The Blessing of Abraham: Gospel of the Grace of God

The Blessing of Abraham: A Tapestry of Divine Inheritance (Expanded)

This profound teaching unveils the Blessing of Abraham not merely as a historical event but as the very essence of the Gospel of the Grace of God—an unconditional, eternal covenant rooted in God's boundless goodness, kindness, and favor. It is vital for our understanding and daily walk, for without grasping this, one holds no true solution to the world's problems. The journey into this truth leads God's people into their glorious inheritance, a new dimension of walk with God, which must happen before the Lord's return.

I. Unveiling the Blessing: Its Origin, Transmission, and True Nature

The profound caption, "The Blessing of Abraham," is directly taken from two pivotal verses in the King James Authorized Version:

• Genesis 28:4 (KJV): Isaac, while blessing his son Jacob, declares: "> And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham." Here, the blessing is a divinely transferred inheritance of fruitfulness, multiplication, and promised land.
• Galatians 3:14 (KJV): This New Testament verse illuminates the blessing's expansive reach: "> That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." This reveals the blessing's extension to all nations through Christ, underscoring its spiritual dimension and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The very genesis of this blessing lies in God's initial call to Abraham (then Abram) in Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV):

"> Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

Within this divine pronouncement, three extraordinary aspects are revealed:

1. "I will bless thee": Abraham would become a mightily blessed man, experiencing God's goodness, favor, and grace poured out upon him.

2. "thou shalt be a blessing": Abraham would be transformed into a "package of blessings," carrying God's goodness and favor everywhere he went, radiating divine influence.

3. "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed": Through Abraham, the divine favor and grace of God would extend to all the nations and kindreds of the world.

This powerful and singular covenant was divinely reiterated and formally transferred through Abraham's seed:

• Genesis 17:4-7 (KJV): God establishes His everlasting covenant with Abraham, declaring him "a father of many nations," promising exceeding fruitfulness, nations and kings descending from him, and an eternal covenant with his generations, "to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." This explicitly includes Abraham's future generations.
• Acts 3:25-26 (KJV): Peter, addressing the children of Israel, confirms their inheritance: "> Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." This clarifies that the Jews are heirs of this covenant, and Jesus was sent to bring them this divine favor, turning them from their iniquities.
• Genesis 22:16-18 (KJV): Following Abraham's supreme act of obedience in offering Isaac, God makes an oath by Himself: "> By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." This adds the immutable weight of God's oath to the promise, with a specific mention that "thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies," addressing a particular Seed.
• Genesis 26:4 (KJV): God extends the identical blessing to Isaac: "> And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." This explicitly establishes the covenant with Isaac.
• Genesis 28:14 (KJV): Isaac subsequently passes this blessing to Jacob, with God speaking directly to Jacob: "> And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the Earth be blessed."

The term "blessed" throughout these scriptures signifies the profound favor of God, the kindness of God, and the outpouring of His grace. This "kindness" in the Old Testament is best described by the Hebrew word `cassid` (H2617), often translated as mercy, goodness, or loving-kindness, but accurately understood as covenant kindness—the active turning of God's goodness towards an individual, His decision to be good to them.

II. Distinguishing `Cassid` (Grace/Covenant Kindness) from `Ken` (Favor)

The nuances of grace and favor are crucial for a deep understanding of the Blessing of Abraham.

• `Ken` (H2580): In the Authorized Version (KJV), `ken` is often translated as "grace," but it better translates as "favor." The English word "favor" is distinct from "grace." Favor describes a condition or a state of being in good regard.
• `Cassid` (H2617): In the Authorized Version, `cassid` is sadly not translated as "grace." Instead, it is found as "kindness," "goodness," "loving-kindness," or "mercy." However, `cassid` is the richer Hebrew word that truly embodies the essence of New Testament grace. Grace (Divine influence on the heart) can produce a condition of favor.

Let us examine this distinction in scripture:

• Exodus 34:6-7 (KJV): "> And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin..."
• In verse 6, the word "goodness" is `cassid`.
• In verse 7, the word "mercy" is `cassid`.
• Exodus 34:6-7 (Complete Jewish Bible - CJB): "> Adonai passed before him and proclaimed: “Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh! Adonai! God! Merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace and and truth; showing grace to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin..."
• Here, the CJB translates `cassid` as "grace" in both instances, highlighting its true meaning.
• This shows that `cassid` is the best word to characterize "grace" because of what it entails—the divine influence upon the heart, outwardly expressed in life.

David's plea, "Is there anybody in the house of Saul... that I might show him the kindness of God?" (2 Samuel 9:3) perfectly illustrates this divine `cassid` or covenant kindness.

III. The Gospel Preached to Abraham: Unconditional Grace, Not Conditional Law

The eternal nature of the Blessing of Abraham is further illuminated by understanding its distinction from and superiority to the Law.

• The Gospel Announced in Advance: Galatians 3:8 (KJV) reveals a profound truth: "> And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." The NIV renders this as God "announced the gospel in advance to Abraham." This means when God promised Abraham, "In thee shall all nations be blessed," He was, in essence, preaching the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24), which is also the Gospel of the Blessing of Abraham. This Gospel is entirely about God's goodness, kindness, favor, and grace being poured out.
• Believers Are Blessed with Abraham: Galatians 3:9 (KJV) confirms our position: "> So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." Those who come to God by faith are given the same grace, the same favor, the same blessing that Abraham received.

The Unconditional Nature of the Abrahamic Covenant

A critical distinction must be made between the Abrahamic Covenant and other covenants God made with the children of Israel:

• Abrahamic Covenant: This covenant is unconditional. God called Abraham and declared, "This is what I'm going to do. I'm going to bless you. I'm going to multiply you." God "cut" the covenant Himself with Abraham, without "ifs" or conditions of Abraham's doing.
• Righteousness by Faith: The Bible states, "> And Abraham believed, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6). Abraham's righteousness came by simply believing God, not by obedience to a law. This is fundamental.
• Mosaic Covenant (Law): This covenant is conditional. It was made with the children of Israel at Horeb (Mount Sinai) and renewed in Moab.
• Deuteronomy 5:1-3 (KJV): Moses called all Israel to hear the statutes and judgments: "> The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day." This clarifies that the Mosaic Covenant was distinct from the Abrahamic Covenant.
• Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (KJV): "> And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." This explicitly states the "if" conditionality of the Law: if they obeyed, blessings would follow; if not, curses.
• Righteousness by Obedience: Under the Law, righteousness was tied to obedience: "If you obey my voice, it shall be your righteousness."
• Breaking the Covenant: The children of Israel repeatedly broke these conditional covenants, leading to their being "taken far away" and the land "spitting them out," as warned by the curses of Deuteronomy 28.
• Misunderstanding Among Christians: Many Christians mistakenly believe God's blessings are conditional, not understanding the truth that the Church's blessings are based on the Abrahamic covenant, not the Mosaic Law.

IV. The Purpose of the Law: To Reveal Sin and Lead to Christ

The Law was not the original plan for righteousness but an interim measure with a specific, divine purpose:

• Added Because of Transgressions: Galatians 3:19 (KJV) reveals the Law's temporary role: "> Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed shall come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator."
• The Law was "added" because of the sinfulness of humanity, to make sin apparent.
• It was temporary, intended "till the seed shall come"—the singular Seed, Christ.
• The Paradox of Sin and Law:
• Before the Law, there was no transgression in the strict sense, for "sin is a transgression of law" (1 John 3:4), and "where no law is, there is no transgression" (Romans 4:15).
• However, man still did evil things, for God is a righteous God. The Law was brought in to make wrongdoing appear wrong, to describe and understand the nature of sin.
• The Law Reveals Sin: Romans 7:7-13 (KJV) powerfully illustrates this:
• "> What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." The Law's commandments revealed specific sins.
• "> But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead." The Law, though good, actually provoked the sin nature to greater activity.
• "> For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." This speaks of a child's innocence before the age of accountability, alive to God in conscience. But upon reaching accountability, the commandment awakens the inherent sin nature (inherited from Adam, Romans 5), leading to spiritual death.
• "> And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death." The Law, meant for life, brought condemnation and death due to humanity's inability to keep it.
• "> But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." God wanted sin to be clearly described and understood in its exceeding sinfulness. The Law didn't originate sin; it exposed it, helping us to despise wrongdoing.
• The Conflict Within the Natural Man: Romans 7:14-25 (KJV) describes the struggle of a man under the Law:
• "> For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin."
• He wills to do good but cannot perform it, finding a "law in [his] members warring against the law of [his] mind," bringing him into "captivity to the law of sin." His body is controlled by sin.
• His cry, "> O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24) refers to the spiritual death and constant accusation he experiences, not merely physical death.
• The answer: "> I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." This points to the ultimate solution in Christ.

V. Christ: The Seed, The Redeemer, The Promise of the Spirit

The entirety of the Abrahamic promise finds its ultimate fulfillment and personification in Christ:

• Christ as the Singular Seed: Galatians 3:16 (KJV) is a critical revelation: "> Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." The singular "seed" through whom all nations would be blessed is unequivocally Christ Himself.
• The earlier prophecy in Genesis 22:18, "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed," and the specific phrasing "thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies" (Genesis 22:17), were not speaking of Abraham's numerous descendants, but of Christ, the singular Seed.
• The Law was added "till the seed shall come to whom the promise was made," and that Seed is Christ. The promise was made to Christ.
• Redemption from the Curse of the Law: Galatians 3:13-14 (KJV) reveals Christ's redemptive work: "> Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
• Christ's sacrifice on the cross redeemed both Jews and Gentiles from the condemnation of the Law, bearing the curse upon Himself. This enabled the Blessing of Abraham—divine favor and grace—to be extended universally.
• The Promise of the Spirit Through Faith: A key purpose of Christ's redemption is "that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:14). This refers to the gift of the Holy Ghost.
• Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, preached this promise: "> Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:38-39). This promise is not limited to the Jews but extends to "all that are afar off"—the Gentiles—and to "as many as the Lord our God shall call."

VI. Our Glorious Inheritance and Identity in Christ

As believers, our union with Christ makes us direct partakers of this magnificent, eternal blessing:

• No Condemnation in Christ Jesus: Romans 8:1 (KJV) declares the solution to the internal conflict of the Law: "> There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." This is where the solution is found: walking in the Spirit, not the flesh.
• Heirs According to the Promise: Galatians 3:29 (KJV) unequivocally states: "> And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." Being "Abraham's seed" (sperma—singular, indicating spiritual lineage) means we are heirs of the same promise, blessed with faithful Abraham, and endowed with the same grace.
• Galatians 3:27-28 further confirms this unity and identity: "> For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Our identity is in Christ, transcending all earthly distinctions.
• Joint Heirs with Christ: We are "joint heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17), sharing in everything He possesses. This is the ultimate, unrivaled position of divine co-ownership.
• The Holy Spirit as the Earnest of Our Inheritance: Ephesians 1:13-14 (KJV) explains the profound significance of the Holy Spirit: "> In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
• Sealed by the Spirit: Upon believing the Gospel of Grace, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, an unremovable divine mark of ownership. In the realm of the spirit, this seal ensures we are recognized by angels and separated from the world.
• The Earnest (Deposit): The Holy Spirit is the "earnest," the "deposit," or "down payment" of our inheritance. This is a divine guarantee: if God has given us His Spirit, He will surely give us everything else. The Holy Spirit empowers us to access and appropriate all the "acquisitions"—all that Christ redeemed back to us—making everything Jesus owns ours.
• This connection grants us access, through the Holy Ghost, to everything God owns. We are not ordinary beings; in Christ, we are the ultimate, glorious expressions of God's design, victorious and triumphant.
• Abraham's Blessing in All Things: Genesis 24:1 (KJV) highlights Abraham's own experience: "> And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things." Yet, Abraham did not fully "endure" or fully enjoy the entirety of the blessing, particularly the physical land promised. This underscores that the full realization, the "redemption of the purchased possession," awaited Christ and the Holy Spirit.
• The Abrahamic covenant was a blood covenant, where God Himself willed everything He had to Abraham and his seed, tying Himself irrevocably to them. This vastness of the promise was so immense that even the Jews wrestled with it for generations, until the coming of Jesus, who made the full inheritance accessible.

VII. Living in the Fullness of the Blessing: Our Empowerment and Dominion

The presence of the Holy Ghost within us activates our ability to live a triumphant life and appropriate our inheritance:

• Effectuating Our Inheritance in This World: Through the Holy Ghost, we can "effectuate the things that he’s made available to you in Christ while you’re in this world." Everything required for a triumphant and victorious life in this world is made available through the Holy Ghost.
• Future Ministry and Appropriation: This power extends beyond our earthly sojourn, enabling us to accomplish ministry in heaven, upon the earth after the resurrection, and in the new earth and New Jerusalem. By the Holy Ghost, we can appropriate into our present moment whatever we require, even into eternity.
• Calling Things Into Being: We must never see ourselves as being in need of something unattainable. Instead, we are empowered to "call things into being" by decreeing according to God's will. As it is written, "Thou shalt decree a thing also, and it shall be established unto thee" (Job 22:28). What we declare, by faith, will come together from its expanded form into its solid, required manifestation.
• Our Divine Love and Sonship: 1 John 3:1 (KJV) reminds us of the Father's extraordinary love: "> Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." This love is poured out, lavished upon us, as we have received the gospel of the grace of God.
• Prayer in the Spirit: We are encouraged to pray in the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues, thanking the Lord for His love, grace, and kindness, recognizing our identity as the seed of Abraham.

This profound teaching on the Blessing of Abraham lays bare the astonishing breadth and depth of our divine inheritance. It is an inheritance of divine grace, identity as sons of God, joint-heirship with Christ, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit to live triumphantly, appropriate all of God's provisions, and manifest His kingdom in this present world. This knowledge is crucial for God's people around the world to understand and live in, leading them into their inheritance before the Lord's return, filling their hearts with strength and peace, and producing the power of the Holy Ghost within them.