Abraham’s journey
What does Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness – for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 4:3, 23-25 (NIVUK)
The story of Abraham has two intertwining themes: the trials and tribulations during his physical journey through the lands of the Middle East and his spiritual journey from paganism to faith and a deep relationship with God.
God gave to Abram (later named Abraham) certain promises: ‘I will make you into a great nation…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ (Genesis 12:2-3) A major theme of the Bible is how these promises unfurl through history.
In Genesis 15:5-6 God said to the childless Abram, “ ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars…So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” God declared Abram righteous, not because of any works he had done, but because he believed, had faith, and trusted in God.
God then ‘cut a covenant’ with Abram concerning the promised land. Abram cut certain animals in half and left a passageway between the two halves. In a bilateral agreement both parties would normally pass between the two halves and accept the benefits and obligations of the covenant. However, in this case, only God passed between the two halves. God alone takes on the obligations of this covenant. Inheritance of the promised land was certain, but only through God’s grace and not through any works of Abram or his descendants.
In Genesis 17 God confirmed his promises to a still childless Abram to which Abraham replied, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’ (Genesis 17:17). Their son Isaac would be called into being by grace not by the works of the flesh. By implication the whole nation of Israel derived from Abraham, via Isaac, only existed through God’s grace.
We are on our own spiritual journey of faith. As the header scripture states, Christians are blessed with being forgiven, are justified, and credited with righteousness through Jesus Christ alone, the promised seed of Abraham.
All the promises given to Abraham are ultimately fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ. Through him we are raised to new life as the children of God who will, along with Jesus, inherit all things – by grace and not by works.
Prayer
Father, we thank you that you are always with us in our physical and spiritual journeys. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Study by Eddie Marsh
About the writer:
Eddie Marsh attends the Sheffield congregation of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
Please email the local congregational contact (see below) for information about the Sheffield congregation’s meeting venue and time.
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