
• Are you a true believer?
• Do you believe you are justified by faith?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible