Lesson 383 - Senior

Memory Verse

"With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10).

Cross References

I Righteousness by Faith

1. Abraham received righteousness by faith and not by works, [ROM:4:1-3]; [GEN:15:6]; [GAL:3:6]; [JAM:2:23].

2. If salvation came by works it would be a debt due us from God, and not free grace, [ROM:4:4-5]; [ROM:11:6].

3. David bears testimony to the same doctrine, [ROM:4:6-8]; [PS:32:1-2].

II The Blessings of Faith for Both the Circumcised and Uncircumcised

1. Abraham was justified by faith before he was circumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe, [ROM:4:9-12]; [GAL:3:7].

2. The promise was made to Abraham through the righteousness of faith and not by the Law, [ROM:4:13-17]; [GEN:12:1-3]; [GAL:3:18], [GAL:3:29].

III Description of Abraham's Faith

1. From the natural it was impossible for Abraham to have a son, but he believed in God who instituted the laws of nature and was able to work aside from the laws of nature, [ROM:4:18-22]; [GEN:15:4-6]; [HEB:11:11-12].

2. This account was left on record for our salvation, that we might believe on Christ who died for our sins and was raised for our justification, [ROM:4:23-25]; [2CO:5:21]; [GAL:1:4]; [1PE:1:21].

Notes

The Voice of God

Abraham came from a land of heathen darkness. Possibly the people were like those Paul describes in [ROM:1:21-32]. They did not like to retain God in their thoughts so God gave them over to all uncleanness. But amidst the sin and darkness of the world there was one man to whom God could reveal Himself and find a response in his heart; and that man was Abraham.

It is surprising how in a world of sin and darkness, God can speak and you will know it is the voice of God. It is not always in the thundering tones of Mount Sinai nor in the still, small voice of Horeb; but when He speaks you know it.

In that land of pagan darkness Abraham recognised the voice of God and believed in God. That faith brought righteousness into his soul. How easy it should be to believe when one is reared in a Gospel land and has not been taught to bow down to idols of wood and stone! But the devil brought his doctrine of infidelity and unbelief to Eve in the Garden of Eden. He will try to present it to you even in the house of God; but remember, Abraham believed God when there was unbelief and idolatry all around him.

Father of All Who Believe

Abraham had been a heathen, but God pardoned him and took him and his posterity into a special covenant whereby his seed was to possess the earth. Abraham was justified in the only way in which a sinner can be justified: by the mercy of God and by faith and obedience. Through faith he became the great head or father of all them that believe. In patriarchal times it was great to be a father, greater still to be the father of a tribe; and it was the greatest of greatness to be the father of many nations.

That the just were justified by faith is clearly shown in the life of Abraham. He believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. Long before the Lord sealed the Covenant with Abraham and his posterity by the seal of circumcision, Abraham was justified by faith. We are not told just how or when Abraham first believed God; but God called, and he obeyed the call. It was not only obedience to the call that justified Abraham but also faith that brought him into favour with God. Good works follow the uniting of our hearts with God by faith. James says, "Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." There were Jews in Rome saying one must be circumcised to be right with God. They wee trying to bring Christianity back under the Law. Paul states that one cannot be under the Law of Moses and under grace through Jesus Christ at the same time. Just so, you cannot unite works with justification. If works unite us to God, then it is of debt and not of mercy that we are saved. But it is God's mercy that saves us, and not works. (Read [GAL:2:16]; [GAL:3:11].)

How many poor sinners who did not have one good deed to recommend them to God have knelt and cried for mercy and have found pardoning grace. They believed the promise and were accepted by the Son.

David says: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, those sin is covered."

Real Christianity

We have those who profess to believe in Jesus Christ but expect their church membership, their good deeds of mercy, their external works to gain them an entrance into Heaven. But Jesus said, "Ye must be born again" [JHN:3:7]). They skip over that experience and merely assent with their mind to the story of Jesus.

The Bible says: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" [ROM:10:10]). They are blind and are led by blind leaders and will "fall into the ditch" together.

Sinners who acknowledge their helplessness and plead to God for mercy find forgiveness. Through faith they are pardoned and find cleansing from all their sins. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" [ROM:5:6]).

As Jesus' death is atonement for our sins, so His resurrection is the proof and pledge of our eternal life.

The Seed of Abraham

Years went by. The Lord led Abraham out under the canopy of Heaven one night and said, as it were, "Abraham look up! Count the stars! So shall thy seed be. Do you see all these tiny grains of sand? Can you count them? Then you will be able to number your seed."

Abraham had no child and he and Sara had grown old. From a natural standpoint, all hope had fled for them to have a child. But Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief. Where is the materialist who sees only nature's law? Abraham did not belong to that class. He staggered not, but hoped against hope. Through that firm, unwavering faith he became the father of faith. We who believe are the children of Abraham. The Jews would like to hold that they alone are the children of Abraham. Paul says that he is not a Jew who is one outwardly but he is a Jew who is one inwardly. He declares that the promise was given to Abraham while he was still a Gentile, and that the promise was to his Seed, which was one, even Christ. If we have been born into the family of God through the new birth, we are Christ's seed and are the progenies of Abraham.

Isaac's birth was a miracle. Christ's birth was a miracle. The "new birth" is a miracle. Abraham did not know how God was going to make his seed as numberless as the sand of the seas, but he knew there was nothing impossible with God. Christians are those who believe after the example of Abraham. They are the spiritual seed. The promise of salvation is to them who believe in Christ, for He is the promised Seed.

Questions

1. How did Abraham obtain justification? How do we obtain it?

2. Why was Abraham called the father of the faithful?

3. Tell how the Gentiles are included in the promise to Abraham.

4. Was the promise made to Abraham through the giving of the Law?

5. The Scripture says Abraham was strong in faith. Give incidents.