The Two-fold Purpose of Abraham

Nancy Paulson

(Romans 4:11-12 KJV) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: {12} And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Abraham was justified is a unique manner. It was done in such a way that the Gentiles would not be excluded in this dispensation of grace. Abraham was uncircumcised when the faith he had was counted to him as righteousness. After Abraham was justified he was given the sign of circumcision. Circumcision was given to mark, or identify, the death to the flesh. It was to symbolize to the Jewish nation that the blessings were to come from the righteousness of faith, not the result of the works of the flesh.

The children of Abraham are not just his physical dependents, but those who had the circumcision of the heart. These are the children of faith. Israel had a grave misunderstanding of circumcision. They thought that because they were circumcised they were in right standing with God. But true circumcision is that of the heart; it is having the faith of Abraham.

(Romans 2:28-29 KJV) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: {29} But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Faith is what makes one a child of Abraham. There had to be a circumcision of the heart (spirit) not just an outward manifestation of the flesh. One has to have the faith of Abraham, which he had while uncircumcised.

(Matthew 3:5-9 KJV) Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, {6} And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. {7} But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? {8} Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: {9} And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Here we see that the religious leaders in Israel thought that just being a physical descendant of Abraham was sufficient. John makes a distinction by using the phrase "children of Abraham". They were lacking the faith of Abraham.

(John 8:33 KJV) They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

(John 8:37-44 KJV) I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. {38} I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. {39} They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. {40} But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. {41} Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. {42} Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. {43} Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. {44} Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Here Jesus makes the distinction between being Abraham's seed and Abraham's children. The physical circumcision did not make them children of Abraham. They were lacking the faith of Abraham. One becomes a child of Abraham by faith. They did not have that faith and Jesus said that they had the devil as their father. They were a physical descendant of Abraham yet they were children of the devil.

Abraham learned that his flesh could not produce anything to please God and circumcision was given to be a sign of that. What circumcision ought to have said to Israel was that as descendants of Abraham it all depends on God and it is all of faith. They cannot obtain righteousness in their own strength.

In God's foreknowledge He blessed Abraham in an uncircumcised state so that Abraham might become the father of all who believe, both the uncircumcised and the circumcised who also walk in the steps of that faith Abraham had while he was uncircumcised. God did this so that the Gentiles could not be excluded from the righteousness of faith which is of grace.

Today the circumcision have to be like to uncircumcision in order to get the blessing. This is the "Gospel of the UNcircumcision". One needs to have the righteousness of faith. The Jews need to become like the Gentiles. This was unheard of in the prophetic program. Today the Gentiles are not given an exalted position, but the Jews are put down to the same level as the Gentiles. Today there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile. It is all based on faith.

This is the good news OF the uncircumcision, not just TO them; it is to everyone who has the same faith of Abraham while he was uncircumcised. It is to these that the righteousness of faith is imputed. We need to realize that we cannot obtain it ourselves. The Jews thought they had to work, work, and work to obtain righteousness. But it is of faith that it might be by grace.

(Romans 4:16 KJV) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Israel had a hard time comprehending this.

(Romans 10:3 KJV) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Paul tells the Jews that they need to now live like to Gentiles. Paul magnifies his office as Apostle to the Gentiles in the hopes of getting Israel to become like the Gentiles so that they could be saved.

(Romans 11:13-14 KJV) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: {14} If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

The word emulate means to imitate. Paul wanted the Jews to act like the Gentiles, to recognize that they were sinners and believe that Christ died for their sins, in order for the righteousness of God to be imputed to them.

(Romans 11:11 KJV) I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

Salvation has now come to the Gentiles in order to provoke Israel to jealousy. Israel who once had an exalted position would see that God was now giving salvation to the Gentiles all based of having the faith of Abraham, walking in the steps of the faith of Abraham.

God foreknew that he would justify the heathen by faith and that is why he justified Abraham in the manner He did. It was so that it would have a two-fold provision: both to the circumcision and the the uncircumcision.

There is no eternal life for anyone outside of Abraham. God made the promise of eternal life to Abraham and his seed. Eternal life is limited to Abraham's seed, but this is not just his physical seed it is to those who walk in the faith of Abraham. In order for the Gentiles to inherit eternal life they need to become children of Abraham. If you cannot look to Abraham as your father, you cannot inherit eternal life. Gentiles do not become children of Abraham through the law, works of the law, physical circumcision, or keeping the commandments, but only through faith.

(Galatians 3:6-9 KJV) 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.

Children of Abraham are those that are of faith.We are children of Abraham in accordance with the manner of our justification, which is by faith. Our justification matched that which Abraham had received. This is not true in the prophetic program.

(Romans 4:13 KJV) 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.

The blessing is found in the form of the promise. Abraham was to be the heir of the world. In Genesis 15 God promised Abraham land, but then said he was going to die before he would inherit it. Abraham understood that the way he was to be heir of the world was through having eternal life.

(Hebrews 11:8-19 KJV) By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. {9} By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: {10} For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. {11} Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. {12} Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. {13} These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. {14} For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. {15} And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. {16} But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. {17} By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. {18} Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: {19} Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Abraham knew he would get the land, but he also knew that he would die before he inherited it. Abraham understood resurrection from the dead. He understood that he would get the land in the resurrection life.

In PROPHECY eternal life is used in reference to the kingdom:

(Mark 9:43-45 KJV) And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: {44} Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. {45} And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

(Mark 9:47 KJV) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Notice He says enter into life the first two times, but the third time He says enter into the kingdom. Life=kingdom.

(Matthew 19:16-23 KJV) And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? {17} And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. {18} He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, {19} Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {20} The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? {21} Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. {22} But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. {23} Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

(Matthew 19:28-29 KJV) And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. {29} And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

In these verses we can see that inheriting the kingdom is inheriting eternal life. When were they to inherit this eternal life?

(Luke 18:29-30 KJV) And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, {30} Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

They will get eternal life in the age to come.

In the MYSTERY eternal life is more than what it is in the prophetic program. In God's wisdom He knew something about this promise of eternal life.

(Titus 3:4-7 KJV) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, {5} Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; {6} Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; {7} That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We are justified by grace, based on Christ's sacrifice and are made heirs of the hope of eternal life. We qualify for eternal life because we are justified and have received the righteousness of faith. The word hope means confident expectation. We have a confident expectation of eternal life.

(Titus 1:2 KJV) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

The hope of eternal life was promised before the world began, not just when God spoke to Abraham. God made the promise to Himself that He would give eternal life to the Body of Christ. Then in time when He promised to give eternal life to Abraham and his descendants it was done in such a way that it did not nullify His previous plan. God's promise to Abraham does not nullify the promise God made before the world began. God justified Abraham in a special manner so that we could be included in the promise.

Why did God choose to funnel the promise through Abraham? Who is Abraham's ONE seed that counts? Christ. He made the promise to Abraham in order to focus it all on the Lord Jesus Christ.

(Galatians 3:14-17 KJV) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. {15} Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. {16} 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. {17} And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

The promise was made to Abraham and his seed, which is Christ. Therefore, when God confirmed the promise to Abraham in God's mind he was confirming it to Christ. You have to be in Christ - either in prophecy or the mystery program in order to receive the blessing (eternal life).You cannot be blessed outside of Christ.

Not only has God made it possible to impute righteousness of faith to us, but He also made it possible for us to inherit eternal life.

(Galatians 3:29 KJV) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.