Abraham Believed God

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. - Romans 4:3

    Abraham, without tangible, physical evidence believed the Word of God. God Almighty promised him that which was conceivably impossible according to the reasoning of the natural, carnal intellect and overruled even the ordained laws of natural order. We must be careful not to glorify Abraham in this unnatural performance of believing the unbelievable. In the divine order of all things purpose foregoes proof and evidence. In God’s promise is the infinite, I will. Abraham believed God because God said, I will. Faith in God comes from God—So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17).

    Omnipotent ordination initiates faith in those who are void of it. When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48). The idolatrous Abraham believing God at his Word was a miracle of sovereign grace. Does the Scriptures commend Abraham for the grace of faith? As Paul would say, God forbid! Neither do we. If we would, then we must commend him for his righteousness as well. What we have here, I believe, is faith and righteousness imparted and imputed.

    The substance of God’s promise to Abraham and his seed (those who would believe as he did) is the singular object of faith—Jesus Christ. All the promises of God to his children are bound up in the incarnate Lord Jesus Christ, and are certain—For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us (2 Cor 1:20). Our Lord said, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad (Jn 8:56). In unison with Abraham, every believer confesses—whom having not seen, we love; in whom, though now we see him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.