Who are the seed of Abraham?

Answer

The question “who are the seed of Abraham?” can be answered in several ways, and it is important to make some distinctions. There is the Seed of Abraham (Seed being singular); there are the physical descendants of Abraham according to the flesh; and there are the spiritual descendants of Abraham (those who, like Abraham, have faith in God).

The (singular) Seed of Abraham is Christ, as Galatians 3:16, quoting Genesis 12:7, says, “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.” The passage goes on to explain that an inheritance was promised to Abraham’s Seed (Christ) apart from the Law. Later, the Mosaic Law was introduced, but it did not annul the promises made to Abraham or to Abraham’s Seed (Christ).

Just as Abraham believed God and his faith was counted as righteousness «And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. », (Genesis 15:6), so are all today who believe in God’s Son justified apart from the Law. In this way, Abraham is the “father” of all who believe (Romans 4:11-17). “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” «And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.», (Galatians 3:29).

Of course, the seed of Abraham can also refer to the Hebrew people who descended from Abraham through Isaac. More broadly, the seed of Abraham could include Arabs, who trace their lineage through Ishmael. This is the physical seed of Abraham. The spiritual seed of Abraham (believers in Jesus Christ)

Is composed of individuals from various nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.

The Jewish religious leaders in the first century took pride in their lineage as descendants of Abraham. They viewed their physical descent from Abraham as a guarantee of God’s favor. This mindset prevented them from recognizing the need for inner repentance—and led to a rebuke from John the Baptist, who urged them to repent. Anticipating their reliance on being Abraham’s descendants, John stated, “Do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham” «and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. », (Matthew 3:9).

Jesus addressed the same issue later on. When speaking to the unbelieving Jews, Jesus stressed the importance of accepting His teachings as truth and obeying His commands. They responded, “We are descendants of Abraham” «They answered him, We are Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? », (John 8:33, KJV). Jesus then rebuked them for planning to kill Him; their stubborn reply was once again, “Abraham is our father” (verse 39a). In response, Jesus differentiated between the physical descendants of Abraham and the genuine, spiritual descendants of Abraham: “If you were Abraham’s children . . . then you would do what Abraham did” (verse 39b). The dialogue intensifies as the Jews, for a third time, mention their lineage to Abraham: “Are you greater than our father Abraham?” they questioned Jesus (verse 53). Jesus further provokes them: “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad” (verse 56). The Jews were incredulous that Jesus implied being contemporaneous with Abraham, and that’s when Je

Jesus brings the discussion to a climax with a declaration of full deity: “Very truly I tell you, . . . before Abraham was born, I am!” (verse 58). In anger, the Jews tried to stone Jesus (verse 59), once again demonstrating that merely being the physical descendants of Abraham is insufficient— they needed to be born again «Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. », (John 3:3).

Paul summarizes the distinction between the offspring of Abraham in Romans 2:28–29: “A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 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.”