The Twisted Promise

God chose Abraham to be His friend among many others who were alive during his time. When God called Abraham, God made many promises to him. Among others, God promised Abraham a child. But the more attractive one is the one in which God promised that all the families of the earth shall be blessed in Abraham. See the following passages:

Genesis 12:1-3  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Genesis 18:18  Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

Genesis 22:16-18  And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Abraham Was Truly Rich Materially

There is no denying that Abraham was physically and materially blessed by God as we can see in the following passages and many more:

Genesis 13:2  And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Genesis 24:35  And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

Isaiah 51:2  Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

The Folly of the Prosperity Preachers

The Bible has a lot to say about the riches of Abraham, even in servants.  It is not surprising therefore that many prosperity preachers of our days missed the point of the blessing of Abraham. It is generally believed that people will only notice something for which they’ve been searching. The same goes with the story of the ‘elephant in the room’.

False teachers will go to the Bible looking for something, they open the Bible with a preconceived notion. They will do all that they can to make the Bible say what they want it to say, thereby missing the actual message of the Bible. This is the only reason why many preachers today will take the Abraham’s blessing for material possessions. It’s very ridiculous!

Who or What is this seed? In Genesis 12 and Genesis 18 above, God says that the whole world will be blessed in Abraham: “in thee“, “in him“. When we get to Genesis 22:18, God says “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed” Who is the seed of Abraham mentioned here? Is it the Jews or a specific Person?

The Book of Galatians has the answer. Let’s take a look:

Galatians 3:16  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.

The Book of Galatians does a good job of point our attention to the difference between ‘seeds’ and ‘seed’, one being plural and the other singular. So it is not to the ‘seeds’, meaning not to the Jews in general which are consider the physical seeds of Abraham. But to the ‘seed’, “which is Christ”. The point here is that the blessing promised to all the families of the earth through Abraham is supposed to be accomplished in the seed of Abraham. The seed is Jesus Christ. So what is this blessing which comes through Christ?

The seed is Jesus Christ.

When I used to attend Nigerian Churches, they taught (and still teach today) that the promised blessing of Abraham is physical blessing and material possessions. They claim that because Abraham was physically blessed, and we are Abraham’s Children, we also should be ‘blessed’. They will proceed in telling the people that in order to receive this blessing, you have to give money to them, you have to sow seeds, you have to pay firstfruit offering, and all the other made-up offerings in their Churches today.

This false teaching on the blessing of Abraham has become so popular among Nigerian Churches that some people composed a song in regard to it. The Choir will often sing the song when the Church is about to collect money from the people:

“Abraham’s blessings are mine, Abraham’s blessings are mine
I’m blessed in the morning, in the noon, in the evening
Because Abraham’s blessings are mine”

The only way the above is true is of course if you’re speaking of salvation.

But don’t get me wrong, it is not only Nigerian Churches that practice this madness, I just happened to be taught this lie there. There are other preachers around the world, especially the Televangelists who go around asking people to sow seeds to their lives in order for the givers to be blessed in return. And they will often site the blessing of Abraham.

The Blessing of Abraham is Not Material Possessions

Contrary to the wishes of false teachers, the blessing of Abraham is not money or any material wealth. But what exactly is this blessing? I will let the Bible do the talking. Go with me again to the Book of Galatians:

Galatians 3:8-9  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.

Hmm! Did you get that? Have you started seeing the connection between the gospel and this promised blessing of Abraham? First of all, verse 8 says God already knew that He would justify the heathen (the Gentiles) through faith. This message was given to Abraham even before the gospel, that the nations will be blessed in Abraham. Then verse 9 continues to even spell it out that those who are of faith (meaning those who have put their trust in Christ) are blessed with this blessing of Abraham.

Let continue with Galatians:

Galatians 3:10-14  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Take a look at verse 13 in the above passage. The Bible says that “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law” because He was “made a curse for us”. There is a curse in verse 10, the cause come upon all men because we were unable to keep “all” the Laws of God. This is the curse from which Christ redeemed us through His life, sufferings, death, burial, and resurrection. This redemption by Christ gave us two blessings as pointed out by the two instances of the word ‘that’ in verse 14:

•  “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.” This blessing is the forgiveness of sin and justification that we received when we put our faith in the finished work of Christ. Please refer again to Galatians 3:8-9 referenced above.
• The second blessing is “that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith”. This is indwelling Holy Spirit, baptism of the Holy Spirit. Therefore Galatians 3:14 agrees with Ephesians 1:13-14 and many other passages in the New Testament which teach that the believers received the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.

A Quick Word Study

The word ‘blessed’ in Galatians 3:9 referenced earlier is the Greek word εὐλογέω (eulogéō) pronounced yoo-log-eh’-o. According to Strong’s Greek Dictionary, the word eulogéō means “to speak well of, i.e. (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper):—bless, praise.” I’m going somewhere with this, but just be patient with me and read on. By now can you guess what this blessing is?

Also, the word translated ‘blessing’ in Galatians 3:14 referenced in this section is the Greek word εὐλογία (eulogía) pronounced yoo-log-ee’-ah where we found our English word ‘Eulogy‘. This word is similar in meaning to the word translated ‘blessed’ in Galatians 3:9. According to Strong’s Greek Dictionary, the word eulogía means “fine speaking, i.e. elegance of language; commendation (“eulogy”), i.e. (reverentially) adoration; religiously, benediction; by implication, consecration; by extension, benefit or largess:—blessing (a matter of) bounty (× -tifully), fair speech.”

As you can see, the context of these two passages contradict the idea of the blessing of Abraham being material possessions. But not only that, a close look at the words ‘blessed’ and ‘blessing’ in the passages helps us further understand what the passages are saying. This is the part that many prosperity preachers have missed. It is obvious that the blessing of Abraham has absolutely nothing to do with material possessions, financial blessings, or that you will be rich like Abraham.

The blessing of Abraham has absolutely nothing to do with material possessions, financial blessings, or that you will be rich like Abraham.

The Blessing of Abraham is Salvation

This blessing has everything to do with the justification and the gift of the Holy Spirit that we received when we put our faith in Christ. This obviously makes us even more blessed than Abraham himself. We are saved, forgiven, justified, got the righteousness of God which is the perfected righteousness, and we get the baptism of the Spirit. All this because of what Christ did for us and nothing that we can accomplish on our own. In order word, the blessing of Abraham is salvation!

The entire New Testament teaching agree that salvation entails the forgiveness of sin (that’s justification) and the imputed righteousness, as well as the receiving of the gift of the Holy Spirit and eventually a place with God in heaven. This is the blessing of Abraham. God has had a plan of salvation for the Gentiles from before the beginning of time. When you get a chance, please read the following passages: Genesis 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; Psalm 72:17; Acts 3:25-26; Romans 4:11; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Galatians 3:8,16,28; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 3:11; Revelation 7:9.

Listen to the words of F. B. Hole in commenting on Galatians 3:

“The bearing of the curse was in view of the bestowal of the blessing. Galatians 3:14 speaks to us of this, presenting the blessing in a twofold way. First, there is “the blessing of Abraham,” which is righteousness. Second, there is the gift of the Spirit, a blessing beyond anything bestowed upon Abraham. The wonder of the work of Christ is this, that righteousness now rests upon Gentiles who believe, as well as upon believers who are Abraham’s children according to the flesh. All who believe are in a spiritual sense the children of Abraham, as Galatians 3:7 informed us.”

This Blessing Comes at No Cost To You

Anyone who is genuinely saved today already possesses the blessing of Abraham. You don’t have to give money, pay tithes, sow seeds, and even do anything to receive this blessing. The Bible says it is “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.” Titus 3:5-7.

I hope you get that!

The blessing of Abraham is salvation!

It is Tied to the Gospel

The whole world was under the curse of the Law, both Jews and Gentiles. We know that the Mosaic Law was given to the Jews and not to the Gentiles. But in Roman 2:14-15, the Bible says concerning the Gentiles that they have the Law of their conscience. The bad news is that none of us could completely fulfill the requirements of the Law. We’ve all offended in at least one of them, which make us guilty of all.

James 2:10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

So because of our transgression of the Law, that is, our sins, we are cursed and condemned by the Law. This is a terrible situation from which we cannot be freed on our own. We need a Savior.

But the story does not end with the bad news! It continues to the good news which is directly tied to Christ and His accomplishment. Jesus Christ who loved us, came in the flesh to suffer in our place. He suffered. He bled. He died. He paid the full penalty of our sins. The passage referenced earlier says He became “a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

See also,

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Jesus Christ was the sinless Savior who gave Himself for the sinful world. What this means to a sinner or an unsaved person is that someone [Christ] loved you enough 2000 years to die and paid for your sins.

Acknowledging this, the Bible says if you, an unsaved sinner, can admit that you have sinned and come short of God’s standard of righteousness, and that you cannot do anything to save yourself, and therefore believe with your heart that Christ suffered and died in your place, that is, to pay for your sin, and that He was buried and He rose again the third day, you will be saved. No additional works or rituals required, only believe!

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 8:9 that “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” He was rich in His glory in heaven. But He left all that and came to experience the poverty of this world. The Bible says because He became poor, we through His poverty will be rich, that is, we will one day be in His glory, if of course we believe.

Hear the words of Christ Himself:

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

We read also similar message in the Epistles:

Romans 3:24-28  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Romans 4:4-5  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Galatians 2:16-21  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Accept Christ’s Free Offer of Salvation Today

The offer of salvation by faith alone has been made, and God will not withdraw it while you still have the chance. If you believe that Christ suffered and died in your place, for your sins, and that He was buried and He rose again, your sins will be forgiven. Christ says you will receive the gift of eternal life immediately. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” John 3:36. This is the blessing of Abraham.

But if you choose not to believe, or try to postpone it, you have to realize that an unforgiven sinner is an enemy of God. The Bible says that the wrath of God is upon such people.

John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

“…and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36. If you die in your sins, you will go to hell and spend your eternity in the lake of fire, a very unpleasant place. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can make that decision today and get that promised blessing of Abraham.

If you’re surprised with the true interpretation of the blessing of Abraham, don’t feel bad. I was once deceived on the topic too. But we all learn every day. I would love to hear from you. What do you think? Do you understand this before, or are you learning it for the first time? Do you still believe that the blessing of Abraham still have something to do with materiel possessions? Send me an email or leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!