John, the son of Zechariah, went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins – preparing the way for the Messiah, Jesus – as he was born to do.

 

 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

 

8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

 

9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”   Luke 3:7-9 NIV

 

John came to prepare the hearts of men to receive Jesus. He came to stir them up, to make them hungry for God, to make them aware that they needed a personal Savior. Usually, it is so much easier for people to trust in their heritage and to rely on someone else’s faith and sacrifice, rather than building their own relationship with God.

 

The Israelites faith was in the fact that Abraham was their earthly father. Now Abraham believed the Word of God and because of his faith, Father God made him some wonderful promises. These promises applied also to those who would follow him, who approached God in the same attitude of faith. The promises are not inherited because of who your earthly father is, but because you had the same faith in your Heavenly Father as father Abraham did. Your inheritance comes to you as a result of your faith and your faith alone.

 

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter?

 

2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-but not before God.

 

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

 

4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.

 

5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.   Romans 4:1-5 NIV

Abraham was justified in the eyes of God, because of his faith, not because of his own efforts. This justification is a free gift, which you receive by trusting in God alone – and not yourself – and by believing His Word.

 

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.

 

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

 

14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless,

 

15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

 

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by 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.

 

17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.   Romans 4:12-17 NIV

 

God made this promise of righteousness – of right-standing with Him – to Abraham and to all those, from any and every nation, who would believe in God and believe His promise just as Abraham did. Even

 

Abraham’s own blood descendants were required to accept the promise by faith. The act of circumcision alone was not enough to release Abraham’s offspring from the curse of the law – it was faith in God’s sacrifice, on mankind’s behalf, that purchased their freedom from final judgment and eternal damnation.

 

Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”  

 

7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.

 

8 The 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.”  

 

9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.  Galatians 3:6-9 NIV

 

All those who put their faith and trust in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ are saved from condemnation and blessed with eternal life, in the presence of Father God for eternity, along with father Abraham.