Abraham is a prominent figure in the Bible who is known for his faith and obedience to God. We often talk about his righteousness in relation to his unwavering belief in God’s promises and his obedience to God’s commands. In this blog post, I want us to examine how Abrahams righteousness relates to his faith and obedience, and explore the key lessons we can learn from his life and how we can apply them to our own journeys of faith.
What Is The Meaning Of Righteousness?
Righteousness refers to being in the right relationship with God and following His will. In the Old Testament, it is associated with keeping the Law of Moses, while in the New Testament, it is a gift of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Overall, righteousness is not earned through keeping the Law of Moses or through personal merit, but rather it is a gift of God through active faith in Christ.
What Is The True Meaning Of Faith?
The scripture says in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We also learn in James 2:17-18 that there are two types of faith, and that is “dead faith” (faith without actions) and “active faith” (faith with actions). In Galatians 3:7 Abraham is considered as the father of those who are of faith, which means Abraham must have really exemplified the true meaning of faith to be called the father of faith.
What Is Remarkable about Abrahams Faith in God?
Hebrews 11:8-9 refers to the faith of Abraham, who is considered as the father of those who are of faith, and a great example of what faith in God is. These verses state:
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”
Abrahams Belief In God
The passage in Hebrew 11:8-9 highlights the fact that Abraham’s belief in God led him to accept God’s promises as the truth and followed God’s call, even though he did not know where he was going. Abraham’s faith is further illustrated in his willingness to live as a stranger in a foreign land, dwelling in tents rather than settling down and building a permanent home. This shows that he was really putting his trust in God’s promise, even if it meant sacrificing his own comfort and security.
Abrahams Faith In God Stood the Test of Time
Someone might ague and say this is prevalent to many newlyweds, to leave their comfort zone and start a new life somewhere else. That Abraham’s faith was inspired by God’s promise, or that maybe the decision to move was in fact in favor of Sara, since many women are not comfortable to live with their in-laws. Therefore, it wasn’t much of a sacrifice.
Be that as it may, Abraham’s faith did not fail when God tested him in Hebrews 11:17. His faith in God proved to be genuine, and not merely a calculated move. For that reason, we can all agree that Abraham had complete confidence and trust in God. He did what many of us could not do, and therefore he well deserved to receive his title as the father of those who have faith.
Abraham’s Complete Trust In God
In Hebrews 11:17, the Bible tells us that Abraham’s trust in God was so great that he went to sacrifice his only begotten son, Isaac, at God’s command. The verse states: “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.” This verse is a testament to Abraham’s complete trust and reliance in God, and his willingness to do as God asked, even if it was a difficult and challenging task.
At this time, his faith had grown so much and was well established as the scripture say in Romans 4:20-21. Although this was the son he had waited for so long and loved dearly, Abraham obeyed God without hesitation. Despite the apparent contradiction with God’s earlier promise to make Abraham the father of many nations through Isaac, Abraham never asked any questions but simply obeyed. Abraham’s complete trust in God is demonstrated by his willingness to accept God’s command without questioning.
Abraham’s Obedience to God’s Call
The scripture says in Genesis 22:9-12, “Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order, and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.”
How Abraham’s Obedience Demonstrated His Faith
In Genesis 22:9-12, Abraham’s obedience demonstrated his faith because of his immediate action of preparing for the sacrifice. Abraham trusted and valued his relationship with God so much that he did not want anything to come in between them. Many of us today would have prayed first (trying to change God’s mind), said our goodbyes or even try to explain what is happening to the child.
His preparation without hesitation was a proof that Abraham had a strong belief that God is a provider, since Isaac was his miracle child from God. Thus, he had faith that God was capable of bringing Isaac back to life. His action also demonstrates that he was afraid of withholding from his provider whom his whole life depends on. Again, Abraham witnessed God’s faithfulness when he provided the ram.
Abraham’s Commitment to God’s Laws
Another remarkable action of faith from this scripture is that, Abraham prepared the sacrificing ceremony of his son in the same way he would for animals. He tied Isaac, and placed him on the altar, on top of the wood. He never compromised any part of the process. This shows how committed he was in God’s laws.
This story highlights the importance of committing ourselves to God’s ways, even when they seem to go against our natural instincts or desires. Abraham’s inclination to follow God’s command, even in the face of such a difficult and seemingly cruel task, demonstrates his faith and trust in God’s commands and guidance.
Abrahams Righteousness
Genesis 15:6 states, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” This verse explains how Abrahams righteousness was granted to him. To a certain extent, this verse can cause confusion because it lacks clarity, especially since it’s quoted in many scriptures that may seem to contradict each other.
How Abrahams Faith and Obedience Led to His Righteousness
This verse makes clear why Abraham is known as a father of faith, and his life continues to serve as an illustration of how genuine faith is manifested in action. James 2:21–24 explains how Abrahams righteousness connect with Abraham’s faith and obedience.
It reads “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?”
James 2:21 NKJV
The first line of verse 21 states that Abraham was “justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar,” This is a reference to Genesis 22, where God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. James is referring to the works of obedience as opposed to following the Law of Moses (being circumcised) or acting on one’s own merit.
“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?“
James 2:22 NKJV
James underlines in verse 22 that Abraham’s faith was “completed by his works” and that it was “active because of his works of obedience.” In other words, Abraham’s faith was confirmed by the action he took to respond to what God asked him to do, and thus his faith was made complete.
“And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.“
James 2:23 NKJV
Genesis 15:6 is cited in verse 23, where it says “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” James indicates that through Abraham’s active faith the scripture was fulfilled, otherwise it would have been dead faith. This means that Abraham’s actions were not separate from his faith but rather formed an essential part of it.
“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.“
James 2:24 NKJV
Finally, in verse 24, James comes to the conclusion that “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone”. This statement has occasionally been understood as contradicting the Apostle Paul’s teachings, which highlight that salvation, is obtained through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, we need to keep in mind that the kind of works that James is referring to is the works of obedience which are an essential part of active faith.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Abrahams faith and obedience were key aspects to his righteousness, and Abrahams righteousness impacted every aspect of his life. As Christians, we can learn from Abraham’s example, by putting our trust in God’s promises, obeying His commands, and demonstrate active faith all the time. This will help us activate all God’s promises in our lives as it did to Abraham’s life.
