What Abraham believed

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

Psalm 22:23-3

Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2

It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith

The historical background of this verse shows that Jews in the first century had a strong belief that they can be saved by law keeping and circumcision. In the same way, all kinds of religions insist that people can be saved by works, ritual, and ceremonies. Therefore, the subject of salvation is human, however, Abraham was saved by God and God’s righteousness. It is big difference. One is religion and the other one is eternal life. ‌What is the promise God made with Abraham?

How did the genuine of Abraham’s faith reveal?

1. The promise; heir of the world

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Heir of the world, this is amazing promise. You will be a joint heir with Christ. You will inherit everything that is Christ’s. That’s the New Testament view of it.

When you go back to the promise that was made to Abraham, you can find promises in Genesis 12, 13, 15, and 18. Number one is the land. Abraham was promised the land of Canaan. The book of Joshua tells us that Canaan became the possession of Abraham’s descendants, but that was just sort of down payment on the whole world because Abraham was an heir ultimately of the world, like all other believers.

Another part of the promise Genesis 13, 15, 18, was a great nation. God built on the promise that your descendants will be like the stars in the sky. Exodus shows the beginning of the great nation of Israel.

The third thing in the Abrahamic covenant was blessing of the worldcoming through the nation. Genesis 12:3 “In you shall all the families of the earth be blessed” that is why he is called the father of many nations. Abraham is the spiritual father of all nations. Abraham got these promises of a land, of a nation, and of being the source of blessing to the whole world. Through Israel, Messiah comes, the covenants come, and the Scriptures come. It explains well how blessing comes to the whole world through Abraham and Israel.

But the most important element of the promises is that the Redeemer comes and becomes the heir of the whole world. Abraham knew there would be a redeemer through his descendants and believed in Him. John 8:56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” It proves that Abraham knew the meaning of the promise and he had a great expectation and hope to see the Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

In the context, the promise that would be heir of the world refers to Christ and is the essence of the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants.

As Gal3:16 says “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” the essence of the promises is the Savor, Jesus Christ. Abraham believed God’s promise and had a great expectation of that salvation, and lived for to see the Redeemer to save the whole world.

Therefore, as God gave him a great salvation promise, it is the same promise to us. We have the Savior, we have been blessed, among the nations of the world, therefore, we become the source of blessing to the world. We became the people of God. One day, we will inherit the New Heaven and the New Earth. Our promise is same as Abraham. We get the promises.

By Faith, not works

‌Romans4:14-15 “For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

The promise was made to Abraham 430years ago before the law. The righteousness of God was given to Abraham by his faith. Therefore, you cannot get the salvation by law keeping because the promise was designated by faith 430 year ago before the law was given. Law reflects our sinful nature and brings about wrath of God. This leads us into the true Savior. The law cannot affect to the salvation came from the promise with Abraham. The law is just a primary tutor until the Savior comes. Therefore, God justifies sinners by their faith.

It is still so. God promises to give you salvation. He promises to give you the world, to inherit as a joint heir everything that is Christ’s. Salvation is by faith.

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2. God gives life to the dead ‌

로마서 4:17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

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What is the meaning of that God who gives life to the dead?? it it talking about that even if his and his wife’s body were dead, he believed that God will give the son? It is beyond that. ‌Abraham believed in the God of Creation and the God of resurrection, so he gave his only son as burnt offering. Hebrews 11 proves this, he believed in God who raises the dead. Abraham believed the God who gives life to dead.

Not only Abraham believed God’s promise of the land, the nation, and the blessing, he also trust that God gives life to the dead. He made sure that God can raise his only son because He created the world and gave him his son, Issac.

It is same promise to us. We will be resurrected as Christ did. This is because Jesus is the God of creation, the God of salvation, and the God of resurrection. By your faith, God will wake you up because He is the God who gives life to the dead. We have that hope as Abraham.

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3. God calls into being that which does not exist

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Abraham believed in that God speaks of things that do not exist as if they do exist. This is about Abraham’s justification given by God, even Abraham didn’t have righteousness. God is the One who can declare believing sinners to be righteous even though they are not, by imputing His righteousness to them, just as God made or declared Jesus “sin” and punished Him. This is the cross.

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The righteousness does not exist in human, so they are supposed to be punished by the wrath of God. God declares believing sinners to be righteous after looking at their faith. Therefore, our salvation does not come with our deeds, but it comes from His declaration. “Believing sinners are righteous!!!” This is how amazing His grace.

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로마서 4:24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

God called into being that which does not exist in me. This truth applied to me because God made Jesus sin to declare me to be righteous and raised Jesus to make us righteousness.

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Therefore, the gospel of Jesus provides us marvelous things such as justification, sanctification, the kingdom of God, the promises of God and forgiveness to each other. The gospel does not give something that sinners love such as money, health, good feeling, success that pursues self-righteousness of man.

We have to pursue God’s righteousness and desire His glorification whenever we suffer in temptations and our sins.