Faith Of Our Father

[dave c]

A HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #120c Written 27OCT07 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw

In The Footsteps Of Abraham: Part Three—Faith Of Our Father

by dave c

When reading Hebrews Chapter 11, verses 8-19, we need to keep in mind that the Writer of Hebrews is not merely recounting the story of Abraham and his progeny as examples of remarkable, but historically Jewish, faith in Yahweh. He is taking a distinctly Christian perspective that warrants our prayerful attention to what information the Holy Spirit would have the Church take to heart, head, and hands. Paul tells us in Galatians 3:6-9, Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith (NIV).

Early in the Letter To The Romans, Paul develops a lengthy argument concerning the relationship between faith and righteousness for both Jew and Gentile. 3:29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God (NIV).

Romans 4 continues: 3 What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him" (NIV).

4:9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised (NIV).

The Apostle to the Gentiles makes it perfectly clear that just being a Jew by heritage was not sufficient for righteousness before God, and certainly not for salvation through justification. No, righteousness and justification required a personal faith in the existence and promises of God. In the same manner, it is not membership in the Church that saves us—it is not participation in cultural Christianity that makes us righteous in the presence of God. We must also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had as we are confronted with the holiness of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

If we are to follow in the footsteps of Abraham during our Christian walk, then it is left to us to prayerfully determine the nature and actuality of those footsteps. This, then, brings us back to our subject verses. Hebrews 11:8-12 can be titled “Willing & Ready” as we are presented with Abraham’s preparedness, his patience, and his belief in the face of God’s command to, “Go!”. Hebrews 11:13-16 are centered upon “The Race & The Rewards” as we are told that the great Patriarch had hope, vision, and focus. Finally, Hebrews 11:17-19 deal with “Obedience & Sacrifice” as Abraham’s compliance, acceptance, and confidence bring him to the position and title of “God’s Friend” (2Ch 20:7, Is 41:8, & Ja 2:23). In the face of so many misconceptions and misdirections as to what it means to have “faith”, let us rely upon Scripture to provide for us a map and signposts in our journey to follow Father Abraham.