Ezekiel chapter 33:23; "Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel [Meta-the carnal-minded], speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the [promise] land: but we [Abraham] are many; the land is given us for inheritance." This tells us quite clearly, Abraham is made up of many members in particular, constituting one group or body (Galatians, 3:7).
The first Abraham of the letter looks like the scripture was talking about a human being called Abraham; the spiritual interpretation was saying Abraham was anyone who had faith in something greater than the law. Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham was the father of the faith in the stories, which was of the flesh, his offspring was Ishmael, one side of the covenant, which is the letter. The other side of the covenant was Isaac, in whom was the seed of Christ, which is the New Testament in his blood, or the life of the truth; these two represent the Old and New Testament. Evidence for this is in John chapter eight. If you would like to see it turn to John chapter eight and start with verse 31 and wind your way down to verse 56. "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.... They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin [the Law = dead letter, i.e., 1st. Corinthians, 15:56 & Galatians 3:22]. And the servant abideth not in the house forever:
\but the Son abideth ever.... If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye
shall be free [from the law] indeed.
"I know" that ye are Abraham's seed [remember
that statement]; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no
place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that
which ye have seen with your father.... They answered and said unto him, Abraham
is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye
would do the works of Abraham [He just said they were Abraham's seed].
But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have
heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then
said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father,
even God.... Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me:
for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent
me.
Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father [Abraham] ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it [He's talking about the Jews He just called Abraham's seed].... And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?... Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonor me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death [the law]. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.... Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead [God is not the god of the dead]? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father [the father of lies he mentioned above?] Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad". [This is spiritual talk my friends]
That was very plain! He called their (Jews) Father, Abraham. And back in verse 44 He said their (Jews) Father was the devil. Beautiful! All through the conversation it was the two Abraham's that were being discussed. The one of the letter, which is dead, or of the law, and the one of the spirit which is alive and saw Jesus' day.
Keep in mind, the two sons are the two covenants. Look at Romans 4 and verse 13: "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, [which is dead] but through the righteousness of faith [in Christ]". Galatians 3 and verse 29; "And if ye be Christ's [not of the law], then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise". Did you notice it said, "IF ye be Christ's are you the children of Abraham". If the story of Abraham is taken literally, then those before Christ was not heir's to the promise. Romans 9:7,8, "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac [not Ishmael, the Law] shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh [this is not human flesh], these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise [the Spirit] are counted for the seed". Romans 4:1, "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?" I'm going to leave that question for you to play with, I don't want to take away the surprise.
I will add these next few verses to lead you to the water. Galatians 4:22- 24: "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law (literal interpretation of scripture), do you not hear the law?....For it is written, Abraham had TWO sons, the one by a bondmaid (under the law), the other by a FREE woman (not under the law).... But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh (law again); but he of the free woman was by promise (spirit). Which things are an allegory: for these (two non-human sons) are the two covenants (Ishmael - the letter that killeth the spirit of the word, AND Isaac - the spirit that giveth life to the Word, or the Son):..." read the rest of the chapter for more info.
