In the Steps of Abraham's Faith
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Intro
Intro
Text - Romans 4.11-12
11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
Title - In The Steps Of Abraham’s Faith
Intro words
Intro words
When Jesus preached the gospel, and commanded the people to have faith in God, He was not teaching a new doctrine -
this faith was already demonstrated in a few people in the O.T., but especially in the life of Abraham
So, the Christian faith is not different from the faith of Abraham
However, the Jews in Christ’s time, who claimed to believe in the same God of Abraham, could not demonstrate the same faith -
thus they had a different faith than Abraham
In the same way, today’s Christians, who are supposed to be believers of the same God, fail to exercise the same kind of faith.
Key questions
Key questions
Is it really necessary to have the same kind of faith?
YES, because -
to belong to Christ is to be a child of Abraham by faith - Galatians 3.29
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
that was the kind of faith that is accounted to righteousness - Romans 4.3
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
how could we have the same faith?
Says Romans 4.12 “12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.”
What does it mean to “follow in the steps of Abraham’s faith”?
I suggest 3 things as to what it means -
it means to believe int he same God that Abraham believed
it means to exercise the same faith-life as Abraham demonstrated in his time
it means to claim the same promises that Abraham claimed and received from God
Abraham’s faith described
Abraham’s faith described
Notice how Paul described Abraham’s faith -
his faith was recognized before he even became under covenant with God - Romans 4.11
11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them,
this statement destroys the Jewish idea that no one becomes righteous without being circumcised, etc.
this statement opens up the opportunity for Gentiles to come to faith in God
his faith produced hope despite his circumstances - Romans 4.18
18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your Descendants be.”
he did not become weak in faith - Romans 4.19
19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;
he did not waver with respect to the promise of God - Romans 4.20
20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
So, what does it mean to “follow in the steps of Abraham’s faith”?
it means to believe in the same God that Abraham believed
it means to believe in the same God that Abraham believed
Abraham believed the God of his forefathers
it is possible that he learned about the true God through his family
it is possible that idolatry had become common within his family even with the knowledge of the God of their forefathers
the God of Abraham was the same God who gave Israel the Law and the words oof the prophets
the same God brought Abraham’s children out of bondage and placed them in Canaan
the God of Abraham was the same God who manifested Himself in Christ and gave us the gospel
the same God fulfilled His words (through the prophets) by sending His Son into the world and introducing the gospel of the kingdom
Abraham’s God was unique among the deities of the nations -
Abraham’s God was unique among the deities of the nations -
This God speaks - clearly!
this God has a plan for his life!
The gospel proclaims the same God
The gospel proclaims the same God
the God of the Bible is unique among all the gods of other religions
our God is the living God
our God has revealed Himself in flesh
our God produced a Son who will fulfill all His plans to the end of time
our God continues to speak and manifest Himself to His believers to this day
THEREFORE -
To “follow...” means to acknowledge this same God in one’s life!
Notice - Islam claims to believe the same God…
the muslims cannot claim Abraham’s God and destroy the doctrine of Christ at the same time
To “follow...” can only happen when we believe the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, because -
faith in Christ is faith in the God of Abraham
believing Christ is believing the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham!
it means to exercise the same faith-life as Abraham demonstrated in his time
it means to exercise the same faith-life as Abraham demonstrated in his time
Let’s summarize Abraham’s life of faith, by taking the key activities of his story -
He “went away” - Genesis 12.4
4 So Abram went away as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
this was the beginning of his faithlife
God asked him to seperate his life from his very family!
maybe his family had become idol worshipers
or, God was emphasizing faith in Him to be personal matter
He “went up” from Egypt - Gen 13.1
1 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him.
this was his first “missteps” - he went down to Egypt by a personal choice, not by God’s instruction
He removed conflict in his own house - Gen 13.8
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are relatives!
perhaps the strife was affecting his focus on God’s purpose for him
He pursued his enemies - Gen 14.14-16
14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, numbering 318, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
15 Then he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.
16 He brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the other people.
he learned to fight for the sake of his loved ones
He refused the riches offered by the world around him - Gen 14.21-23
21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me and take the possessions for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth,
23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you do not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
he did not believe that God’s blessing for his life would come through idolatrous nations
he would not be blinded by earthly opportunities!
He asked God questions - Gen 15.2-3
2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3 Abram also said, “Since You have given me no son, one who has been born in my house is my heir.”
he inquired of God concerning his life!
He received the sign of God’s covenant with him - Gen 17.23-27
23 Then Abraham took his son Ishmael, and all the slaves who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on this very same day, as God had said to him.
24 Now Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
25 And his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
26 On this very same day Abraham was circumcised, as well as his son Ishmael.
27 And all the men of his household, those who were born in the house or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
He faithfully and proudly word the “sign” of his relationship with God - at 99 years old!
He entertained God in his own house - Gen 18.1-3
1 Now the Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day.
2 When he raised his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down to the ground,
3 and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by.
he recognized the presence of God and welcome Him his tents!
He pleaded for the life of his loved ones - Gen 18.22-24
22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham was still standing before the Lord.
23 Abraham approached and said, “Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
24 Suppose there are fifty righteous people within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?
He offered to God the ultimate sacrifice required from him - Gen 22.1-4
1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”
3 So Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place of which God had told him.
4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.
he gave up Isaac on the altar in exchange for the pleasure of God!
he gave up Isaac, without giving up his faith in the promise of God!
All Abraham knew was that (a) God planned the future around Isaac, and (b) God wanted him to sacrifice Isaac. He could not reconcile the two, but he would obey anyway. That is faith.
Allen P. Ross
it means to claim the same promises that Abraham claimed and received from God
it means to claim the same promises that Abraham claimed and received from God
Abraham’s faith saw beyond the wide expanse of Canaan - Hebrews 11.10
10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
He was looking for a heavenly place!
Abraham, together with Sarah, looked beyond Isaac - Heb 11.11-12
11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore even from one man, and one who was as good as dead at that, there were born descendants who were just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.
they looked forward to descendants without number!
Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced.”
THEREFORE - To “follow...” is to expect the same things from God!
a secure place beyond this corrupt world!
a family of believers in the kingdom of God!
Conclusion
Conclusion
How do people’s faith today compare to that of Abraham’s?
Faith as defined by modern christianity is very different -
it is a world-loving faith - 1 John 2.15 “15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
it is a godliness-for-gain kind of faith - 1 Tim 6.5 “5 and constant friction between people of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.”
it is a self-centered kind of faith - Abraham was fpcused only on God’s word
it is an earth-bound kind of faith - it doesn’t look forward to Christ’s return; all it desires and seeks is the present life
John 8:39
THAT IS WHY MODERN CHRISTIANITY IS A FAILURE BEFORE GOD.
They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.
IF YOU WANT TO STAND RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD AND LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE ALL YOUR DAYS, AND INHERIT THE SAME BLESSINGS -
YOU BETTER START MOVING IN THE STEPS OF ABRAHAM’S FAITH
THIS IS THE ONLY PATH THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE PROMISES OF GOD!
IT MAY NOT BE THE EASIEST, MOST COMFORTABLE PATH,
BUT IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL!
Song - We’ll Walk In The Light / Jesus the Light of the World