01(Gen 15) How to Have Assurance
It has been years since God first revealed to Abram that he would have and offspring, an heir who would receive the great promises of God. In that time Abram has established his heart in worship to Jehovah; he has seen his Lord deliver him from his own mistakes in Egypt; and he has felt the protection of God in becoming his shield against the armies of Chedorlaomer, in delivering his nephew Lot.
But still no offspring, and the biological clocks of Abram and Sarai are winding down fast. So it is not out of reference but deep concern that Abram comes to God with his question in verse two. Abram is a man of faith, but even faith needs assurance. Faith needs assurance.
We are no different from Abram. We begin our journey of faith believing in the promises of God. But, there seems to come a time in every Christian’s life, especially a young Christian’s life, a critical point in that journey, a time when we question the very assurance of God’s promise. Preachers may call it “doubting your salvation.” Some denominations call it “losing your salvation.”
God has an answer for our questions of assurance. The answer God gives is frankly, deep and technical. But it is only so because we were not raised in the Mesopotamian culture of Abram. If we are to get past this roadblock in our faith, we must apply ourselves to this text and discover the liberating truth that is here! And this truth will not only assure your hearts, but give you the perspective to encourage others who doubt God’s intentions in their lives as well.
I. THE CONCERN (15:2-3)
Since God has not yet done in Abram’s life what Abram was expecting to be done, Abram decides he can help God out! He knows that Sarai has remained barren, and he knows that they are past age to bear children. So from his human logic and reasoning, God must have meant something else.
The culture of that day provided for an heir to come from a male born in the household of the owner, should no acceptable heir come otherwise. Eliezer would have to do in this case, or at least Abram so thought. He was helping God out; providing a way for God to save face and keep his promise.
Don’t we do the same? We pray, we wait, and then we try to figure out what how He can bring to pass whatever should happen. Abram had an alternate plan that seemed to be reasonable.
Have you turned to a “reasonable” alternative to God’s calling on your life? Have you grown fearful, or even impatient, at living the Christian walk, and feel compelled to aid God in achieving His promises for your life?
II. THE CONFESSION (15:4-6)
Abram heard from the Lord! “Behold” appears in verse 4, and the Holy Spirit is calling our attention to what follows- “the word of the Lord came to Abram…” God speaks to Abram. He brings good news- that Abram himself will have an heir and he would bear a seed that would be a blessing, and bring forth countless “seeds” after him.
Abrams’ response is our model of what true faith is all about. He “believed”. He heard the good news, the promise of the seed, and he believed it with his heart.
The result was that he was “accounted” as righteous! Not on the basis of his past exploits, but on the basis of his belief. Here lies the formula for all who would follow: believe the good news, and you will be imputed, given a righteous standing before God!
But what did Abram believe?
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. NKJV
III. THE CONFIRMATION (15:7-11)
As I mentioned, there is a roadblock that appears in the lives of most Christians. We come to a question of assurance. Even with the confession of Abram, we find the fundamental question: “How can I know that my inheritance is secure?”
We Baptists speak of assurance of salvation, how can we be sure? We place our faith in God, but where is the assurance that motivates that faith? Hebrews tells us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. What is that assurance? Where is that evidence?
Rather than God blasting Abram for asking such a question, He gives him the assurance! Don’t we serve a wonderful God, who comes alongside our doubts and fears and gives us the assurance we need to serve Him?
He tells Abram to gather a heifer, a goat, a ram, a turtledove, and a pigeon. Does this sound familiar? If you study the sacrifices found in the OT Law, you will recognize these animals as animals of sacrifice. But we are 430 years BEFORE that law was instituted!
He further tells him to cut the larger animals in two, and lay them side-by-side. Abram KNEW what this was about! There was about to be a covenant made.
Verse 18 says the Lord “made a covenant” with Abram. That phrase comes from the Hebrew karath beriyth. Beriyth means to make a pact, and karath means to cut down. Literally, the phrase meant “to cut a covenant” which is symbolized in cutting the animals in half. The parties of the covenant would then walk between the cut pieces, affirming their commitment to the covenant, showing that the same should happen to them if they violated the terms!
Even in the days of the NT, the seriousness of a covenant was known. Galatians 3:15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
We need to see it in this light if we are to understand what is happening. For our faith is based on this covenant too!
Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Too many people, churches, and denominations seek their assurance, their confirmation in the law in some form. Paul addressed this by stating that the covenant with Abraham supercedes the law (and the flesh).
Galatians 3:17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
Keep your finger on Galatians 3:17! For as we look at our final point of assurance, I want you to see what makes the assurance certain!
IV. THE COVENANT (Gen 15:17)
In Genesis, a strange thing occurs, strange if we do not understand it. And if we ignore it we miss a blessing.
When the sun had gone down, Abram had gone into a deep sleep (12). It was at this time that the ceremony of the covenant took place. And notice the participants. You have to see this if you are to believe in assurance of your salvation. For it is here, in this ceremony that you will find that assurance of eternal salvation based solely on the belief in the seed of Abraham!
Who participates in the cutting of the covenant walk? Only God does. Abram doesn’t have to! In fact, God PREVENTS him from doing so, by paralyzing him with sleep and dread! God alone makes the promise, and God alone confirms it with a covenant! Abram has no duty to perform, no risk of loss of his inheritance!!!!
But even more so, notice how God walks through the fire! Why the two images of God? The burning torch and smoking oven are certainly symbols of God, we know that from other scriptures as well as here. But why not just one image for God? And why not THREE images, one for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?
We aren’t told for sure, but we have an indication I believe. Remember in Mark when Jesus cried “My God, My God…”? why did he cry out twice? Was it because, as the third element of the trinity, he was crying out to the other two? All three are represented at the cross.
Fire and smoke often represent God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. If we are to believe these two are represented in this covenant walk, where is God the Son? HE IS THE SACRIFICE LYING ON THE GROUND!!! The sacrifice that all the animal sacrifices merely pointed to, the one who hung on the cross.
Back to Galatians 3:17. Notice how the promise was confirmed! “confirmed before by God in Christ,…”
All three forms of the trinity confirm through covenant the promise made to Abraham will come to pass.
And how does Galatians tie all this to us?
Galatians 3:26-29 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.