That is heavy stuff, tc. I never read Christ meeting Abraham in that way. It does seem to make sense right now, but I would value reading cinciella counter-statement.
Since you asked:
Cronos:
TC, can you clarify what you mean by this? I think the Jews are following the faith of their father Abraham, just that they have not acknowledged the Messiah.
Topcat54:
Here’s a shocking statement for most modern western Christians: Abraham was Trinitarian. Abraham trusted in Jesus Christ, the divine second person, for his salvation. We have Christ’s own testimony to that effect:
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8)
Abraham saw Christ and rejoiced. Abraham wasn’t some bland monotheist who believed in some unnamed (possibly human-ony) messiah; he believed in Jesus Christ, the second person of the holy Trinity, the God-man who entered history to save His people from their sins. The faith of Abraham was a Trinitarian faith.
This is why Paul tells us in Galatians 3 that those who believe in Christ are the true children of Abraham.
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:29)
It’s a sad thing to say, but based on the NT testimony, unbelieving Jews are not practicing the faith of Abraham.
Cronos:
That is heavy stuff, tc. I never read Christ meeting Abraham in that way. It does seem to make sense right now, but I would value reading cinciella counter-statement.
Well, when it comes to the Word of God, I don’t like to speculate. I’m more the literalist, ya know! There’s nothing in the OT that shows Abraham worshipping God with the knowledge that He is a triune God. I think to say otherwise is to be speculative. What we do know is that God was pleased with his faith. “For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”. Romans 4:3 (Also Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:9, Romans 4:22, Galatians 3:6 & James 2:23 - where he was also called God’s friend. I think that when Jesus said, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day...” that Abraham indeed saw Christ sent to earth as the ultimate sacrifice, but from his position in Heaven, as a saint in Glory.
I’m one that believes the Bible as it is written. The OT is clearly prophesying about Christ’s coming and those scriptures were partly fulfilled in His first coming. Many of the prophecies about the Israelites in the OT have not been fulfilled as of yet. Many of them are tied together with the “land”. We’ve seen the re-gathering happening in our lifetimes. It is clear that they are still looking for their Messiah. All their feasts and festivals, the Torah, all point to Jesus, but they have been blinded for a time. That is all laid out in Romans 11. I believe that the Jews will soon see their coming Messiah, repent, and that God will remove the “ungodliness” from Jacob, as prophesied in Isaiah, and reiterated by Paul in Romans 11.
Romans 4:20-22: Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
I’m not persuaded that Abraham knew that God was a triune God, but I am persuaded that he believed that God would keep His promises toward all his descendants. And some are yet to be fulfilled.