Faith in the Life of Abram

So, we read last week and ended with God showing Abram all the stars in the sky and telling him that from his own body the multitudes would come. And we read:

6 And he (Abram) believed in the LORD; and he (YHWH) counted it to him (ABRAM) for righteousness.

I maintain that it is perhaps the most important passage in the Old Testament. Because of this, I want to spend a little more time on this idea of Abram and faith by citing the Apostles – specifically, Paul, James, and the writer of Hebrews. Let’s start with the latter – and turn to Hebrews 11, also called the Hall of Fame of Faith chapter.

The Just Shall Live by Faith

At the end of Chapter ten the writer of Hebrews states:

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Here we see that a person can draw back into disbelief and that salvation in scripture is a matter of faith.

Understanding Faith Through Hebrews

Before we wrap today up my hope is to clearly and plainly see what completed faith really looks like – but we get ahead of ourselves. After establishing that the just will live by faith, the writer begins chapter 11 of Hebrews and says:

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We noted last week that another way to read this is to say:

Now faith is the CONFIDENCE in the promises of God hoped for, and faith is the PROOF of the promises of God NOT seen.

I want to reiterate that Christians like and walk by faith. I interviewed with a Gnostic secularist yesterday for an hour and a half and he rambled off a laundry list of evidences on why he sees the Christian story as false. I listened intently with his every claim, and was able to say, in the end:

My brother, what you see as evidences against the faith I as supports – it’s a choice I unapologetically make by faith. You see a baby born as godless, I see it as evidence of Him – by faith. On we go.

Now the writer of Hebrews is going to describe some highlights from the Tanakh of faith, saying in verse 2

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

This passage, I suggest is not saying that God framed the world by faith but that we accept, by faith, that God framed the worlds by the Word of God meaning out of nothing. Then verse 4

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God.; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

The Importance of Faith to God

And then he adds the following explaining the importance of faith to God saying:

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This passage is anathema to atheists who want the opposite – they want God to appear and not hide so as to be sought. But since faith pleases Him, He appears to long for those made in His image to choose…to seek Him diligently.

Note the language too in this passage, “For He that cometh to God” isn’t that interesting – for he who comes to God…as it seriously implies that we, in faith, seeking and humbly search to come to Him. Then verse 7

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

And then we come to our place in Genesis, where the writer of Hebrews adds:

8 By faith Abraham, when he

The Faith of Biblical Figures

Abram was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. This is the first instance of Abram's faith that the writer mentions – his leaving his home to sojourn for a place promised.

The Journey of Faith

THEN!

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: This speaks to Abram after he and Sarah had Isaac. Then

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Then he steps back and mentions Isaac, and says, speaking of Sara and her faith

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. And then he returns to Abraham and says

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

The point is when all hope is lost, when all evidences are gone, faith remains – even to the point where Abram and Sara knew that their bodies were dead and incapable of bringing forth the son of Promise, believed and trusted in the promises of God. Again, when all hope is lost.

Perseverance in Faith

Then the writer gives a summary from verse 13-16 saying

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

And then he returns to Abram and His faith and says at verse 17

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

This speaks to God turning up the tests of faith He might place on us, which is never an easy thing to endure. Then the writer gives mention to Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, saying

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

At this point the writer speaks of the faith of Moses with more verses than any other except Abraham, speaking first of his parents and saying

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

The Legacy of Moses' Faith

Then onto Moses himself, the writer adds:

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. for a season;

And the writer does something really significant here by saying

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Isn’t that fascinating that the writer of Hebrews, looking back to Moses, assigns the reproach of Christ to him? This is an example of appealing to Christ and in this case his suffering before He was even born by a writer AFTER the fact!

The writer could have meant that Moses, by faith, believed and trusted that the Messiah would come through them and was willing to do all that was necessary to see this come to pass, OR it is a reference to suffering like Christ for the cause of truth. Either way, it was all in faith.

The Examples of Faith from the Old Testament

And it was looking forward to a day not seen. The writer goes on and says also of Moses:

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

Needless to say Moses was a tremendous example of faith lived in expectation of the promises of God. Then at verse 30, though he doesn’t mention Joshua’s name, he mentions an event that included him and all those who participated, saying:

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

And then he goes on and mentions someone really revelatory from the scripture adding:

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

This is key as the passage moves us from personal perfection in pleasing God and showing firsthand that even harlots with faith are pleasing to Him. That it is NOT our worthiness in the flesh but our faith and trust in the Lord. Look out.

Insights on Faith from Paul's Teachings

The writer continues with his wrap up ad adds:

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (meaning Christ)

So there is a historical summary of faith-filled souls from the Old Testament. It’s a great chapter and encourages us to look at our own lives and see where we are in faith.

Abraham's Faith in Romans 4

Then we move over to Paul talking specifically about Abraham in Romans 4 and saying:

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

What do we learn from Abraham the father of the faith and what he discovered in his flesh? He asks then adds at verse 2:

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Meaning, if Abraham was found justified before God by his own efforts and labors, by a Law and obedience to it, he would have the right to glory in his own strength and merit but not before God for nothing can glory in the presence of God.

Ever thought of that. People sort of thinking that they can or will stand before God and glory in the lives they have lived and the choices they have made? NOT gonna happen. I suggest that anyone and anything will lay flat on their face in humility before Him.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Which is our passage from last week and for today which reiterates the biblical fact that God sees us, counts us, “AS RIGHTEOUS” by and through the faith we exhibit in Him and His promises.

So seek after, cling to, build up FAITH in Him and His promises, folks. It is the one thing that people made in His image can possess that pleases Him.

And then Paul ties works (of the flesh, of obedience, of labor) to debt and not grace, saying:

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

The meaning is if we labor for someone, even God, then our employer, or

Understanding Grace and Faith

Even God owes us for the work that we have done. This simple line proves that faith is NOT a work that earns us something or earns us God’s grace. God bestows His grace on those through the faith they possess, which is their trust in His promises and is not a work that causes Him to be indebted to us. His Grace is not owed, it’s a gift from Him but it must be received. It is bestowed freely to all who have chosen to have faith in the promises He is offering! It sounds like indebtedness but it is more of a qualifier and when present He decides to bestow His grace.

So, we cannot earn God’s grace, it is a gift that is received through faith that qualifies us, meaning we have to believe it to receive it, we don’t earn it because that only creates debt and God cannot be put in our debt – ever. So, Paul takes the example of Abraham and what is said in Genesis 15:6 and adds at verse 5.

Faith and Righteousness

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

That is all we are doing – believing that God HAS FULLY JUSTIFIED the ungodly through the works of His Son, and not our own, and in and through this confidence and trust we are saved by grace – and NOT of works.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Then Paul, speaking of the Jews, asks

9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

This is a set up question which Paul now addresses, saying

10 How was it (being seen as righteous or justified before God) then reckoned? when he (Abraham) was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? (And he answers) Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: 15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

The Role of Faith

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

And having explained all of this through Abraham, Paul summarizes the message by saying

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

And so we see that

Understanding Genuine Faith in James 2

By our faith on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, we too are justified. These principles are set. We are fully justified before God by His grace through the FAITH we choose to live by and possess. Finally, we come to a chapter on faith that we cannot ignore – James chapter two. It is a chapter that caused Martin Luther to want to remove it from the canonized text; it seemed so contrary to Paul and his words. I suggest that these words are super important to our understanding of faith and what “real faith” actually looks like as compared to said faith.

This is the focus of James 2, what real genuine saving faith looks like. And in this explanation, the waters get muddied. See, the two GREAT commandments do not include faith, do they? Isn’t that interesting? Remember that as we go into this chapter wrapping today up. People who are sold out on earning their salvation “through works” love to cite this chapter and typically begin with verse 14, where it says:

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

And then they jump to the conclusion James makes at verse 17, which says:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James' Perspective

I suggest that James is describing genuine faith here, which is always tied to the two great commandments – love for God and love for Neighbor. In other words, James indirectly annihilates the idea of a saving faith that stands alone, on its own. Such a faith is non-existent. It is dead. This is what offended Luther. But I think James is correct. He is NOT discounting the fact that genuine faith is NOT a work or form of doing something to merit God’s grace, but that true mature faith, truly defined, will always manifest itself in love of God and Man.

Let me repeat this! He is NOT discounting the fact that genuine faith is NOT a work or form of doing something to merit God’s grace, but that true mature faith, truly defined, will always manifest itself in love of God and Man.

James Chapter Two Overview

To understand this, we must go to the first part of James chapter two – so let’s read beginning at verse 1:

James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

This is curious, but James seems to be saying, “do not let your faith in Christ manifest in your respecting people or showing favoritism.” And he goes on at verse 2 saying:

2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

In other words, have you not taken the faith you place on Jesus, ignored love for all people unconditionally, and assigned yourself the job of being a judge based on preferential appearances? He adds:

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

And then he states an important principle to people of faith or to people who claim faith in Jesus Christ, saying:

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Conclusion

I am not going to go into explaining all of this – it is all explained when we went through James verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty.. And that includes the next four verses too – which say:

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
11 For he that said, Do not commit…

Faith and Works in the Book of James

Adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

But at this point, having set the stage in these first verses he now gets to the point and asks:

So . . .

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and has not works? can faith save him?

Words and Actions

Now, just to bring the message into better focus, we have to comment on the words say and speak here in James. Going back to the first chapter, James writes in verse 13:

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Then James 1:19 reads:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

So, he gently touches on what comes out of our mouths in the first chapter. Then here in chapter 2 we read in verse:

James 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

And at verse 12:

James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

So again, James establishes the words people say to others. And having touched on this he now asks:

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

In other words, do the mere professions from the mouth, what we say and speak, bear any weight or carry any substance IF they are not backed up with actions (works).

This is central to James' argument – said faith. At verse 16 James writes:

James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Then again at verse 18 we read:

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Importance of Love

So, we see that this is the first point that He is making, a point about SAID faith, SAID promises of allegiance and how they mean NOTHING if they arrive empty handed – meaning without LOVE.

In other words, stated or professed faith means nothing AT ALL TO GOD IF it is not supported backed or proved by works of LOVE.

Now listen carefully. The works are LOVE – which we will get to shortly.

So, what He is saying is this, Genuine saving faith, if a person is allowed to live, is manifest in acts of love. Acts of Love is the proof of genuine faith.

It is NOT to suggest that faith and works of love save us. No, Paul makes it clear that we are saved by grace through faith alone and that it is not of works.

However, James steps forth and clarifies what genuine faith looks like, and that genuine faith or trusting in the promises of God will always include or be supported by a expression or the verb of love (let me add) in mature believers as babes in Christ are learning to love.

So, we can see that here James divides faith from works, distinguishing them by asking, “what profit is it that a man SAYS (claims, pronounces to possess faith) But does not have works of love (or any actions behind his statement or proclamation of faith).

And then he gives an example, saying:

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

And now we come to another element of genuine faith – it will always manifest in true love and this “true love” profits or produces something good.

Faith is NOT the Love and the LOVE is not the profit but the three all work together in manifesting the work.

Faith and Love: The Inseparable Companions

Notice that James writes:

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

“SAY” (refers to the faith) GIVE (refers to an act of Love) and profit refers to the genuine product of the love given.

And James adds

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works (or love), is dead, being alone.

Genuine faith does not ride alone. True faith always rides with a partner, which is love, and that love is always profitable.

The Relationship Between Faith and Works

James pushes it a little further and adds

18 Yea, a man may say, “Thou hast faith, and I have works:” shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works (and I will add, of love).

Faith drives up in a car and yells I am here, I believe! Look at me! But love never gets out of the passenger seat to act, then faith is not really functioning – in fact, it dead, James says, and people hearing what it says, will say:

“You don’t appear to be genuine faith to me.”

But faith drives us and humble says, “I serve the Lord,” and love jumps out of the passenger seat and acts profitably toward someone, then the faith is seen as real.

James continues and says

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

I would rewrite this, frankly and say, “Faith without Love is dead faith, inert faith, disabled faith because????

That’s right, genuine faith always manifests in love. And now James gives us some examples from the Tanakh of faith manifesting in love and says first:

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works (or love), and by works (of love) was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, (which was proven by His actions) and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

This is not to say man is justified by works but that having been justified by faith His love expressed validated the faith proclaimed.

Examples of Faith Illustrated by Love

And what example does James first give of the works that justify saving faith. He gives the example of Abraham loving God most when He was willing of offer up Isaac.

That is the first and great commandment, “love God” with all your heart and James proves that it is this work he refers to.

We know this when he gives us another example of people of faith illustrating their faith by love, but since Abraham was used to illustrate love for God, James pulls from an example of someone who proved their faith by loving their neighbor as themselves, as he says

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

In this James cites Rahab, a non-Jew harlot who first had faith and then proved her faith by expressing love to others, who in this case were the messengers that she aided and hid, again, proving that faith, in the case of Abraham or in the case of Rahab, does NOT arrive alone, but will always be accompanied by either love for God or love for neighbor as self, which are the two great commandments.

And then James summarizes the whole point, saying

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works (the fruits of the Spirit, which is love) is dead also.

And we see the importance of faith, and it constant companion, which is genuine love for God and Man.

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