Children of the Promise: True Descendants of Abraham

Romans 9:6–9 (NLT)

⁶ Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! ⁷ Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. ⁸ This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. ⁹ For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Message

Abraham had a child named Ishmael through Sarah’s maid named Hagar (Genesis 16:1-4, 15-16). He had other children after Sarah died (Genesis 25:1-6). But, God said to him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” (7^b; Genesis 17:19, 21, 21:12)

This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children. (8) Not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! (6^b)

Isaac is called the child of the promise because God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” (9; Genesis 18:10, 14)

God promised Joseph the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:20-23). God promised Mary the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:28-38). God promised Zechariah the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1: 11-20). God promised Isaac, Jacob, Samson, Samuel, Solomon, Josiah, and Cyrus.

Moreover, God promised those who receive Christ a spiritual rebirth, through which they become children of God (John 1:12–13). They are truly descendants of Abraham, who is the spiritual father of all who believe.