Abraham in the New Testament (2)

Abraham in the New Testament

Abraham the son of Terah was a man who lived in the days of Genesis. Even though he is a person that comes out in Old Testament, his name was mentioned 69 times in the New Testament. There are many passages about Abraham in the Epistle to the Romans as well. So what can we learn about him from these passages in the New Testament? What is his role in the New Testament?

“When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot.”
- Genesis 11:26-27

Abraham and His Justification by Faith

Paul wrote about Abraham especially in chapter 4 in the context about justification. He wrote about Abraham as an example of the justification by faith. Because when Paul wrote this letter, there was a problem between Jews and the Gentiles about justification by faith and justification by works. So Paul had to write in this letter that the Gospel was given to all the people who believe in God no matter if the person was circumcised or not. So he made clear that justification is only by faith by telling the story of Abraham our ancestor.

“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
- Romans 4:1-3

Abraham as Our Father of Faith

If Abraham our ancestor was justified by his faith, we are also going to be justified by our faith because we are his descendants. But why are we called his descendants even though we are not Jews or Hebrews? As Paul wrote in Romans 9:4-8, we are not his descendants in flesh but we became Abraham’s children in faith by the redemption in Christ. Jesus Christ our Lord fulfilled the promise by his death on the cross and resurrection. So we can call Abraham the father of our faith. Because people will be called “Abraham’s children” by their faith and not by the blood relationship.

“This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”
- Romans 9:8

Why Are We Called the Children of Abraham?

Abraham was justified by his faith. So his children in faith were also justified by faith. In the New Testament, people who were circumcised were not the only Abraham’s children anymore but he became the father of all the people who will be justified by faith. And this is the fulfillment of the promise that God gave to Abraham in Genesis. The promise that all the people who believe in God will receive inheritance from Him is the grace of God that He gave to Abraham and his descendants. Not by law or works but only by faith. We will be part of the promise only by believing in God.

“He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.”
- Romans 4:11-12

The Promised Heir of Abraham

When God gave this promise to Abraham about the promised heir. He had no child. Even when they grew older, they did not have a child. Even though he was called “the father of many nations” he had no child. But not only that he did not doubt the promise but his faith grew stronger and he kept believing in the fulfilment of the promise. This is his faith that justified him and it is an good example for all of us for the justification.

“For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.”
- Romans 4:13

The Father of Faith and His Children

Abraham our father of the faith is the example for our faith. So Paul wrote about him and his justification no only for his sake but for us too. Because we will be justified by faith like Abraham was. And this is why Christ died and resurrected and fulfilled the promise.

“But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord…”
- Romans 4:23-24