November 27, 2021 – Genesis 12:3 & Acts 3:25-26
Continuing with OT prophecies of Messiah fulfilled in the NT. Genesis 12 tells the story of God entering into covenant with Abram. God made a number of promises to Abram, among them the last: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). As with Genesis 3:15 and 1 John 3:8, Acts 3:25-26 is not THE ONLY New Testament acknowledgment of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abram, but Peter certainly speaks in a direct manner of the fulfillment: “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’” (Acts 3:25-26).
To those of us who are not of Jewish descent, to us has come this promise! Paul explained: “You were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12-13). Many will spend many hours, this season, shopping for gifts. But we have already received the greatest gift of all! We are children of Abraham! Children of the Messiah!
Father Abraham had many kids,
many kids had Father Abraham.
I am one of them, and so are you,
so let's all praise the Lord. –Traditional children’s song