Yes — New Testament believers are connected to Abraham through faith, not through physical descent.
Paul says that those who are of faith are the children of Abraham. Les Feldick explains that this is a spiritual connection because both Abraham and New Testament believers are saved by faith plus nothing. It does not make a Gentile into a Jew or into a physical descendant of Abraham.
Galatians 3:7 — This verse directly says that people of faith are Abraham's children, establishing the spiritual connection.
Galatians 3:29 — It shows that being in Christ makes believers Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.
The New Testament explicitly connects believers to Abraham by faith. Galatians 3:7 says, "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Galatians 3:8 adds that the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham. Galatians 3:29 says, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Les Feldick stresses that the only biblical connection New Testament believers have to Abraham is faith. He points out that Paul calls those of faith "children of Abraham," but that this does not make a Gentile a Jew. A Gentile remains a Gentile. Les teaches that God divided the Abrahamic promises into an earthly seed for Israel, pictured by the dust of the earth, and a heavenly/spiritual seed for the Church, pictured by the stars of heaven. Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing, and so are New Testament believers — that is the spiritual connection. Les says this is where the connection stops, because we do not physically become sons of Abraham in the flesh.
No. Les Feldick teaches that when Paul says believers of faith are children of Abraham, some people get the idea they must become Jews. He calls that a misunderstanding: "we don't become a Jew, but we have a spiritual connection to the man." He repeats, "a Jew is a Jew. A Gentile is a Gentile." The spiritual connection is that both Abraham and New Testament believers enter a relationship with God by faith plus nothing.
Les Feldick connects two promises to Abraham. The seed like the dust of the earth belongs to Israel's earthly program — a nation, land, and earthly promises. The seed like the stars of heaven points to the Body of Christ, whose calling is heavenly. Abraham's physical relationship was with the nation of Israel, but God also promised him a spiritual seed as numerous as the stars, and believers today are connected to him spiritually rather than through Israel's earthly covenant.
Paul says, "as Isaac was, we are the children of promise." Les Feldick explains that Isaac pictures the believing element, while Ishmael pictures the flesh and the Law. The Scripture that says "cast out the bondwoman and her son" shows that the Law and legalism are set aside rather than mingled with grace. So the connection to Abraham is through promise and faith, not through the flesh.
In Romans 4, Paul goes back to Abraham to show that Abraham's saving faith was belief plus nothing. Les emphasizes that Abraham did not follow his faith with required works — all references to Abraham's saving faith show that he believed plus nothing. This is the same way New Testament believers are brought into a relationship with God, and that is where the connection to Abraham is made. The promise was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith, as Romans 4:13 says.
Abraham Believed God — Romans 4 & Justification by Faith
In other words it's a prophetic picture. So likewise when you see all these things, know that it, that is the return of Christ, is near, it's even at the door. Verse 34, "...verily I say unto you, this generation," now that does not mean a generation in time, like 40, 50, or 60 years. The Greek word is geneo, and it means the race, the breed of the nation of Israel.
Children of Abraham by Faith
Paul says those who are of faith are children of Abraham, and Les clarifies this is a spiritual connection rather than a command to become a Jew.
Earthly and Heavenly Promises
Les contrasts Israel's earthly promises (dust of the earth) with the Church's heavenly promises (stars of heaven), showing the two seed pictures.
Abraham as Paul's Example
Paul uses Abraham more than any other Old Testament character, and being children of faith makes us children of Abraham without making Gentile believers into Jews.
Children of Promise Like Isaac
Paul says believers are children of promise as Isaac was, and Les explains that the Law and legalism are pictured by Hagar's son and cast out.
Faith Plus Nothing
Abraham was brought into a right relationship with God by faith plus nothing, and that is the only way believers can mentally connect themselves to him.
Spiritual Seed, Not Physical Jewishness
A Gentile does not become a Jew when saved; the connection to Abraham is the same faith-plus-nothing salvation, and Abraham's spiritual seed is like the stars.
Physical Israel and Spiritual Seed
Abraham's physical relationship was with the nation of Israel and the dust of the earth, while his spiritual seed in the heavenlies comes by faith plus nothing.
Genesis 13:16: And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
This pictures Abraham's earthly seed, which Les identifies with the nation of Israel.
Genesis 15:5: And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
This pictures Abraham's heavenly or spiritual seed, the line Les connects to New Testament believers.
Galatians 3:7: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
This is the key New Testament verse making believers children of Abraham through faith.
Galatians 3:8: And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
It shows that the gospel to the Gentiles was announced beforehand to Abraham.
Galatians 3:29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
This ties the believer's status as Abraham's seed to being in Christ.
Galatians 4:28: Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Paul compares believers to Isaac to show their birth into the family is by promise, not by flesh.
Romans 4:13: For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
This shows Abraham's promise came through faith, not through the law.
Galatians 4:30: Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Les uses this to show the Law and legalism are cast out instead of being mixed with grace.
No. Les Feldick teaches that a Gentile remains a Gentile. The connection to Abraham is spiritual, through faith, not a physical or national conversion to Judaism.
Les explains that the dust represents Israel's earthly people and earthly promises, while the stars represent the spiritual or heavenly seed of believers who come by faith.
Yes. Les says Abraham was saved by faith plus nothing, and New Testament believers are saved by faith plus nothing. That is the believer's connection to Abraham, but it does not make believers physical descendants.
Paul means believers are brought into God's family by promise and faith, just as Isaac was. Les says this contrasts with the flesh and with the Law, pictured by Ishmael.
Watch the Teaching: Abraham Believed God — Romans 4 & Justification by Faith