61. Counted for the Seed
Romans 9:8 They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Faith in Christ separates the children of the promise from the children of the flesh. The promise for children of the promise is that they are counted for the seed. The true seed of Abraham are believers in Jesus. The “seed children” receive the promises given to Abraham in Genesis 12. These children are a blessing to the nations: “In you (the children of the seed) all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This blessing came to all the earth through the Son of Abraham, the Son of God, who died and rose for the salvation of the world’s people. Those who believe in this Promised Seed are counted for the seed; through Christ and His believers the world is blessed.
Believers are the salt of the earth, and as such, they preserve the social order of the people of the world; those who believe the Gospel of the Kingdom salt all social interactions. Life on earth with and between sinners is preserved and blessed by those who are counted for the seed. Spoilage, rottenness and corruption would run rampant without the salt of blessing.
The New Testament fulfills the Old Testament and answers the question, “Who is the seed of Abraham?” OT Israel, the people of God, is subsumed into the NT Church, the people of God. The people of God are the point and goal of the God of History. We are privileged to be counted as the seed. The Seed has a permeating and leavening influence on the world. I believe in Jesus = I am a child of the promise = I am counted for the seed.