The Model of Saving Faith

Old Testament Scripture Reading Joshua 2:8 – 15 (NASB) Josh 2:8  Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, Josh 2:9  and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. Josh 2:10  “For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. Josh 2:11  “And when we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Josh 2:12  “Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, Josh 2:13  and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” Josh 2:14  So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the LORD gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” Josh 2:15  Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. New Testament Scripture Reading Romans 4:7 – 17 (NASB) Rom 4:7  “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. Rom 4:8  “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.” Rom 4:9  Is this blessing then upon the circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS RECKONED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Rom 4:10  How then was it reckoned? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; Rom 4:11  and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be reckoned to them, Rom 4:12  and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. Rom 4:13  For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Rom 4:14  For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; Rom 4:15  for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation. Rom 4:16  For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, Rom 4:17  (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. Study Notes Transforming Power Statements: #1) Because of the doctrine of ‘original sin’ cleansing and forgiveness can only be done by God; and must also, therefore be by grace and not works, because no amount of works or Law keeping can be retro-active. #2) Furthermore, because even when we have been saved, since we are not ‘omniscient, we still commit sin and break God’s Law and need continual forgiveness and cleansing along the way. #3) These facts apply to Jews as well as to Gentiles and the Scriptures prove that God has and does grant pardon to both the circumcised and uncircumcised as well and that He always has for all who have faith in the likeness of Father Abraham, and even before.

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Trust In The Promise Alone

Old Testament Scripture Reading Genesis 15:1 – 18 (NASB) Gen 15:1  After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” Gen 15:2  And Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what wilt Thou give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Gen 15:3  And Abram said, “Since Thou hast given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.” Gen 15:4  Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” Gen 15:5  And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Gen 15:6  Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Gen 15:7  And He said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.” Gen 15:8  And he said, “O Lord GOD, how may I know that I shall possess it?” Gen 15:9  So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Gen 15:10  Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. Gen 15:11  And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. Gen 15:12  Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. Gen 15:13  And God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. Gen 15:14  “But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions. Gen 15:15  “And as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. Gen 15:16  “Then in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.” Gen 15:17  And it came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. Gen 15:18  On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: New Testament Scripture Reading Romans 4:18 – 25 (NASB) Rom 4:18  In hope against hope he believed, in order that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.” Rom 4:19  And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; Rom 4:20  yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, Rom 4:21  and being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform. Rom 4:22  Therefore also IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Rom 4:23  Now not for his sake only was it written, that it was reckoned to him, Rom 4:24  but for our sake also, to whom it will be reckoned, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, Rom 4:25  He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. Study Notes Transforming Power Statements: #1) Since the book of the Law was not written until four hundred and thirty years after the patriarch Abraham, he could never have been saved by the Law but only by his personal faith in the promises of God alone, which were later written in the Law. #2) One main reason God gave the Law was to have in place a written witness who could verify the certainty of the Gospel and the fact that salvation is given by faith in the promise alone, because Abraham who did not have a written witness is the model of saving faith. #3) Faith in the hope of the resurrection is seen in many scenarios in Abraham’s life such as the lives of his sons Ishmael by Hagar and Isaac by Sarah, as well as in the tentative sacrifice of Isaac, and even in the barren condition of Rebekah who eventually bore Jacob and Esau.

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