Abraham

So Abraham left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God brought him out of that place and into this land where you are now living.

He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.

Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. And Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.

Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.

‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered?

If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”

Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham,

I ask then, did God reject His people? Certainly not! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.

The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.

For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.

For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham.

When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,

And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

…and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.

Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.

For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,

Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.

…just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.