Galatians 3.6-9 connects Abraham, faith, and the good news of Jesus Christ across several centuries.  Recall that Abram (former name of Abraham) was given seven promises in Genesis 12.  God have him just the one command – to go to Canaan.  So Abram went.  He obeyed.  He believed God’s promises enough to follow where He led, even though Sarai was barren and the land of Canaan was already full of foreigners.

God is the active force in all the seven promises. Abram will be blessed so that he can be a blessing to others, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed. The main thing that Abram contributes is belief, which was “counted to him as righteousness.” Galatians goes on to testify: “it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.  And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”

The good news of salvation was announced dimly to Abraham, but then much more clearly by Jesus: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3.16).”  Abram believed enough to follow God.  The promise to him was the messianic blessing to all who now believe in Jesus enough to follow Him.  Like Abraham, our main contribution is to believe.