The Bible Class

LESSON XXIX. Christ Promised to Abraham

Questions to Lesson 29^*

The Lord made certain promises to Abraham, [Genesis 12,] among which was the promise that in him all the families, or nations of the earth should be blessed. The great blessing, thus promised to the world through Abraham, was the blessing of the gospel of Christ-the offer of pardon and salvation to all nations. This blessing was to be given through Abraham, because Christ was to come through him, that is, Christ should be one of his descendants. BIC 67.2

So Paul says to the Galatians, 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. Galatians 3:8. BIC 68.1

Gospel means good news. The good news of a Saviour to come was preached to Abraham. The Apostle makes this still more clear in verse 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. BIC 68.2

Thus the ancients had a promise of Christ, the Saviour of sinners. But how were they to become righteous, and so be saved by him? They must have faith; and so it is said, Even, as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Galatians 3:6; Genesis 15:6. BIC 68.3

But faith without works is dead. True faith always produces obedience. 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. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles [tents] with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:8-10. BIC 68.4

Abraham’s hope reached beyond this present world, to the City of God, with its twelve foundations-the City that Jesus promised to commandment-keepers. Revelation 22:14. BIC 69.1