What are the Works of Abraham here ?
What are the Works of Abraham here ?
Jn 8:39
39 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.
What works would they do [predestinated to do] if they were the true children of Abraham, that is his children of promise ?
Rom 4:12
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but
who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
Gal 3:7
7 Know ye therefore that
they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
The works of Abraham therefore would be a consistent walk of and in Faith, which means Faith is a Work, a Deed, a Walk !
Walking is an act, a work ! If they were truly his children they would be caused to follow his example in living a consistent life of Faith !
It is stated by one commentator [John Gill] this:
The Persic version reads in the singular number, "ye would do the work of Abraham"; and if any particular work is designed, it is most likely to be the work of faith, since it was that which Abraham was famous for;
For Faith is that which Abraham is famous for Rom 4:16
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law,
but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
He is the Father of all them that believe Rom 4:11
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised:
that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Also Note, Abraham was their Father before they believed, God made him their Father way back in Gen 17:5
5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham;
for a father of many nations have I made thee.
So they believe in time because they were children promised to Abraham as was Isaac !
This also concludes with the fact, if any believe themselves to be Justified before God because of their act of believing or faith, then they are claiming justification before God because of their works, which contradicts being Justified in the same manner as was Abraham, who was not Justified by works, and had no reason to boast Rom 4:1-3
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For
if Abraham were justified by works[his faith or act of believing],
he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.