Abraham: The Covenant of Grace and Faith

 

Summary

Abraham stands as a pivotal figure in the Bible, often associated with the concept of covenant. He is referred to as the "father of the faithful," and the New Testament frequently reflects on the promises God made to him, seeing their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The covenant with Abraham is an extension of the broader covenant of grace, highlighting God's sovereign and gracious choice. God called Abraham, not because of his righteousness, but as an act of divine election, asking him to leave his homeland and promising to make him a great nation. This promise was not just for Abraham's benefit but was intended to bless the entire world through him.

The covenant's pattern begins with an individual, Abraham, and expands to a nation, Israel, and ultimately to all nations through Christ. In Genesis 15, God reassures Abraham of His promise, despite Abraham's doubts about his childlessness. God promises that Abraham's descendants will be as numerous as the stars, emphasizing that the fulfillment of this promise rests solely on God's power and grace. Abraham's faith in God's promise is counted as righteousness, illustrating the principle of justification by faith, which is central to both the Old and New Testaments.

This covenant underscores that salvation is not based on human merit but on God's grace and the righteousness of Christ. The drama of Genesis 15, where God passes between the pieces of sacrificed animals, signifies His unbreakable commitment to His promises. This act foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant through Christ, who embodies the blessings promised to Abraham and extends them to all nations.

Key Takeaways:

1. Covenant of Grace: The covenant with Abraham is an extension of the covenant of grace, highlighting God's sovereign choice and gracious promise. It demonstrates that God's promises are not based on human merit but on His divine will and grace. [01:19]

2. Faith and Righteousness: Abraham's faith in God's promise is counted as righteousness, illustrating the principle of justification by faith. This principle is central to both the Old and New Testaments, showing that salvation is based on faith in God's promises. [13:21]

3. God's Sovereignty: God's choice of Abraham, a pagan, underscores His sovereignty in election. It is not based on Abraham's righteousness but on God's gracious promise, emphasizing that the fulfillment of God's promises rests solely on His power. [02:43]

4. Blessed to be a Blessing: The covenant with Abraham was not just for his benefit but intended to bless the entire world through him. This pattern of blessing extends from Abraham to Israel, and ultimately to all nations through Christ. [04:55]

5. Assurance of God's Promises: The drama of Genesis 15, where God passes between the pieces of sacrificed animals, signifies His unbreakable commitment to His promises. This act foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant through Christ. [21:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:33] - Abraham: Father of the Faithful
- [01:19] - Covenant of Grace
- [01:58] - God's Sovereign Choice
- [02:43] - Abraham's Call and Response
- [03:29] - Promise of a Great Nation
- [04:13] - Blessed to be a Blessing
- [05:40] - Expansion of the Covenant
- [06:32] - From One to Many
- [07:11] - God's Assurance to Abraham
- [09:14] - Abraham's Doubt and God's Promise
- [10:48] - Supernatural Fulfillment
- [12:34] - Faith Counted as Righteousness
- [14:54] - Imputation of Righteousness
- [16:20] - Salvation Through Faith
- [21:02] - The Drama of Genesis 15

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 12:1-3
2. Genesis 15:1-6
3. Genesis 15:17

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific promises did God make to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, and how do these promises set the stage for the covenant? [01:58]

2. In Genesis 15:1-6, how does God reassure Abraham about his future, and what is Abraham's initial reaction to God's promise? [09:14]

3. Describe the significance of the dramatic event in Genesis 15:17, where God passes between the pieces of sacrificed animals. What does this signify about God's commitment? [21:02]

4. How does the sermon describe Abraham's faith being counted as righteousness, and why is this significant in the context of justification by faith? [13:21]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the covenant with Abraham illustrate the concept of the "covenant of grace," and what does this reveal about God's character and His promises? [01:19]

2. In what ways does Abraham's journey from doubt to faith in God's promise serve as a model for believers today? Consider the challenges he faced and his response. [09:14]

3. The sermon mentions that God's choice of Abraham underscores His sovereignty in election. How does this understanding of divine election challenge or affirm your view of God's grace? [02:43]

4. How does the pattern of blessing, from Abraham to Israel and ultimately to all nations through Christ, reflect God's redemptive plan for humanity? [05:40]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt God calling you to step out in faith, much like Abraham. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [03:29]

2. Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness. How can you cultivate a faith that trusts in God's promises, even when circumstances seem impossible? [13:21]

3. The sermon highlights that God's promises are not based on human merit. How does this truth impact your understanding of grace and your relationship with God? [01:19]

4. Consider the idea of being "blessed to be a blessing." How can you actively seek to bless others in your community or sphere of influence this week? [04:55]

5. In moments of doubt, like Abraham, how do you seek assurance of God's promises? What practical steps can you take to strengthen your faith during these times? [18:39]

6. The drama of Genesis 15:17 signifies God's unbreakable commitment to His promises. How can this assurance of God's faithfulness encourage you in your current life situation? [21:02]

7. Abraham's story is one of divine election and grace. How can you share the message of God's grace with someone who may feel unworthy or distant from God? [02:43]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Grace Beyond Merit
The covenant with Abraham is an extension of the covenant of grace, highlighting God's sovereign choice and gracious promise. It demonstrates that God's promises are not based on human merit but on His divine will and grace. Abraham was called by God not because of his righteousness but as an act of divine election. This calling required Abraham to leave his homeland with the promise of becoming a great nation. This promise was not just for Abraham's benefit but was intended to bless the entire world through him. The covenant's pattern begins with an individual, Abraham, and expands to a nation, Israel, and ultimately to all nations through Christ. This illustrates that God's grace is not limited by human boundaries or achievements but is a gift extended to all who believe. [01:19]

"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." (Deuteronomy 7:6, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you recognize and respond to God's grace in your life today, knowing it is not based on your merit but His sovereign choice?


Day 2: Faith as Righteousness
Abraham's faith in God's promise is counted as righteousness, illustrating the principle of justification by faith. This principle is central to both the Old and New Testaments, showing that salvation is based on faith in God's promises. Despite Abraham's doubts about his childlessness, God reassures him of His promise, emphasizing that the fulfillment of this promise rests solely on God's power and grace. Abraham's belief in God's promise was credited to him as righteousness, setting a precedent for the understanding of faith and righteousness throughout the Bible. This teaches us that our faith, rather than our works, is what aligns us with God's righteousness. [13:21]

"And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:6, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a promise from God that you find difficult to believe. How can you exercise faith in that promise today, trusting that God will fulfill it in His time?


Day 3: Sovereignty in Election
God's choice of Abraham, a pagan, underscores His sovereignty in election. It is not based on Abraham's righteousness but on God's gracious promise, emphasizing that the fulfillment of God's promises rests solely on His power. This choice highlights God's ability to work through anyone He chooses, regardless of their background or previous beliefs. It serves as a reminder that God's plans and purposes are not limited by human expectations or qualifications. The story of Abraham encourages believers to trust in God's sovereign will and to be open to His calling, knowing that He can use anyone to fulfill His divine purposes. [02:43]

"For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?" (Isaiah 14:27, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you feel unqualified or inadequate. How can you trust in God's sovereignty to use you for His purposes despite your perceived limitations?


Day 4: Blessing for All Nations
The covenant with Abraham was not just for his benefit but intended to bless the entire world through him. This pattern of blessing extends from Abraham to Israel, and ultimately to all nations through Christ. The promise to Abraham was that through his descendants, all the families of the earth would be blessed. This foreshadows the coming of Christ, who embodies the blessings promised to Abraham and extends them to all nations. It reminds us that God's blessings are not meant to be hoarded but shared, and that we are called to be conduits of His blessings to others. [04:55]

"And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." (Genesis 22:18, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one way you can be a blessing to someone outside your immediate circle today. How can you extend God's love and grace to them in a tangible way?


Day 5: Assurance of God's Promises
The drama of Genesis 15, where God passes between the pieces of sacrificed animals, signifies His unbreakable commitment to His promises. This act foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant through Christ. In this ancient ritual, God demonstrates His unwavering commitment to His covenant with Abraham, symbolizing that He alone bears the responsibility for fulfilling His promises. This assurance is a powerful reminder that God's promises are steadfast and reliable, and that He is faithful to complete what He has begun. It encourages believers to trust in God's faithfulness, even when circumstances seem uncertain. [21:02]

"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" (Numbers 23:19, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a promise from God that you are waiting to see fulfilled. How can you find assurance in His faithfulness today, trusting that He will fulfill His promises in His perfect timing?

Quotes

"If there's any one person in the Bible whose name is associated with the concept of covenant, it is Abraham. In fact, Abraham emerges as such an important person in redemptive history that he's called the 'father of the faithful.' In fact, the New Testament looks back to the promises that God made to Abraham, seeing their fulfillment in the birth and in the ministry of Jesus." [00:00:01]

"Now, here, we see the sovereign, supernatural grace of God being bestowed upon a man who is a pagan, who lives in the midst of paganism, and in the midst of a pagan country, and, presumably, a pagan family. People often ask questions about the doctrines of grace and the doctrine of election and how it relates to biblical redemption." [00:02:09]

"Notice that God did not call Abraham because Abraham stood alone as being righteous among the Mesopotamians, nor did He call Hammurabi out of paganism, but God sovereignly chose Abraham and entered into a covenant with him based upon the divine promise. He said to Abraham, 'Get up. Get out of this country and go to a land where I will show you.'" [00:02:43]

"And that, again, the book of Hebrews makes much of this, of Abraham's fidelity and his response to the promise of God. But notice that the promise says, 'I will make you a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great and you shall be a blessing, and I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you.'" [00:03:29]

"And that’s significant that when God makes His promise to Abraham, the idea is not simply that Abraham, individually, is going to receive these benefits that God is promising him: Abraham will be singularly blessed; he will be given a great name, and so on. But the purpose of his blessing is that, through him, this blessing would extend to the whole world." [00:04:13]

"In this instance, the covenant is given to an individual. But the blessings are to go not only to this individual and not only to his family, but this blessing is to go to the whole world. And so, you start with the one and then it expands, as we will see that the promise to Abraham is then passed down to his son, Isaac, and from Isaac to his son, Jacob, and from Jacob to Jacob's seed, which becomes the nation of Israel." [00:05:40]

"The whole point of God's dealing, here, with Abraham, is to manifest clearly that the benefits of the covenant rest in the power and in the grace of God alone. It's not that God is standing up there saying, 'Well, Abraham, if you really work at it, I'm going to help you to become great, and I will be your cheerleader as you cooperate with the gifts that I give you so that you can become the head of a great nation.'" [00:09:55]

"And then what does the Bible say? 'Huh? Surely, you're exaggerating, O Lord. This can't possibly be true.' No. The response of Abraham becomes normative for all history in covenant response to the promises of God. This is why and this is where God -- the apostle Paul cites Abraham as his primary example that the just shall live by faith because the text says when God takes Abraham out and tells him to count the number of the stars in the sky and promises him descendants of that magnitude, we read in verse six, these words, 'And he believed the Lord. And it was counted to him for righteousness.'" [00:12:34]

"Now that's critical because Paul tells us later on that Abraham is not redeemed because of any of the works that he performed in his lifetime. He was saved by faith the same way any of us can be saved is by faith in God. And now, we say, 'Did he believe in Jesus?' He didn't even know about Jesus. There was -- out of them -- the vague hints that maybe were in the proto evangel that we've already looked at, but the principal that is involved here is the same for us. It's faith in the promise." [00:13:21]

"Abraham believes God and, we are told, he -- that was counted for him as righteousness. Now, Abraham was a child of Adam. Abraham was a sinner. In fact, the biographical record that we get of Abraham, in the book of Genesis, shows him, warts and all. And so, the grounds of his salvation are not his own works or his own merit, but rather, there is a reckoning, or a counting of righteousness for one who, in fact, does not possess righteousness." [00:14:54]

"The whole point of the gospel is that God declares us righteous in His sight before we are inherently righteous. And this was certainly the case with Abraham, who was counted righteous. And then God said, 'I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to inherit.' Now, immediately after we are told that Abraham believes God in the promise, he still is befuddled and overwhelmed by the big question. 'How can I know for sure? How shall I know that I will inherit?'" [00:16:20]

"And then, what follows is what I believe is one of the most important texts in all of sacred Scripture. I've said this before, that if I were in jail, imprisoned in solitary confinement, could only have one book with me, I'd want the Bible. If I could only have one book of the Bible, I would want the book of Hebrews, but if I could only have one chapter of the Bible, it would be Genesis, chapter 15." [00:18:42]

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Transcript
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