ORIGINAL WORSHIPERS, LIKE ABRAHAM, WERE SAVED BY GRACE AND FAITH
After Noah, who was also saved by grace, God called Abraham. He was a friend of God and did not earn his salvation but was saved by the graciousness of God. Paul, while trying to save the Galatian Christians from the Judaizing conspiracy, explained that Abraham, the progenitor of all Israel including the Jews, was himself saved by grace. (See Gal. 4:20-21 and 5:2-4.) Paul wanted the Galatians to avoid the bondage that returning to Judaism would be for them. This would not only include circumcision but many other expanded regulations.
Christ told the Jewish people that his yoke was light while that of their religious leaders were burdensome. (See Matt. 11:28-30 and 23:13-34.) Christ explained to the Pharisees that the Law, if administered correctly, should be a blessing to people, but they had made it a burden. (See Mark 2:27-28, 7:3-12.) The Judaizers were surreptitiously trying to make Christians, and especially Gentiles, just another sect within Judaism. They missed the true message of the spiritual circumcising of our hearts toward God.
ABRAHAM OBEYED GOD, WITH A FEW MISTAKES, AND WAS SAVED BY HIS FAITH
Abraham moved away from the paganism of his society and toward learning to hear, believe and act on the voice of the true God. (See Gen 11:27-12:9.) Abraham learned that it was not what we do for God, but what God has done for us that counts. He obeyed because he believed in God as his friend and loved Him. He knew God gave him many blessings.
We, like Abraham, cannot earn our salvation. We trust that God’s ways and laws are best for us and, out of love, try our best to obey like father Abraham. Abraham relocated all his people and belongings from his home country to a foreign one out of trust and obedience to God. That is not an easy thing to do. (See Gen. 12:4-7.) Abraham tithed to Christ in obedience to God. (See Gen. 14: 18-20.) When Abraham was ninety years old God told him to “Walk before me,” or obey in a mature or balanced manner (perfect). God gave him the covenant that would make him the father of the faithful for many nations. (See Gen. 17:1-5, 19.) Abraham obeyed God’s commandments, statutes and laws. (See Gen. 26:5.) The faith of his wife Sarah was also critical.
ABRAHAM SHARES THE FATHER’S EXPERIENCE OF OFFERING HIS ONLY SON
Abraham’s son born in the natural way was Ishmael. Abraham’s son born of grace by a miracle (not in any way earned) was Isaac. Abraham knew he needed his only son Isaac in order for God to fulfill His promise of making him a father to many nations and a blessing to the world. Yet he obeyed God when he was commanded to make the ultimate sacrifice of his only son. (See Gen 22:1-12.) Abraham offered Isaac on Mt. Moriah. He trusted that somehow God would make it work out. Abraham experienced what it was like for God the Father to see Christ enter Jerusalem to painfully become mankind’s Passover Sacrifice. Just like God, Abraham found it harder to sacrifice his only beloved son than to die himself. God allowed the father of the faithful to have a similar experience to God the Father, during the original Passover period. Abraham proved his faithfulness by being willing to sacrifice his son. He was stopped at the last second.
ABRAHAM WAS A HEROIC WARRIOR PRINCE AND A PROPHET
The powerful Pharaoh learned that Abraham was a prophet of the true God. (See Gen. 12:10-20 and 20:1-18.) Abraham was wealthy and had a large number of employees or servants. He had enough resources to raise a small army and rescue his nephew Lot, who he brought to the land of Canaan with him. (See Gen. 14:14-16.) Abraham was such a friend of God and a prophet that he almost talked God into sparing Sodom and Gomorrah. (See Gen. 18.) If they had a few more righteous men, Abraham’s petition to God would have saved the city. He did intervene with God for his nephew Lot’s sake, no doubt.
GRACE AND THE LAW STILL WORK TOGETHER, JUST AS THEY DID FOR ABRAHAM
Paul explains that if there were NO LAW you would not need grace. If no speed laws existed, you would not need a pardon for speeding. (See Romans 3:31.) We are often accused of trying to earn our salvation when we explain that we should obey God’s laws. The deceived just do not want to understand. (See Romans 6:1-2, 7:7.) Why should we obey? Because we love Christ! (See John 14:21, 15:10.)
Be like Abraham and follow God all the way with faith, trust and love.
ABRAHAMS STRENGTHS
- Faithfulness: References to Abraham’s faith can be found in Heb. 11:8-12, Gen.12:1-4.
- Unselfishness: Allowed Lot to choose the best land.
- Dependence: Dependent on God and gave Him glory.
- A Candid Personal Connection: He had a close, personal relationship with God.
- Generous: He tithed to God and gave back all of Sodom’s captured and rescued wealth.
- Hospitality: Read the account of his special visitors in Genesis 18.
- Committed: With obedience and faith Abraham’s life was totally committed to God.
