The Salvation of Abraham

Compare Romans 4:3 and Genesis 15:6

 

We normally think people being saved works like this:  Lost people hear the preaching or teaching of the word, and come under conviction, then are saved, then are scripturally baptized, then become members of a local church, then become faithful to God through that local church.  That is the order of many people, but it is not the order of every person.  While there is nothing wrong with that order, that may not always be the order God uses.  It is extremely important for every person to pay close attention to the directives given to them by God and to be obedient to him.  It is important that lost people obey God in praying, in studying the Bible, in church attendance, in giving tithes and offerings, and generally living the life of a saved, scripturally baptized person who is completely dedicated to following God.

Their good works will not save them, but remember, there is no excuse for sin on anybody’s part.  I know some people teach that it is okay for a lost person to sin, because they are lost, and committing sin will teach them what a bad sinner they are.  I do not believe lost people should sin, but when they sin, they should ask God to forgive them of that particular sin.

Mrs. Annie Alls continually telling my oldest son, Kevin, to keep on seeking the Lord and to keep on asking Christ to save him. 

The many things God directed Abram to do before he was saved.

1.       Genesis 12:1-4 – age 75 – God called Abraham to follow him.

2.       Genesis 12:8 – Abraham called on the name of the Lord.

3.       Genesis 12:17 – God protected Sarah from Pharaoh.

4.       Genesis 13:14 – God renewed his promise to Abraham when Lot left.

5.       Genesis 14 – Abram saved Lot from the kings and he gave tithes to Melchizedek.

 

Abraham is saved in Genesis 15:6, after he had obeyed the Lord in the many things above.

1.       Genesis 15 – age 85 – Abram given promise again, Abram now fully understands.

2.       Genesis 15:11-18 – God fulfilled the promise to Abraham after Abram went to sleep.

3.       Genesis 16,17 – 99 years old – Promise again.

4.       Genesis 17:24 – circumcised at 99 years old.

 

The gospel is preached to Abraham, through the promise of God. 

Galatians 3:8 – And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations. 

 

See the word “seed”. 

1.       Genesis 12:3 – This verse is quoted in Galatians 3:8.  But Abraham did not understand the promise of God, nor did he understand the gospel message.

2.       Galatians 3:16 – Compare to Genesis 12:7 – God told Abraham he would give the land to his seed.

3.       Genesis 13:14-16 – The promise is a spiritual promise, but Abraham was seeing only the physical parts of the promise.  The word “seed” refers to Jesus Christ, not to the direct descendant of Abraham and Sarah.

4.       Genesis 15:3 – Abraham complains to God that God has given him no seed, referring to his physical children, but God is not referring to physical children, but to Jesus Christ.  It is at this point that Abraham understands the spiritual message that the messiah will come through his descendants. 

5.       Genesis 15:5 – God told Abraham to look at the stars.

6.       Genesis 15:13 – Israel, including the seed, which is Christ, will be in bondage 430 years – according to Galatians 3:17.

7.       Genesis 15:18 – The covenant is made by God while Abraham is asleep.

8.       Genesis 16:10 – God will multiply the seed of Sarah exceedingly.

 

See also Acts 10Cornelius was lost, but did many things.

1.       He was faithful to God,

2.       Stood out as being faithful,

3.       He prayed,

4.       He gave alms,

5.       He was devout,

6.       Acts 10:7 – send two household servants and a devout soldier to Joppa to get Peter.

 

Acts 10:33 – Cornelius gathered many together (verse 27) to hear what God had to say to them.

Peter preached Christ, and they were saved.

Acts 11:14 – Peter was “called on the carpet” by the apostles and brethren, but Peter recounted the entire episode to them, stating that he was called to tell them words whereby they could be saved.

 

Acts 8:26-40 – The Ethiopian Eunuch went to Jerusalem to worship, yet was lost.  He was reading the book of Isaiah 53, yet was lost.  He could not understand the clear gospel message unless some man should guide him, which is what Phillip did.  When the Eunuch was saved, he was scripturally baptized, then Phillip went on his way rejoicing.  

 

Genesis 32:27 – Jacob had to confess his name, “supplanter” to God before he received eternal life.  Jacob falsely confessed to Isaac his name was Esau, but before Jacob would receive a new name, Israel, eternal life, and the blessings of God, he must confess he is a complete sinner, and unworthy of God’s everlasting blessings.  All must come to the cross as sinners.  If any will come to Christ without confession of sins, they will remain sinners doomed to an eternal hell.