When we are debating over the terms and words, we miss the big thing - the validity of interpretation of the Word - which is crucial. This is our concern and burden... today's believers, who are very intelligent and super smart in their schools, business, offices, skills and in home-making, are kept sadly in elementary school level in "handling the Word with confidence." The money-minded tele-evangelists, preachers and pastors usurp their ignorance.
Our BIG question here is: Is it justifiable to interpret "the blessings of Abraham," in materialistic sense? Does Paul intend the material prosperity in Galatians 3:14 "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit"? (NIV). Or something else?
I draw my attention to the entire letter as a student of the Word.
Paul's intent of writing this letter is to establish the churches in Galatia by founding them in the essence of the gospel in the light of false teachings of the Judaizers (circumcision party).
He does it first by authenticating his call and his gospel,
by encountering with Peter and Barnabas for the truth of the gospel,
by exhorting not to be foolish and fleshly.
by proving his case - "salvation by faith alone and not by works" - illustrating from Abraham and the Seed, by exhorting them to live in freedom in the Spirit rather than under the bondage of flesh,
Here, in the text, I observe one thing. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul does not mention the threefold blessings of Abraham (Prosperity, Posterity and Property) in Genesis 12:1-3, as many prosperity preachers and Judaizers readily do!
Rather Paul pin-pointedly selects the core of the Abrahamic blessings, without which everything jeopardizes. Paul quotes only Genesis 12:3b in Galatians 3:8, "Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
The context is "Justification by faith on Jesus Christ." So also, the blessing of Abraham is not the material things as the Judaizers and prosperity preachers falsely interpret. According to Paul, the original author, it is "the justification by faith on Jesus Christ alone."
Paul eventually applies it to us, the gentiles, who are the children of Abraham by faith, the descendants of the Seed (singular), to enjoy the blessing of Abraham - the justification by faith on the death of Jesus Christ on the tree. Period. Nothing less, nothing else and nothing more.
Let us discern any teaching in the light of the Holy-Spirit-inspired-Word, before we buy it.
Our BIG question here is: Is it justifiable to interpret "the blessings of Abraham," in materialistic sense? Does Paul intend the material prosperity in Galatians 3:14 "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit"? (NIV). Or something else?
I draw my attention to the entire letter as a student of the Word.
Paul's intent of writing this letter is to establish the churches in Galatia by founding them in the essence of the gospel in the light of false teachings of the Judaizers (circumcision party).
He does it first by authenticating his call and his gospel,
by encountering with Peter and Barnabas for the truth of the gospel,
by exhorting not to be foolish and fleshly.
by proving his case - "salvation by faith alone and not by works" - illustrating from Abraham and the Seed, by exhorting them to live in freedom in the Spirit rather than under the bondage of flesh,
Here, in the text, I observe one thing. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul does not mention the threefold blessings of Abraham (Prosperity, Posterity and Property) in Genesis 12:1-3, as many prosperity preachers and Judaizers readily do!
Rather Paul pin-pointedly selects the core of the Abrahamic blessings, without which everything jeopardizes. Paul quotes only Genesis 12:3b in Galatians 3:8, "Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”
The context is "Justification by faith on Jesus Christ." So also, the blessing of Abraham is not the material things as the Judaizers and prosperity preachers falsely interpret. According to Paul, the original author, it is "the justification by faith on Jesus Christ alone."
Paul eventually applies it to us, the gentiles, who are the children of Abraham by faith, the descendants of the Seed (singular), to enjoy the blessing of Abraham - the justification by faith on the death of Jesus Christ on the tree. Period. Nothing less, nothing else and nothing more.
Let us discern any teaching in the light of the Holy-Spirit-inspired-Word, before we buy it.
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