Summary of passages: Romans 4:13-25: Abraham received God’s promise by faith, not by works or by following the law (which didn’t exist or hadn’t been given in Abram’s time). For if you follow the law, then why would you need faith?
God’s promises are by faith in Him and by His grace to all who believe not just to those who follow the law. Through hope and faith Abraham believed God when God said he would be a father of nations even though he and Sarah were almost 100 years old and were close to death.
Abraham was strengthened in his faith and gave God the glory when he had a son. It was through his faith Abraham was righteous and it is the same for all believers who believe Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead for our justification.
We must remember Paul is writing explaining the Christian faith and just got done in Romans 3, saying we are righteous only because of faith in Jesus and nothing else.
Galatians 3:6-9, 16, 29: Abraham believed God and was thus righteous. Therefore, those who believe are children of Abraham and are blessed along with him. The Scriptures say that God justifies the Gentiles though faith as evidenced when God said he would bless all nations through Abraham.
God’s promises apply to all if you belong to Christ.
Hebrews 11:8-19: Abraham when called obeyed by faith to go to the promised land and make his home there for he was looking forward to the city with foundations (heaven). Abraham became a father by faith and had descendants as numerous as the stars.
All of these people when they died were living by faith for they did not receive the promises in their lifetime on earth. They were strangers in this land for their home was in heaven.
Abraham offered his only son Isaac as a sacrifice to God for he had faith that God could and would bring him back from the dead.
Questions:
9) Personal Question. My answer: It all comes down to faith in God, who He is, what He says, and what He does. We have nothing to worry about if we have God.
10) Genesis 12:3: God says “…all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Galatians tells us that all who believe are children of Abraham and are thus righteous and blessed as God blessed all through Abraham.
11a) Personal Question. My answer: He had unquestioning faith. He never questioned. God spoke; Abraham obeyed. Even when it was scary, uncertain, or painful (like called to sacrifice your only son). He believed in God’s promises.
b) Genesis 21:12: God says, “…it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” The ultimate blessing is our forgiveness of our sins and salvation through Jesus Christ, a descendant of Isaac and Abraham.
c) Personal Question. My answer: God’s promises have been the same since the Fall. That He would provide us an eternal home with him. He would cleanse us of our sins and redeem us. He would provide the way. And not only for God’s chosen people, the Israelites, but also for the Gentiles. All through faith.
Conclusions: Definitely dreaded this lesson after yesterday’s, especially when I noted nothing from Genesis (or the Old Testament) in the reading AND Hebrews 11 AGAIN!
Interesting how often the Bible does repeat itself or the same idea (like in these passages about Abraham’s faith) just in different ways. Guess we have to drill it into our heads to get it!
This lesson brought to mind the study of Isaiah where the importance of Israel and the Gentiles was prominent. Here, I first learned the significance of both and the difference.
Summary of today: God’s promises are for ALL. Which includes salvation.