5.3.35a 7.24.2023 Abraham and the Great Conversation about Saving Faith. Genesis 15.1-6

Across the pages of your bibles there are many conversations. The technical term is intertextual. What it means is that the Biblical characters, narrators, speakers, and authors are exploring, explaining, and expanding upon previous scripture. Ultimately, Jesus taught the early Church to read the whole Bible through the reality of His life, death, and resurrection. Tonight, we join one of the most important of all these conversations.

My friend Wes is always reminding me that all Scripture is inspired. But it is not all is equally applicable. For example, a couple of weeks ago I competed a series from the OT wisdom lit. The last sermon was from the Song of Solomon. Inspired scripture-yes. As important as Mark or Romans? No. The chances are I will not ever preach another sermon from the Song of Solomon.

Some of these conversations are more important than others because they are critical for our understanding of everything God has done from creation to consummation to save us. The Bible contains many stories.

The Conversations connect them

Tonight, we focus on a foundational text. We consider one of the most important intertextual conversations in Scripture.

Genesis 15:1–6 ESV

1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

This text opens a door of understanding for everything the Bible says about faith.

This door of understanding, like all doors of understanding turns upon three hinges. I spend lot of time, a lot of time oiling those hinges. Christian understanding is...

Biblical—>Theological—>Historical

What the Bible says...

Generates what the Church teaches...

And what the Church teaches has historical continuity.

When one hinge is damaged it impacts how the whole door functions. Many Christians have to deal with a broken version of Christian teaching. because their door is not swinging freely, their understanding has become limited, and their growth stunted. Broken doors are hard to use. On the other hand, many non-Christians, curious about the Christian faith or seeking spiritual answers to the great questions of life find a door which is blocked by an unfocused emphasis on the least important things in the Bible.

Inaccurate understanding of how the Bible—>theology —>and history teach us blinds us to the richness of Grace.

Tonight, we are engaged in one of the central conversations in the whole Bible.

Tonight, we are discussing Abraham’s faith.

Tonight, we consider how the OT discusses grace.

Tonight, we remember that Father Abraham

had

Many sons…and many daughters

and that

through our faith we are among those children

Paul, and James joined in this conversation about Abraham’s faith.

Paul reminds us that

Works without faith is worthless.

Romans 4:1–3 (ESV)

1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?

2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

Galatians 3:5–7 (ESV)

5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—

6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

James jumps into this conversation when he reminds us that

Faith without works is pointless.

James 2:15–17 ESV

15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:21–23 (ESV)

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

James and Paul were not opposed to one another. It takes both perspectives, both sides of the conversation to have a workable, practical model of faith.

We are not saved by what we do. Salvation cannot be earned.

However,...

Because we are saved, we should demonstrate our faith through good works.

A final voice in the conversation is the Hebrew author (whom I believe to be Paul) Who joins the conversation addressing what faith is and does.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

When he speaks directly about Abraham, though he does not quote Genesis 15.6 he surely knows the story and his part of the conversation closes the discussion by

Providing a

Biblical Foundation

That promotes

Theological comprehension

Amid historical processes

Listen to this...

Hebrews 11:8–10 (ESV)

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Look at all those verbs. Some describe physical actions, some mental processes. All actions and reactions to the voice of God. Abraham’s obedience is the real beginning of the conversation of faith that culminates in the gracious offer of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Father Abraham

Has many sons

and many daughters.

Galatians 3:7 ESV

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

When you and I

hear the Word,

Process it,

Understand it,

and

Obey it,

We can almost hear Father Abraham say, “Welcome to the Family.”