Jesus said Abraham rejoiced to see His day, and he saw it, and was glad.
Paul also said that God preached the Gospel (the justification of the heathen through faith) ahead of time to Abraham, saying, "In thee and in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed".
So Abraham's promise refers to the Gospel.
This fact qualifies the meaning - the application and scope - of Abraham's blessing.
It expands the meaning - but also limits it to exclude some common misunderstandings.
It expands it to include Gentiles - but also limits it among Jews to mean believing Jews only.
It multiplies the sense of righteousness, salvation, and blessing which we have the right to enjoy in Jesus (and we do well to learn our privileges as heirs of the blessing) - but it also means that the blessing is received only through the Gospel-scheme (that is, only through faith in Jesus) and not through some alternative scheme (such as Judaism), and only in this time (now is the day of salvation) not in some future time (such as at Christ's Second Coming nor during some future Millennium) - it must be received while it is called Today, or else it will be too late.
(The Gospel-scheme does include waiting patiently for the Second Coming, but it doesn't include an alternative way of salvation or an extended time of salvation beyond Today. "That there should be time no longer," says Revelation. The "everlasting Gospel" is to be preached while it is called Today.)
Now, go consider the greatness of Abraham's blessing for Today - and enjoy!
Paul also said that God preached the Gospel (the justification of the heathen through faith) ahead of time to Abraham, saying, "In thee and in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed".
So Abraham's promise refers to the Gospel.
This fact qualifies the meaning - the application and scope - of Abraham's blessing.
It expands the meaning - but also limits it to exclude some common misunderstandings.
It expands it to include Gentiles - but also limits it among Jews to mean believing Jews only.
It multiplies the sense of righteousness, salvation, and blessing which we have the right to enjoy in Jesus (and we do well to learn our privileges as heirs of the blessing) - but it also means that the blessing is received only through the Gospel-scheme (that is, only through faith in Jesus) and not through some alternative scheme (such as Judaism), and only in this time (now is the day of salvation) not in some future time (such as at Christ's Second Coming nor during some future Millennium) - it must be received while it is called Today, or else it will be too late.
(The Gospel-scheme does include waiting patiently for the Second Coming, but it doesn't include an alternative way of salvation or an extended time of salvation beyond Today. "That there should be time no longer," says Revelation. The "everlasting Gospel" is to be preached while it is called Today.)
Now, go consider the greatness of Abraham's blessing for Today - and enjoy!
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