Have you read about the promise God gave to the patriarch Abraham?
It’s the one that keeps on giving.
The Lord God tested Abraham’s faith by telling him to sacrifice his son Isaac. [Gen. 22:1-2] But then He stopped him from doing it [Gen.22:10-12] even though Abraham was fully convinced that if he’d actually taken his own son’s life, the Lord would’ve certainly raised him right back up again! [Gen. 22:5]
That’s the stuff faith is made of.
Because then the Lord promised Abraham that, through just One Man out of all his descendants, all people shall have the opportunity to be blessed:
“In your Seed [singular noun] all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” [Gen. 22:18]
And the apostle Paul confirmed who that One Man is:
“…in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might [be able to] receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” [Gal. 3:14] [my emphasis]
The apostle Peter, after reviewing Scriptural prophecy to a crowd of rowdy disbelievers on the first day of Pentecost following Jesus Christ’s ascension, instructed them on what to do and why:
“‘Repent, and each of you be baptized on the basis of the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and [then] you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away—as many as the Lord our God might call to Himself.‘” [Ac.2:38-39] [my emphasis]
This is the clause to remember: “…as many as the Lord our God might call to Himself.”
“The promise” isn’t to receive the Spirit. It’s to receive the blessing of Abraham [1]because of having the same degree of faith that he had. There was no doubt in his mind that God could bring the dead back to life, and there’s no other hope—or blessing, the apostles of Jesus sought. That’s why Paul said,
“So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the believing [man], Abraham.” [Gal. 3-9]
That was the embodiment of his faith, and it’s also mine.