Yes I admit I did miss out commenting on Romans 1:17 “from faith to faith” at the time. (There are times when I am teaching this in class and I don’t want the students to get the answer prematurely. ) But I marvel at the timing of putting it in with the comments on Abraham’s faith. What if we changed the verses from Chapter 4 just a little? Can you see how it fits together?
Let’s try to put some pieces together. The pieces from Bible Gem 163 are:
- Abraham’s faith did not weaken
- Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise his faith grew stronger He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.
- Abraham’s faith did not weaken
- he kept believing God’s promise
- and so his faith grew stronger
- until He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises
That is what it is all about – faith from beginning to end. It’s a faith journey to the point where our faith is strong and resilient.
Again I marvel at the timing of my reading this morning in my Quiet Time from Bob Gass – The Word for Today.
Hebrews chapter 11 is often referred to as ‘the gallery of faith’. Two groups are mentioned. Group one ‘…escaped… the sword…’ (Hebrews 11:34 NAS). Group two ‘…were put to death with the sword…’ (Hebrews 11:37 NAS). Now we’d all like to be in group one, but the Bible says both groups ‘…gained [God’s] approval through their faith…’ (Hebrews 11:39 NAS). The Message paraphrases this Scripture: ‘…these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance…’ (Hebrews 11:13 TM). Their faith kept them focused!
This is why Abraham’s faith was credited as righteousness. Oh yes he had times when he faltered. Yes he had times when he tried to help God out. Don’t we all? But the end result of his faith journey culminated in his willingness to offer Isaac as a sacrifice if that is what God wanted. Now you have to admit that is mighty strong faith. That faith arose from taking the small faith steps before it. Are you getting the message? That is why Abraham is used as an example for us all. Nothing to do with his Jewishness, his circumcision or anything else. In fact Paul proves it wasn’t his circumcision that was the key. It was simply his faith. It is faith from start to finish. From the moment you are born again you are born again by faith and the basis of your relationship with Him is by faith until you die. Abraham is seen as the father of all who believe. God’s way has always been “by faith” – even before Paul came along and spelled it out so clearly.
In the times before Messiah (Jesus Christ) it was still by faith (in Him) and God in His omniscience and His omnipresence could look ahead to the time when the Christ would cover sins once for all and wrap up those who walked by faith in the times previously with those who would walk by faith in Christ and consider them all righteous. Wow.
How is your faith walk going?
Ian Vail
You don’t need faith for what you can see or have already attained; you need it when life makes no sense.
Bob Gass