Preschool
God created man in his own image (Genesis 1:27).
Heirs of Abraham’s Blessings
Memory Verses
Primary
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him (Genesis 1:27).
Junior
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1:27).
Background Scripture: Galatians 3; Genesis 22
Lesson Scripture: Galatians 3:6-14, 29; Genesis 22:15-18
Introduction
What comes to mind when thinking of Abraham’s blessings? Are the material blessings that were given to him foremost, or is it the promise made to him of a Savior for all mankind? This promise was made to Abraham because of his faith in God. Now, through personal faith in Jesus, we become as Abraham’s heirs and receive the blessings promised him.
A beautiful promise is made to each of us. An inheritance is left to us by Christ, the King of the world! An heir is defined as one who is entitled to the property of another or one who continues the legacy of another after that person’s death. Jesus died, so we, becoming his heirs, have the blessing of salvation. He rose again, imparting his presence through the Holy Spirit living within us. We are his heirs if we in faith receive Him into our hearts. Our responsibility is now to obediently follow Him, carrying on his legacy.
Key Verse
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith (Rom. 4:13).
Lesson Scripture
Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 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.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 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:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Genesis 22:15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 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;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Studying the Lesson
God was pleased with Abraham because of his belief, faith, and obedience. These three attributes are crucial to a life that is pleasing to God. When we consider the life of Abraham, we perceive he was an ordinary man of extraordinary faith. It was this faith in God that prompted his complete obedience. Faith and belief working together brought obedience. This obedience would not have been possible without Abraham first believing in God, and then embracing faith in God. It was the complete obedience through faith that God saw in Abraham, and He blessed him for it. Abraham was blessed not only with material blessings but also with a spiritual blessing. Anyone the world over can also inherit the blessings found in living a life of faith in Christ Jesus.
God promised Abraham that because of his faith He would bless all nations through his seed. Who is this seed? Jesus Christ, in direct lineage from Abraham, completely fulfilled this prophecy. Jesus, as the seed of Abraham, became the sacrifice that would open the door of redemption to everyone. All men can be freed from the curse of sin through faith in Christ, and all nations are blessed through the true followers of Christ who obey his teachings to serve their fellowman.
We must grasp our salvation in true faith and then, through the sacrifice of our will, live in obedience to Christ. We are blessed with his indwelling in our hearts. This gift of the Holy Spirit living in us is a most precious gift. As we become more attentive and obedient to his voice, we are blessed by being able to bear the fruit of the Spirit.
The Scripture explains that the seed of Abraham under the new covenant is not a blood lineage but a lineage of true faith in God. The children of Jesus Christ are all those who receive Him with true faith. The lesson scripture states, “Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.” This is speaking of spiritual victory for God’s people through Christ. When we give our heart to Jesus, He becomes the keeper of it and places a guard against the evil that wants to come into our hearts. What a beautiful promise! We need not live in bondage to the flesh or the spirits of this world, but through Jesus living in us, we can have victory.
Practical Truths for Today
Do we genuinely appreciate the spiritual heritage we receive through faith in Jesus Christ? Those who were dead in sin become alive in Christ Jesus. Gratefulness for what Christ has done for us will go far in giving us victory over our daily struggles. A thankful spirit will give us the humility to recognize we can only overcome through Christ’s power in us.
When thinking of blessings, most often material things come to mind. We tend to think that if we are right with God, He will bless us with financial security, a nice home, a good job, good health, etc. This kind of thinking indicates a materialistic mindset. It is far more important to have faith that God will take care of us. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Do we pray for God’s blessings in our lives in the material areas only, or do we seek to be blessed with spiritual riches? We can be assured that when we are right with God, He will bless us, though possibly not in the manner we anticipated. We must be careful to avoid basing our standing with God on how well we do materially, rather recognizing the value in those treasures that are eternal. By simply accepting we may not do well materially, God will supply all our needs. All are blessed abundantly who accept God in faith and obedience.
Constantly dwelling on our problems rather than entrusting them to God brings spiritual poverty to our lives. Focusing on oneself is often the result of a prideful desire to appear righteous and an attempt at justification through works and not through faith. How foolishly we struggle with wrong thoughts, attitudes, or actions that we of ourselves have no power to overcome! We need to be as little children who trust their parents to take care of their problems and have no thought as to how their parents will manage that care.
A self-righteous state is a form of godliness but will not testify to the power of God. We can expend much effort in trying to deny ourselves without God’s power and still not have complete victory. In doing this, we are refusing to acknowledge God’s power and our own access to spiritual wealth. We exchange a rich inheritance in Christ for spiritual poverty. A song we often sing says, “Increase my faith, dear Lord, I pray, That I may have more working power.” 1 As our faith increases, we must be obedient to what God asks of us, for faith without works is dead. When we have true faith in Christ and walk in obedience to Him, we will have access to a storehouse of spiritual wealth.
Have we properly considered the rich gifts that Christ has given us? As his followers, we are called to serve others. Passing on the blessings God has given us to all who we encounter can be as simple as a smile, a little conversation, or a pleasant attitude. We should take time to share what God has done for us whenever possible. Let us praise God that through Jesus we are blessed!
Questions
- Why do we struggle with discontentment when we have such a rich spiritual inheritance?
- How can we gain a better awareness of others’ needs in order to be a blessing to them with our lives?
- Do we complicate our spiritual walk in such a way that it can limit God’s blessings in our lives?
- How can we keep a thankfulness for redemption alive in our hearts?
- 1 Henry W. VanHoose, “Increase My Faith, Dear Lord,” Christian Hymnal
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).