Polygynist Abraham and Sarah were the faith leaders
Continued From: "faith_cupid_star_morning"
Subject: Polygynist Abraham and Sarah were the faith leaders
III. ABRAHAM'S FAITH WAS A TRUSTING FAITH
A. ABRAHAM TRUSTED IN GOD, NOT HIS WORKS...
1. Return to our text, and note what is said - cf. Gen 15:6
a. Abraham believed in the Lord
b. "It" (his faith) was reckoned or considered for
righteousness
c. It was Abraham's faith in God that greatly pleased God
2. Paul stresses this point in his epistle to the Romans - cf.
Ro
4:1-3
a. Abraham was not justified because of his works
b. Abraham was justified (declared blameless) because of his
faith!
-- Though he had a faith that works, he did not trust in his
works; rather in God who justifies the ungodly (cf. Ro 4:5-8)
B. WE MUST TRUST IN JESUS, NOT OUR WORKS...
1. As noted before, we must obey God which involves certain
"works"
a. Such as faith, which is a "work" - cf. Jn 6:28,29
b. Even baptism, which is more a work of God than a work of
man
- Co 2:12-13
2. But when all is done, we must not put our trust in our
obedience
a. As though we somehow earned our salvation
b. For Christ taught us to realize we are still unworthy -
cf.
Lk 17:10
-- It is the faith or trust in Jesus prompting us to obey that
pleases God, not some meritorious value of the work done to
receive God's grace!
[So "The Faith Of Abraham" was an obedient faith that placed its trust
in God who justifies the ungodly. To be "the sons of Abraham", we
must
have the same kind of faith. Finally, observe that...]
IV. ABRAHAM'S FAITH WAS A GROWING FAITH
A. ABRAHAM GREW IN FAITH...
1. There were times when his faith was weak
a. He had Sarah his wife tell a half-truth to save his life
- Gen 12:11-20; 20:1-18
b. He questioned God when he and Sarah did not have children
- Gen 15:2-3
c. He showed weak faith in the case of Hagar - Gen 16:1-4
d. He offered an alternative to God when he thought it would
be
impossible for he and Sarah to have children - Gen 17:17-
18
2. But God was patient with Abraham, and his faith grew
a. He had faith, even against hope, and was able to conceive
- Ro 4:18-22
b. He had faith that God could raise Isaac from the dead, and
so was willing to offer him as commanded - He 11:17-19
-- "The Faith Of Abraham" was not a static faith, but an
ever-growing faith that came through being "a friend of God"
(cf. Ja 2:23)
B. WE MUST GROW IN FAITH...
1. Just as the apostles of Christ did...
a. From men with little faith and easily afraid - Mt 8:25-26;
14:31
b. To men of great boldness - Ac 4:13
2. Like the Thessalonians - 2 Th 1:3
a. Their faith was growing exceedingly
b. Our faith needs to grow likewise
-- Our faith will grow, if we are willing to "walk in the steps
of
the faith which our father Abraham had" (cf. Ro 4:12)
CONCLUSION
1. We have seen that "The Faith Of Abraham" was...
a. Based upon revelation
b. An obedient faith
c. A trusting faith
d. A growing faith
2. Why do we need this same kind of faith...?
a. Because "those who are of faith are the sons of Abraham" - Ga
3:7
b. Because "those who are of faith are blessed with believing
Abraham" - Ga 3:9
Indeed, those who have "The Faith Of Abraham" are truly the recipients
of the promise made to Abraham:
"In your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,
because you have obeyed My voice." (Gen 18:18)
Are we walking in the steps of the faith of Abraham, obeying the Word
of
God given today through the gospel of Christ, even as he obeyed the
word given to him?
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Continued From: "faith_cupid_star_morning"
Subject: Polygynist Abraham and Sarah were the faith leaders
III. ABRAHAM'S FAITH WAS A TRUSTING FAITH
A. ABRAHAM TRUSTED IN GOD, NOT HIS WORKS...
1. Return to our text, and note what is said - cf. Gen 15:6
a. Abraham believed in the Lord
b. "It" (his faith) was reckoned or considered for
righteousness
c. It was Abraham's faith in God that greatly pleased God
2. Paul stresses this point in his epistle to the Romans - cf.
Ro
4:1-3
a. Abraham was not justified because of his works
b. Abraham was justified (declared blameless) because of his
faith!
-- Though he had a faith that works, he did not trust in his
works; rather in God who justifies the ungodly (cf. Ro 4:5-8)
B. WE MUST TRUST IN JESUS, NOT OUR WORKS...
1. As noted before, we must obey God which involves certain
"works"
a. Such as faith, which is a "work" - cf. Jn 6:28,29
b. Even baptism, which is more a work of God than a work of
man
- Co 2:12-13
2. But when all is done, we must not put our trust in our
obedience
a. As though we somehow earned our salvation
b. For Christ taught us to realize we are still unworthy -
cf.
Lk 17:10
-- It is the faith or trust in Jesus prompting us to obey that
pleases God, not some meritorious value of the work done to
receive God's grace!
[So "The Faith Of Abraham" was an obedient faith that placed its trust
in God who justifies the ungodly. To be "the sons of Abraham", we
must
have the same kind of faith. Finally, observe that...]
IV. ABRAHAM'S FAITH WAS A GROWING FAITH
A. ABRAHAM GREW IN FAITH...
1. There were times when his faith was weak
a. He had Sarah his wife tell a half-truth to save his life
- Gen 12:11-20; 20:1-18
b. He questioned God when he and Sarah did not have children
- Gen 15:2-3
c. He showed weak faith in the case of Hagar - Gen 16:1-4
d. He offered an alternative to God when he thought it would
be
impossible for he and Sarah to have children - Gen 17:17-
18
2. But God was patient with Abraham, and his faith grew
a. He had faith, even against hope, and was able to conceive
- Ro 4:18-22
b. He had faith that God could raise Isaac from the dead, and
so was willing to offer him as commanded - He 11:17-19
-- "The Faith Of Abraham" was not a static faith, but an
ever-growing faith that came through being "a friend of God"
(cf. Ja 2:23)
B. WE MUST GROW IN FAITH...
1. Just as the apostles of Christ did...
a. From men with little faith and easily afraid - Mt 8:25-26;
14:31
b. To men of great boldness - Ac 4:13
2. Like the Thessalonians - 2 Th 1:3
a. Their faith was growing exceedingly
b. Our faith needs to grow likewise
-- Our faith will grow, if we are willing to "walk in the steps
of
the faith which our father Abraham had" (cf. Ro 4:12)
CONCLUSION
1. We have seen that "The Faith Of Abraham" was...
a. Based upon revelation
b. An obedient faith
c. A trusting faith
d. A growing faith
2. Why do we need this same kind of faith...?
a. Because "those who are of faith are the sons of Abraham" - Ga
3:7
b. Because "those who are of faith are blessed with believing
Abraham" - Ga 3:9
Indeed, those who have "The Faith Of Abraham" are truly the recipients
of the promise made to Abraham:
"In your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed,
because you have obeyed My voice." (Gen 18:18)
Are we walking in the steps of the faith of Abraham, obeying the Word
of
God given today through the gospel of Christ, even as he obeyed the
word given to him?
Biblical Love, Liberty And Meat-Walking Down Faith Lane With Abraham Gn 11:25-12:18
Walking Down Faith Lane With Abraham Gn 11:25-12:18 COPYRIGHT © 4/17/11 R. Tyler --- San Diego, CA 91976 http://biblicalmaturity.yuku.com/forums/66
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