Responding Properly to God’s Promises
Introduction. Our response to any of God’s commands with a promise always reveals our trust in God. No matter how wonderful and exciting the promise, it will not lead to a change of behavior or great efforts if there is any doubt about the certainty of being fulfilled. This sums up God’s interest in how Abraham responded to His promises. The more effort and sacrifice Abraham was willing to make, the more trust and confidence he manifested to God. Confidence in God is always seen in how much motivation, patience, endurance, and effort it creates. Without that, we don’t believe or trust to the level God demands in order to reckon it to us as righteousness.
Abram left Haran at God’s command to move to Canaan when he was 75. God promised to give him the land as an inheritance and make him a great nation (Gen 12:1-4). “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.” (Heb. 11:8). After years of waiting, Abraham expressed his concern that he was still childless, yet it did not affect his obedience. God then expanded the promise. A son would come from his own body. His unwavering faith and trust in God was so great, “He accounted it to him for righteousness.”
This is the first time we see the premium and value God places on our trust in Him. Both favor and salvation are based on the depth of that trust. When Abraham was 85, Sarai did waver and devised her own plan to help God fulfill His promise. The ill-formed plan ended in disaster, but Abraham did have a son. (Gen. 15:1-6; 16:1-4).
God then made Abram wait another fourteen years. At ninety-nine, God gave the covenant of circumcision. If Abram circumcised himself and his entire household, God promised “you shall be a father of many nations.” In preparation, God then said, “No longer shall your name be called Abram, your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.” Then came the most amazing and exciting promise of all! Sarai’s name (meaning “princess” in a limited sense) must also be changed! God told Abraham her name would now be “Sarah” because “I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”
Now nearing a hundred and Sarah at ninety and incapable of having children, Abraham had resigned himself that Ishmael would be the promised son. He never doubted God and God had never said it would be through Sarah. Abraham’s laugh was not unbelief, but God’s promise was a great shock to him. God took him step by step, explaining His promise exactly as He would do it. “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.” (Gen. 17:1-27)
Once Abraham understood God’s expanded promise, he never wavered or doubted it. His trust and confidence in God’s power and veracity was shown that very day in obedience to God’s command. They were all circumcised before the setting of the sun on the same day God gave it to him! (Gen. 17:1- 27). After her own laugh, Sarah also manifested this same saving faith “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” (Heb. 11:11).
With this background, we are prepared to consider the applications the Holy Spirit makes directly to us as Abraham’s descendants. The account above concerns us just as much as it did him (Rom. 4:16-25). The promise that he would be the father of many nations was never intended only for his fleshly descendants through Isaac (who are of the law). Because of his great faith and obedience, God had determined to make him the father of all faithful servants until the end of time. Every year as the gospel goes to all the nations, Abraham becomes the father of each obedient individual in all nations. The phrase “"I have made you a father of many nations” was always speaking of his spiritual descendants: “those who are of the faith of Abraham.” Those who just like Abraham, when called through the gospel leave their life in this world to live as Abraham did, in unwavering trust, and active and zealous service. Truly, Abraham “is the father of us all.”
Abraham’s response to God’s promise was so perfect that God made him the template for all future spiritual children to imitate. Each Christian anywhere in this world and at any time in this age is a child of Abraham and must measure his own response to God’s promises by Abraham’s. Abraham very much wanted to be this father of many nations, and though only God’s promise could give him that hope it was enough. “He did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.” (Rom. 4:19). Because of his trust in God “he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief.”
It was his faith in God’s power to do what He said that strengthened Abraham’s convictions. “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.” It was the power and extent of this quality of faith that gave this glory to God. With no other means than God’s promise, Abraham never once doubted that Sarah would have a son, nor did Sarah who “judged Him faithful who had promised.”
Every promise God makes must be received in the same manner by true children of Abraham. We must believe God’s power to perform it and God’s veracity to do what He promised. It is here that we will either give God glory as Abraham did or prove to God we are not genuine descendants by wavering in unbelief. God demands the same conviction in all his children who are of the faith of Abraham. “My righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” (Heb. 10:38). As Jesus told the Pharisees, “If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.” (Jn. 8:39). The depth of our faith and the efforts we put forth either give God glory or manifest lack of trust in Him.
We have strong assurance in all His promises. Not only did God promise, but He swore with an oath. “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” (Heb. 6:17-18). God can’t lie! He gave a promise and swore with an oath. This is more than enough!
If we want Abraham to be our true spiritual father, we must have the same faith and do the same works. “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” “So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” (Gal 3:7-9). This is the type of faith we must develop to be seen by God in the same way as He did Abraham. Abraham was “fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore ‘it was accounted to him for righteousness.’”
The application to us is then given “Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” All that is written about Abraham was not written only for his sake. He was a very unique and special person and God did want us to know about him, but for our sake as much as his. We can have the same righteousness imputed to us, if we live and act like Abraham. We too must not waver in unbelief, but strengthened in faith, give glory to God. Just as Abraham believed in Him who had to power to give him a son, we believe in Him who had the power to raise Jesus from the dead and fulfill all His promises through Him.
The final step is our work, labor, and toil. God has left us clear instructions on what He needs from us. The more we trust God the more we will do the “good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). “Abraham our father was justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar.” “Faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect”. To show to all future children the full depth of his unwavering trust, God asked him to offer Isaac. “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (Heb 11:17). Because Abraham passed this test, two things were established beyond doubt. First, “the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Second, “he was called the friend of God.” Let all his children take heed. We too are being tested by the commands and good works given in the gospel. To be God’s friend, we will walk in them. Jesus “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Therefore, “those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.” (Titus 2:14; 3:8).
Conclusion. It is amazing that the current “faith only” views in the religious world are incompatible with what a faith deep enough to be reckoned as righteousness must be doing. They take the phrase “faith reckoned as righteousness” as absolute. They remove all the zeal, effort, toil, patience, and endurance that brings the good works that are so essential. They stumble over the works of the law that was removed at the cross to be replaced with the hearing of faith. By faith Abraham left his country, never wavered in unbelief, giving God the glory and offering up Isaac as a work of faith. If we are to be his true descendants, we must walk in the steps of faithful Abraham.
Abram left Haran at God’s command to move to Canaan when he was 75. God promised to give him the land as an inheritance and make him a great nation (Gen 12:1-4). “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.” (Heb. 11:8). After years of waiting, Abraham expressed his concern that he was still childless, yet it did not affect his obedience. God then expanded the promise. A son would come from his own body. His unwavering faith and trust in God was so great, “He accounted it to him for righteousness.”
This is the first time we see the premium and value God places on our trust in Him. Both favor and salvation are based on the depth of that trust. When Abraham was 85, Sarai did waver and devised her own plan to help God fulfill His promise. The ill-formed plan ended in disaster, but Abraham did have a son. (Gen. 15:1-6; 16:1-4).
God then made Abram wait another fourteen years. At ninety-nine, God gave the covenant of circumcision. If Abram circumcised himself and his entire household, God promised “you shall be a father of many nations.” In preparation, God then said, “No longer shall your name be called Abram, your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.” Then came the most amazing and exciting promise of all! Sarai’s name (meaning “princess” in a limited sense) must also be changed! God told Abraham her name would now be “Sarah” because “I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”
Now nearing a hundred and Sarah at ninety and incapable of having children, Abraham had resigned himself that Ishmael would be the promised son. He never doubted God and God had never said it would be through Sarah. Abraham’s laugh was not unbelief, but God’s promise was a great shock to him. God took him step by step, explaining His promise exactly as He would do it. “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.” (Gen. 17:1-27)
Once Abraham understood God’s expanded promise, he never wavered or doubted it. His trust and confidence in God’s power and veracity was shown that very day in obedience to God’s command. They were all circumcised before the setting of the sun on the same day God gave it to him! (Gen. 17:1- 27). After her own laugh, Sarah also manifested this same saving faith “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” (Heb. 11:11).
With this background, we are prepared to consider the applications the Holy Spirit makes directly to us as Abraham’s descendants. The account above concerns us just as much as it did him (Rom. 4:16-25). The promise that he would be the father of many nations was never intended only for his fleshly descendants through Isaac (who are of the law). Because of his great faith and obedience, God had determined to make him the father of all faithful servants until the end of time. Every year as the gospel goes to all the nations, Abraham becomes the father of each obedient individual in all nations. The phrase “"I have made you a father of many nations” was always speaking of his spiritual descendants: “those who are of the faith of Abraham.” Those who just like Abraham, when called through the gospel leave their life in this world to live as Abraham did, in unwavering trust, and active and zealous service. Truly, Abraham “is the father of us all.”
- “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all as it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations’” (Rom. 4:16).
Abraham’s response to God’s promise was so perfect that God made him the template for all future spiritual children to imitate. Each Christian anywhere in this world and at any time in this age is a child of Abraham and must measure his own response to God’s promises by Abraham’s. Abraham very much wanted to be this father of many nations, and though only God’s promise could give him that hope it was enough. “He did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.” (Rom. 4:19). Because of his trust in God “he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief.”
It was his faith in God’s power to do what He said that strengthened Abraham’s convictions. “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.” It was the power and extent of this quality of faith that gave this glory to God. With no other means than God’s promise, Abraham never once doubted that Sarah would have a son, nor did Sarah who “judged Him faithful who had promised.”
Every promise God makes must be received in the same manner by true children of Abraham. We must believe God’s power to perform it and God’s veracity to do what He promised. It is here that we will either give God glory as Abraham did or prove to God we are not genuine descendants by wavering in unbelief. God demands the same conviction in all his children who are of the faith of Abraham. “My righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” (Heb. 10:38). As Jesus told the Pharisees, “If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.” (Jn. 8:39). The depth of our faith and the efforts we put forth either give God glory or manifest lack of trust in Him.
We have strong assurance in all His promises. Not only did God promise, but He swore with an oath. “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” (Heb. 6:17-18). God can’t lie! He gave a promise and swore with an oath. This is more than enough!
- “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.” (1Jn. 5:9-10)
If we want Abraham to be our true spiritual father, we must have the same faith and do the same works. “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” “So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” (Gal 3:7-9). This is the type of faith we must develop to be seen by God in the same way as He did Abraham. Abraham was “fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore ‘it was accounted to him for righteousness.’”
The application to us is then given “Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” All that is written about Abraham was not written only for his sake. He was a very unique and special person and God did want us to know about him, but for our sake as much as his. We can have the same righteousness imputed to us, if we live and act like Abraham. We too must not waver in unbelief, but strengthened in faith, give glory to God. Just as Abraham believed in Him who had to power to give him a son, we believe in Him who had the power to raise Jesus from the dead and fulfill all His promises through Him.
The final step is our work, labor, and toil. God has left us clear instructions on what He needs from us. The more we trust God the more we will do the “good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10). “Abraham our father was justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar.” “Faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect”. To show to all future children the full depth of his unwavering trust, God asked him to offer Isaac. “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (Heb 11:17). Because Abraham passed this test, two things were established beyond doubt. First, “the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Second, “he was called the friend of God.” Let all his children take heed. We too are being tested by the commands and good works given in the gospel. To be God’s friend, we will walk in them. Jesus “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Therefore, “those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.” (Titus 2:14; 3:8).
Conclusion. It is amazing that the current “faith only” views in the religious world are incompatible with what a faith deep enough to be reckoned as righteousness must be doing. They take the phrase “faith reckoned as righteousness” as absolute. They remove all the zeal, effort, toil, patience, and endurance that brings the good works that are so essential. They stumble over the works of the law that was removed at the cross to be replaced with the hearing of faith. By faith Abraham left his country, never wavered in unbelief, giving God the glory and offering up Isaac as a work of faith. If we are to be his true descendants, we must walk in the steps of faithful Abraham.