Saved by Faith

• 1^st – Exceedingly great reward…vs. 1 (4 points)
  • 1^st – A lot of firsts…
    • The first mention in the Bible of – the Word of the Lord (2x in this passage) …
    • Who was it that came to Abram – John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word…”
    • The first mention of vision / shield / reward / believed / and righteousness!
    • It is the beginning of the revelation of salvation by FAITH in Christ Alone!
  • 2^nd – Do not be afraid…
    • Do not LET (jussive) yourself be afraid…
      • Fear is not a response – it is a choice – we chose based on what we are looking at…
      • If we are looking at our circumstances – then we choose to be afraid…
      • If we look to the Lord – then we by FAITH – have nothing to FEAR!
      • Romans 8:31 – “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
    • If God said not to be afraid – it meant Abram was afraid!
      • Abram just conquered the mighty 4 kings of Babylon with 318 men…
      • Perhaps Abram was concerned about retaliation – revenge from the kings…
      • In those times in life when we are afraid in life…
      • Jesus is whatever we NEED Him to be the most!
  • 3^rd – I AM – your shield…
    • A shield speaks of defense – it protects us from the attacks of the enemy…
      • Satan likes to take his shots / fiery arrows – at us whenever he can…
      • Ephesians 6:16 – “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”
      • We almost never see them coming – they are sudden and deadly…
      • Our only protection against them – is our FAITH in God…
      • Satan has no weapon that can penetrate unwavering FAITH that God is in control!
    • God confirms that He is the protection and defense for Abram!
      • Abram was after all a stranger in a foreign land – there were certainly many dangers…
      • God reassures him that there is nothing that can harm Him!
      • II Kings 6:13-17 – The King of Syria demanded Elisha be arrested…
      • He sent a great army – horses and chariots – to surround the city of Dothan at night…
      • When the servant of Elisha woke up the next morning – he panicked!
      • He cried out to Elisha – what are we going to do now – we are surrounded!
      • He had good reason to be panicked – they were in a LOT of trouble!
      • But then Elisha prayed for the Lord to open they eyes of his servant…
      • The servant looked up – and the hillside around Elisha was filled…
      • Horses and chariots of fire – an army of angels surrounding the army of Syria!
      • It is easy to forget sometimes who we have on our side…
      • When everything seems to be against us – we can think we are at a disadvantage…
      • But the reality is with Jesus – no matter who is against us – we have the majority!
      • We have nothing to fear – because there are more with us than there is with them!
    • We also need to remember there is a very real world all around us – a Spiritual world…
      • Daniel 10:13 – and angel came to give Daniel a message from God…
      • But the Angel told Daniel it took him 21 days to get to the prophet…
      • The demon of Persia blocked him – until Michael the archangel came and helped!
      • It is easy to look at events around us – and forget we are in a Spiritual battle!
      • And the only way to win that battle is to go to our knees in prayer…
      • Then like the servant of Elisha – have our eyes are opened and we can see…
      • Our perspective changes – and we see our circumstances in a new light…
      • We no longer see our problems – instead our God who is greater than any problem!
      • Philippians 4:6 – “Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything…”
  • 4^th – I AM your – exceedingly great (hiphil) reward…
    • Perhaps the fear of Abram was financial…
    • Abram had just turned down the fortunes of Sodom and Gomorrah…
    • No doubt there was literally a kings ransom that he had walked away from…
    • God assures Abram He is the REWARD – far greater than anything this world might offer!
    • Are we concerned about our finances – are we concerned about work / food…
    • The Lord promises us that He will provide – Luke 12:31
    • He gives us His Word – seek Him first – and He will provide all our needs…
    • But He is the FAR GREATER treasure – He is better than ANYTING this world can offer us!
• 2^nd – The promise of a Son… vs. 2-6 (4 points)
  • 1^st – The biggest fear… vs. 2
    • Abram walked by faith – but he was struggling – he had honest doubts…
      • God gave two promises – children beyond counting – land of Canaan – Genesis 13:14-17
      • Yet Abram still had no son – at this point his heir was his servant Eliezer of Damascus…
      • And he was still a foreigner in a strange land – he did not own a single hector…
    • It is easy to see why he was having a hard time with the promised of God!
      • Sometimes circumstances can get the best of us – it is hard to focus on Jesus…
      • There is nothing wrong with having honest doubt…
      • We cannot fool God – we can say we believe and trust Him – but He sees the heart…
      • Better to be honest with the Lord – talk to Him if there are doubts!
      • Philippians 4:6-7 – “Let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
  • 2^nd – The Solution… vs. 3-4
    • God brought Abram outside – said to him LOOK (imperative) to the heavens…
      • Look up – the answer to the doubts of Abram – look up!
      • Getting the right perspective – because what we look at determines what we see…
      • Matthew 14:29 – Jesus came walking out on the wind and the waves to the disciples…
      • And Peter could walk on water so long as he kept his eyes on Jesus…
      • But the moment he started looking at the wind and the waves – he sank!
      • It is all about perspective – if we are looking at the waves – we see the impossible…
      • If we are looking UP to Jesus – we believe nothing is impossible!
      • Matthew 17:20 – “If ye have faith… nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
    • Eliezer would not be the heir – God promised to give Abram his own son…
      • God went so far as to say his decedents would be – as the stars in the heavens!
      • Just as you cannot count the stars (10 billion – trillion) so shall your children be!
      • It is not that God said anything new to Abram – He simply reassured him!
      • The only reason that we FEAR is we get our eyes off Jesus – onto our circumstances…
      • In fact – FEAR is the opposite of FAITH – they cannot coexist…
      • But when we are honest about our FEAR – God encourages us to look back to Him….
      • He reassures us – and the doubts and FEAR melt away in the light of FAITH!
  • 3^rd – Abram BELIEVED (first time in OT) the Lord… vs. 6
    • BELIEVE – [אָמַן] 108x in OT – Hebrew equivalent for FAITH – also be translated as TRUST…
    • This is the first time that we see that Abram TRUSTED the Lord…
    • Up to this point Abram listened – but now he truly believed the Word of the Lord!
    • It can be easy for us to get frustrated when someone does not BELIEVE in the Gospel…
    • But salvation in many ways is a process – we rarely get things the first time we hear them…
    • Often the Lord has to repeat Himself – sometimes many times…
    • Before a person really come to the place where they believe what God says!
    • God is VERY patient – He will work for a lifetime to win someone over to Him!
  • 4^th – Counted as RIGHTEOUSNESS (first time in OT) … vs. 6
    • RIGHTEOUSNESS – [צְדָקָה] 157x in OT – having a right relationship with God…
      • It is impossible to get to have a relationship with God without being RIGHTEOUS…
      • How can we make the relationship right – there are two possibilities…
    • 1 – We can try to live a perfect life that has no sin…
      • Mark 10:17 – a man came running up and knelt before Jesus…
        • He called Jesus GOOD Teacher – and was sincerely looking for answers…
        • He wanted to know what GOOD thing he should do to inherit heaven…
        • He had the right question – he went to the right person to get the answer!
        • Jesus answered his question with a question…
        • The man wanted to know what GOOD thing he should do…
        • In order for Jesus to answer the question – He had to define what GOOD meant!
        • GOOD is a comparative term – to know how GOOD something is…
        • You have to know what you are comparing it to!
      • The definition Jesus gives for GOOD – no one is GOOD but One – that is God!
        • Romans 3:10 – “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one…”
        • Most people tend to think they are GOOD – few if any of us would say we are bad…
        • Yet what or who is it that we compare ourselves to – GOOD compared to…
        • If the definition of GOOD was being better than – my neighbor – maybe OK…
        • But since the definition of GOOD is God – that means I am not GOOD…
        • From the best person to the worst – none are GOOD compared to God!
        • Matthew 5:48 – “You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
      • The problem is that no one can be made right with God by following the rules…
        • I know a lot of people who think they are good Christians because they follow rules…
        • They show up to church every Sunday – but what is in their heart….
        • We might be able to keep ourselves from stealing a fancy cell phone…
        • But how many of us have ever coveted a fancy cell phone – Romans 7:7
        • If we did not know the Law of God – we would not know it was wrong to covet…
        • It is the Law that is the mirror that shows us the sinners we truly are!
      • The Law actually stirs in us the desire for sin – Romans 7:8
        • Have you ever seen a sign that says WET PAINT – and felt the need to touch it!
        • Why is it the moment we are given a RULE we want to disobey it…
        • Because we are sinners – and the Law stirs up our sinful desires…
        • Those sins inevitably lead to death – physical death / spiritual death!
        • And it only takes one sin to keep you out of heaven!
        • James 2:10 – “Whoever keeps the law, yet stumble in one point, is guilty of all.”
        • Which is why NO ONE can be made righteous by GOOD works!
        • Romans 3:20 – “No one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what his law commands.”
    • 2 – We can do what Abram did – Look up…
      • Abram knew that what the Lord promised him was impossible…
        • He was already 75 years old – and Sarai was 65 years old – too old for kids…
        • But by looking up he believed that God could do the impossible…
        • Not just for his life here – but for eternal life – making him the FATHER of FAITH!
        • Romans 4:16-22 – “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all… who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all… And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
      • The only hope for a sinner – is to be forgiven through faith in Jesus…
        • It is not being a sinner that keeps us from heaven – we all are – Roman 3:23
        • It is rejecting the solution for sin that God provided in Jesus Christ…
        • We are saved by believing in the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sin on the cross…
        • We do not earn our way to Heaven – it is a gift to those who believe in Jesus!
        • Ephesians 2:8-9 – “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
      • Being saved by Grace – does not mean we can live our lives in sin – Romans 6:1
        • We are not saved by keeping the Law / works – but if we are saved…
        • You will be able to tell – by what kind of works / fruit comes from my life…
        • It is easy to say we have FAITH and believe in Jesus – but the proof is in our actions…
        • If we say we are Christians – but still live like the world – do we really have faith!
        • James 2:18 – “I cannot see your faith if you do not have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.”
• 3^rd – The promise of the Land… vs. 7-11 (2 points)
  • 1^st – The second part of the promise to Abram was that he would inherit the Land… vs. 7-8
    • Abram again questions the Lord – how will I know that I will inherit it…
    • Notice that God was not upset with Abram for asking again…
    • He did not repeal the righteousness that came from believing the first promise…
    • The Lord was more than willing to reassure Abram of this second promise!
    • It seems no sooner than we start to walk by faith – than we doubt again
    • God does not get upset with us – as many times as we ask – He will answer
    • The answer does not change – we look up – we go to the Lord!
  • 2^nd – Bring me (imperative) … vs. 9-11
    • The Lord asked for Abram to bring a three year old – cow / goat / ram / dove / and pigeon…
      • Abram knew what to do from there – this was a common custom of his day…
      • If you wanted to make a vow with someone – this is how it was done
      • Take the animals – cut in 2 (not the birds) making a path between the halves…
      • Then the two men making a vow would walk between the halves – in the blood…
      • The blood would seal the vow making a covenant (binding vow) between them!
    • This did take a LOT of FAITH on the part of Abram…
      • He was essentially entering into a covenant with God…
      • But God did not come – at least right away – Abram had to chase away the vultures!
      • It would be like us writing up a contract with God – pen and paper in hand…
      • People passing by might ask – what are you doing – waiting for God to sign a contract…
      • While we chase away the flies buzzing around – because we were alone!
    • The point being that God used something familiar to comfort Abram…
      • God could have just told Abram – but He wanted to show and assure Him…
      • He used very ordinary means (a covenant) to confirm His promise…
      • Though it still took a LOT of FAITH for Abram to obey the command!
      • Often when we look to the Lord for answers – we want something big…
      • We want the booming voice of God – neon lights in the clouds…
      • But more often then not God uses the ordinary to reassure us…
      • A friend who comes at just the right moment with a comforting word…
      • The job that you did not expect that meets the needs for that day…
      • God uses the ordinary to show how extraordinarily He cares for us!
• 4^th – The future… vs. 12-16 (2 points)
  • 1^st – The prophecy…
    • As the sun set a deep sleep fell on Abram – a disturbing (terrifying and dark) sleep…
    • The lord spoke to Abram – KNOWING you will KNOW – what will happen to your decedents!
    • They would be strangers in a land that is not theirs – (Egypt)
    • They would serve them (slaves) suffering for 400 years…
    • In the end He would deliver them (Moses – Exodus) coming out with great possessions…
    • None of this would Abram see – he would die a very old man – in peace!
  • 2^nd – Why the 400-year wait – the sin of the Amorites was not yet complete…
    • Deuteronomy 2:34 – Israel killed every man / woman / and child…
      • May ask – if God is love – I John 4:8 – how could He command Israel to commit genocide…
      • They were a wicked people – who worshiped many false gods – Exodus 23:23-24
      • They offered their children as sacrificed to demons – Leviticus 18:21-24
      • They practiced every form of sexual immorality – Leviticus 18
      • Deuteronomy 9:5 – “It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The LORD your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness…”
    • Yet God in His LOVE held back judgment on the sinful nations for 400 years!
      • God is not quick to judge – He is very patient – hoping there will be repentance…
      • He did not want to give the land to Abram yet – hoping the Canaanites would repent!
      • God is also longsuffering with us – not that He will not judge sin – He certainly will
      • But He is patient hoping that many will come to repentance!
      • II Peter 3:9 – “[The Lord] does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.”
    • In the 4^th generation…
      • This is one of the few places in the Bible that define a generation…
      • Four generations – that cover 400 years – each generation is 100 years…
      • Mark 13:30 – “This generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.”
      • The Generation that sees Israel blossom – will also see the End of the Age…
      • When exactly did Israel blossom – May 14^th, 1948 – Israel was declared a nation…
      • June 7^th, 1967 – when Israel reclaimed the Temple Mount (Jerusalem) …
      • How long is a Generation – anywhere from 20-100 years!
      • Count 20-100 years from 1948/1967 – it means the rapture is VERY close!
• 5^th – The promise… vs. 17-21
  • 1^st – When the sun went down…
    • A smoking oven and light passed between the pieces of the animals…
      • Oven – Hebrews 12:29 – “For our God is a consuming fire.”
      • Light – John 8:12 – “Then Jesus spoke… saying, ‘I am the light of the world.’”
      • God passed walked through the midst of the animals!
    • Notice that Abram did not pass between – it was only the Lord…
      • The way the covenant works – both parties pass through the middle…
      • Representing that both are responsible to keep the covenant…
      • But in this case – only the Lord passed through – it was His covenant!
      • There was nothing Abram had to do – God would do all the work!
  • 2^nd – The Abramic covenant…
    • I have given his land – from the Nile river (Egypt) to the Euphrates river (Iraq)…
    • The covenant that God made was for all the Land of 10 tribes of the Canaanites…
    • Including: ½ of Egypt / Sudan / Ethiopia / Syria / Iraq / Saudi Arabia / Yemen…
    • Oman / UAE / Qatar / Kuwait / Eritrea / Jordan / and Lebanon! Not to mention Israel!
    • God was not just promising Abram a couple of hectors – it was the whole Middle East!
    • God desires to do so much more than we can ever imagine in our lives
    • What part do we play – what do we have to do…
    • Look up and believe that we serve the God of the impossible!