Well; since I wasn't created yet when GOD said that, so - I don't know FOR SURE.
Posted on 11/20/2023 5:10:56 AM PST by metmom
"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, 'In Isaac your descendants shall be called.' He considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead" (Heb. 11:17-19). A willingness to sacrifice something precious to you is proof of genuine faith.
John Bunyan had a little blind daughter, for whom he had a special love. When he was imprisoned for preaching the gospel, he was deeply concerned about his family, especially that little girl. He wrote, "I saw in this condition I was a man who was pulling down his house upon the head of his wife and children. Yet, thought I, I must do it; I must do it. The dearest idol I have known, what ere that idol be, help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee."
Despite his personal grief, Bunyan was willing to sacrifice the most precious thing he had, if God so willed. So it was with Abraham. Every promise God had made to him was bound up in his son Isaac.
Abraham believed God's promises, and his faith was reckoned to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). But the moment of truth came when God instructed him to offer his son as a sacrifice. Abraham realized that to kill Isaac was to put to death God's covenant. So he reasoned that surely God would raise Isaac from the dead. He believed in resurrection before the doctrine was revealed in clear terms.
God tested Abraham, and Abraham passed the test: He was willing to make the sacrifice. And that's always the final standard of faith. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24). Romans 12:1 says, "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."
I pray that you are willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to minister most effectively for Christ.
Suggestions for Prayer
Thank God for those you know who are passing the test of a sacrificial faith.
Pray for the courage and grace to follow their example.
For Further Study
Read the account of Abraham's test in Genesis 22.
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
I just wanted to share commentary from my Expositors Bible regarding Gen 15:6...
And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD (excercised Faith, believing what the Lord told him); and He (the Lord) counted it to him (Abraham) for Righteousness. (This is one of the single most important Scriptures in the entirety of the Word of God. In this simple term, “Abraham believed the Lord,” we find the meaning of Justification by Faith. Abraham was Saved by Grace through Faith, not by his good works. There is no other way of Salvation anywhere in the Bible. God demands Righteousness; however, it is the Righteousness afforded strictly by Christ and Christ alone. Anything else is self Righteousness, and totally unacceptable to God. Directly the sinner believes God’s testimony about His Beloved Son, he is not only declared righteous, but he is made a son and an heir.)
Perhaps we could go further and say that is where Adam and Eve sinned. They didn’t believe God.
Valid point. They fell from Grace because they lost their faith having become deceived.
When they ate from the tree of knowledge it blinded their faith and instead injected into their souls a desire to be equal with God.
Which really is in essence the purpose of self righteousness through one’s own works. Thereby fallen from Grace having rejected the free un-merited gift through Faith.
One more thing,
Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for Righteousness. And this was before the Law was given.
No matter the Dispensation, Grace through Faith was and is the only means to Salvation.
How does that saying go, the Old Testament is Grace hidden and the New Testament is Grace revealed.
This was what Paul (The likely Author of Hebrews) attempted to convey to the Circumcised in chapter 11. Every example of the Old Testament Patriarchs is shown to have been saved by Faith.
Yet today, and through the ages, religion has injected works as an alternative means of Salvation.
Paul makes it clear in Galatians that there is no alternative, and Law and Grace cannot coexist.
Galatians 5:4
King James Version
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
In fact, another example given in Hebrews is the contrast between Sarah through Promise, and Hagar a by product of the flesh.
Hebrews 11:11
King James Version
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
While true; a bit strong - they DOUBTED God.
That's what happens when a human listens to another voice...
While true; a bit strong - they DOUBTED God.
That's what happens when a human listens to another voice...
Well; since I wasn't created yet when GOD said that, so - I don't know FOR SURE.
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