Old Testament Reading: Genesis 15:1-6

“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: ‘Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’ But Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ And Abram said, ‘Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.’ And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: ‘This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.’ And he brought him outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:1–6, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Romans 4:1–12

“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’ Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.’ Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.” (Romans 4:1–12, ESV)

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Introduction

One of the most important questions that a person can ask is, how can I be made right with God?

Now, this questions assumes something. It assumes that men and women are not naturally right with God. 

Many people never ask the question, how can I be made right with God?, because they do not believe that there is anything wrong between them and God. This view takes different forms. Some people do not believe that God exists. So to them, there is a not a God to have a right or wrong relationship with! These people will never ask the question, how can I be made right with God?, unless their belief in the existence of God changes. And many others who do believe in the existence of God do not ask the question because they assume that they and God are on good terms. They think that they are basically good, and that God is generally pleased with them just as they are.

But what do the scriptures say? The scriptures teach from beginning to end that God exists, that he is holy and just, and that all have sinned against him and will one day stand before him to be judged. This is the clear and consistent teaching of Holy Scripture. 

Though I could set many passages of scripture before to make this point, allow me just this one from Paul’s letter to the Romans. There he asks, “What then? Are we Jews any better off [than you who are not Jewish]? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God” (Romans 3:9–19, ESV). The teaching of scripture is very clear. “None is righteous, no, not one…” 

It is for this reason that I say, one of the most important questions that men and women ought to ask is, how can I be made right with God?

As I have  already pointed out, many never bother themselves with with this question. But among those who do ask it, different answers will be found. To the question, how can I be made right with God?, some will say, by doing good deeds! These know that they have sinned against the Lords, but they assume they can make up for it by their good works.This is a very common view, isn’t  it? Many thing this way. And another is like it. Some will answer, saying, I can be right before God by keeping his law. If they will only live righteous before God from this day forward then God will accept them, or so they think. Still others hope to find the cleansing of their sins through ritual or ceremony. Though each of these approaches differ, they share one thing in common. Each find the solution to the need for a right relationship with God within themselves. If only they could do enough good, live holy, or engage in the ritual, then  God will be pleased with them, or so they think.

But again, what do the scriptures say? The scriptures are very clear that it “it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Romans 9:16, ESV). If we are to be made right with God it will not be because of something that we have done, but because of what God has graciously done for us. It all depends upon God’s grace, you see.  And indeed, God has done something. He has provided a Savior for sinful man. This Savior, who is Jesus the Christ, lived a perfectly righteous life, died a sacrificial death, rose from the grave victoriously, and has ascended to the Father. This he has done, not for himself only, but for his people. This he did so that others might be cleansed of their sins and made right with God. This righteousness, you see, is not a righteousness that can be earned by man — “None is righteous, no, not one…” — but it is a righteousness that must be received by faith. 

Hear again Paul the Apostle. In Romans 3:21 he says, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:21–26, ESV)

Friends, the answer to the question, how can a person be made right with God?, is through faith in the Jesus the Christ. Nothing else will do. No amount of human will or exertion is able to undo or compensate for our sin against God. But God, by his grace, has taken the initiative to provide a Savior for us, and must trust in him.

What I want for you to see this morning as we consider Genesis 15 is that this has always been the answer to the question, how can a person be made right with God? The answer has always been, through faith in the Christ. This was the answer for Adam after he sinned. This was the answer for Abraham. And this is the answer for all who are alive to this present day.

Let us now consider this passage in three parts. First, we will see that Abram’s faith was again tested, this time by the passing of time. Second, we will see that God was again faithful to reiterate his promises to Abram to sustain him. And third, we will learn that Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted it to him as righteousness.  

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Abram’s Faith Was Tested With The Passing Of Time

First of all, notice that Abram’s faith was tested with the passing of time. 

Remember that God was gracious and kind to Abram when he called him to leave his homeland to go to a land that he would show him. This the LORD did, not because of something deserving in Abram, but according to his sovereign will and  good pleasure. God called Abram by his grace. 

And remember that Abram responded in faith at the beginning. He left his home. He followed where the LORD led him. When he came into the land he publicly worshipped the LORD, and called upon his name. Truly Abram was a man of faith. Abram trusted the LORD, and he worshipped and served him in the world. 

But Abram’s faith was tested from time to time. He was tested when there was a famine in the land. He was tested when he went down into Egypt. There he was found walking by sight and not by faith when he lied concerning his wife, saying only that she was his sister. Abram was in that instance driven by fear. 

And here we see that Abram was tested again. This time it was not some crisis or calamity that tested Abram’s faith. This test had to do with the passing of time — the delay in the fulfillment of the promises of God caused Abram to wonder, will the LORD do what he has said?

God had made some wonderful promises to Abram. “The LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1–3, ESV). And again “The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you’” (Genesis 13:14–17, ESV). 

These promises had to do with Abram’s possession of a land and his production of many offspring. But there were a  couple of problems. One, the land was occupied by others. And two, Abram and Sarai were still without child. Sarai was barren. They were advanced in years, and they weren’t getting any younger. The passing of time was certainly testing Abram’s faith. 

APPLICATION: I think there is a point of application for us here. Perhaps you too have been tested in your faith in a similar way. Perhaps there is nothing particularly trying that you can point to, but as you have experienced the normal difficulties of life over a long period of time, you, like Abram, have had your faith tested. Rather than having your faith rocked, yours has been eroded. Brothers and sisters, this is why the scriptures everywhere exhort us to persevere. Listen to Romans 8:24-25: “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:24–25, ESV). The Christian life is life of faith. It involves hope in things not yet seen. And it requires, therefore, patience — that is to say, perseverance. 

Notice in  verse 1 that it was again God who took the initiative with Abram. “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: ‘Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great’” (Genesis 15:1, ESV).

This is the first time that the scriptures say a man saw a vision of the LORD. In times past, the LORD spoke to Abram. This time “the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision”. This marks an intensification of the intimacy between Abram and the LORD. 

And what did the LORD say? He encouraged Abram with the words, “fear not.” Now, we know that Abram was a man prone to fear. It seems that fear was what led him to lie about Sarai when they went down into Egypt. Can you detect the kindness of the LORD towards his people? Do you see how he comes to his people in their weakness to reassure them and to strengthen them? The LORD came to Abram and said , “fear not”, because he knew that he was afraid. 

Now why would Abram be afraid? He had just experienced a great victory in battle when he freed Lot and many others from the morading kings of the east! Shouldn’t he have been afraid before that battle,  and not afterwards? Well, consider this. Now many nations have taken notice of Abram, his wealth and his might. No longer is he laying low in the land of Canan. Now everyone knows his name. It is understandable that he would now be afraid. 

And so the LORD said to him “fear not”.And he also gave him the reason why he shouldn’t. “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield.”

APPLICATION: Brothers and sisters, Abram was not to fear because the LORD was his shield. And you and I are not to fear for the same reason. If we belong to the LORD through faith in Christ, he himself is our shield. And do not forget it — he is God Most High! Everyone who knows the LORD ought to have the words of Psalm 18 ever on their lips: “I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18:1–3, ESV). Are you ever afraid? Remember that the LORD is your shield. The LORD is a shield about [you], [your] glory, and the lifter of [your] head” (Psalm 3:3, ESV).

Not only did the LORD command Abram not to fear because he was his shield, he also reminded him that his reward  would be very great. This was clearly a reminder of all that God had promised to Abram in years past. 

But notice that in verse 2 this reminder prompted Abram to reply back to the LORD. “Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ And Abram said, ‘Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir’” (Genesis 15:2–3, ESV).

Abram’s concern was valid, wasn’t it? LORD, you have promised to make me into a great nation. You have said that my descendents would be like the dust of the earth, if one could number the dust of the earth. But I continue to walk  in this world  childless. In fact, it looks as if Eliezer of Damascus will be my heir when I die. Will you do this through him? Help me to understand, LORD. How do you plan to pull this off?

APPLICATION:Brothers and sisters, take special note of this. The LORD is happy to hear the concerns of his people. He is welcomes them to bring their questions, concerns and burdens to him, to lay them at his feet. Having faith does not mean we are without questions or concerns. Questions and concerns simply come with the territory for we humans living in  this fallen world. We cannot see the future. And sometimes what we do see doesn’t make sense to us. Walking by faith means that we walk in this world trusting always in the LORD, and sometimes that means we must come to him to honestly express the trouble we are having in our minds and heart. Friends, he is willing to hear us and to answer. But notice also the way that Abram expressed himself. He spoke to the LORD honestly, and yet respectfully. After all, it was God Most High to whom he was speaking! It is trendy today for Christians to be encouraged to “be honest” with the Lord. And often what is meant by that is, it is okay to dump on the Lord — to let it all out in an unrestrained way — for God is big enough to handle our unfiltered honesty. And while I do not doubt that God is big enough to handle it (I get it, you are not going to hurt his feelings), I do question if this is right. When we come before the Lord we are permitted to bring our  very honest question, concerns and burdens to him. But we should always careful to express them respectfully, out reverence for the God to whom we speak. This is what Abram did. He was honest, and yet reverent.     

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God Was Again Faithful To Remind Abram Of His Promises

Secondly, notice that God was again faithful to remind Abram of his promises to him. I say again, because the LORD has already reiterated his promises to Abram multiple times now.

APPLICATION:  Brothers and sisters, he does the same for you and me. He has given us his word. But he has also given us his Spirit to teach us and to remind us of all that he has said. More than that, he has given us the church so that Lord’s Day by Lord’s Day we might gather together to hear his word, to encourage one another from the scriptures, and to exhort one another to continue on in the faith.  Aren’t you grateful that the Lord is kind to us in this way?

It is in verses 4 through 5 that the promises of God are reiterated. And notice that the Lord also clarified his promises to Abram. Verse 4: “And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: ‘This man [Eliezer of Damascus] shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir’” (Genesis 15:4, ESV).

The  LORD made if very clear that he would fulfill his promises concerning a great nation and many offspring, not through a legal heir, like Eliezer of Damascus, but through Abram’s r “very own son”, one that would come from his loins. Sure, it must have seemed impossible to Abram, but this was the word of the LORD.  

And notice that the LORD helped Abram along in his faith by giving him a visible sign. Not only did God give Abram his word to hear, he also gave him something to look at. Verse 5: “And [the LORD] brought [Abram] outside and said, ‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be’” (Genesis 15:5, ESV).  

I think it is good for us to use our imaginations here. Can you picture Abram walking outside of his tent late at night? Immagine how dark it must have been in those days with no city lights to pollute the night sky. And imagine how impressive those stars must have been! If you have ever looked up into the night sky in a very dark place, away from the lights of the city, you know what I mean. It is an overwhelming experience to consider how vast our universe is, and how many stars their are in  the heavens. And God was so kind to Abram that he attached his promises to these stars. Therefore, every time Abram looked up to the night sky from that day forward he would be reminded of the promises of God. 

I am not sure how much to make of this, but I think it is interesting. I notice a progression in the text. In Genesis 13 the LORD promised to give Abram many descendents, but there he compared them to the dust of the earth. The LORD said, “I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted” (Genesis 13:16, ESV). But here the LORD lifts Abram’s eyes away from the earth and to the heavens. The messages is the same  — you will have many descendents! But the here Abrams eyes are are lifted heavenwards, as if God were saying, trust in me, the God of heaven and earth. 

Also, you need to get used to this idea, for is undoubtably true. Abram, who will be called Abraham, must be considered in a double capacity if we are to understand him aright. The scripture are very clear about this. In Abram there are two covenants, and there two peoples. In Abram there is the covenant of grace,  which is a covenant of promise, and their is also the covenant of circumcision, as we will see, which is a covenant of works. If you don’t believe me read Galatians 3 and 4. And in Abram their are two peoples — one natural and one spiritual. Many will come from Abram’s loins according to the flesh. They are his natural descendants. Some of them will have his faith, some will not. And also their will be very many will have the faith Abram who do not descend from his loins according to the flesh. These are his spiritual descendents. And so Abram will have a natural fleshly heritage, and he will also have a spiritual and heavenly heritage. Read carefully Paul’s letter to the Romans and his letter to the Galatians, along with the rest of the New Testament if you don’t believe me.

I can’t help but wonder if the two visible things that God attached to his promises for Abram do not correspond to these two kinds of offspring — the dust corresponding to the natural and earthly descendents, the stars to the heavenly and spiritual. 

More on this another time. For now, see that God was again faithful to remind Abram of his promises — promises pertaining to many offspring through his natural son who would be as numerous as the stars in heaven.   

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Abram Believed The LORD, And He Counted It To Him As Righteousness

Thirdly, let us see that Abram believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. That is what verse 6 says, “And [Abram] believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6, ESV).

This is a very important verse. As I said before, the New Testament scriptures make much of it. We would be wise to settle here for a bit. 

Certainly Abram had faith prior to this moment. He obeyed the word of the LORD when he left Ur  to journey to the land that God would show him. That he did because he believed the LORD. Why then is this declaration reserved for this moment? Did not Abram have faith previously? Was he not made righteous prior to this event? 

It is hard to know for sure. But one thing that we do know is tha in this moment Abram had saving faith. Perhaps it was in this moment, after hearing the promises of God once more, and after looking up into the heavens, that Abram really got it. Here we are told that “[Abram] believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

What does it mean that Abram “believed”?

To believe is to trust. And notice that Abram “believed the LORD.” His trust was in a person. His trust was in God. He believed, not only a message, but the LORD himself. 

APPLICTAION: I wonder, do you have that kind of faith? Do you believe the LORD? Are you trusting in Jesus the Christ? It is possible, I suppose, to trust in all kinds of things — even things that  are truly associated with the Christian religion — and to not trust the LORD. Some trust in their pure doctrine; others trust in their religious devotion; and still others trust in their obedience to God’s commands. But I am asking, do you trust in the LORD who is behind all of that? Our faith must sink it’s roots down into him. If it is to be true and saving faith, it must be faith in a person — belief in God and in the Christ whom he has sent.  

Also, notice that Abram believed in the promises of God. When we read that Abram “believed the LORD”, it has obvious reference to the words that God had just delivered to him.  

APPLICTAION: Again I wonder, do you have that kind of faith? Do you believe the promises of God? Do you believe in his word? Do you listen to the Holy Scriptures and say, “yes, and amen”. It is truly astonishing to me to hear of so many who call themselves Christians who refuse to believe that which God has said. They claim to have faith, but they will not “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save [their] souls” (James 1:21, ESV). To have true and saving faith — faith that makes one right before God — we must believe what God has said.

Lastly, know for certain that when the scriptures say that Abram “believed the LORD” it means that Abram ultimately placed his faith in the Christ who would one day emerge from amongst his people. The entire narrative of Genesis alludes to this, but the New Testament scriptures make it abundabnly clear. When Abram believed, he believed ultimately in the Christ who would come from him.

This was clearly Paul’s view. When he was urging the Galatians to continue in the faith he urged them to believe, “just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Galatians 3:6–9, ESV). The same gospel that Paul preached — the gospel concerning the forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ — was preached to Abram long before the Christ was born. The gospel message was less clear. It was mysterious. But the gospel of the Christ was present in the world. And it was this gospel that Abram believed. Abram put his faith in the Christ.

This was also Jesus’ view. When disputing with the Jews in John chapter 8 Jesus made this astonishing claim. He said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad” (John 8:56, ESV). According to Jesus  Abraham had his eyes fixed, not only on the physical land, and not only on physical, natural descendent, but Abram had his eyes fixed upon the Christ who would come from his loins. He understood that these promises from God were really about Christ and the people from every tongue, tribe and nation who would be redeemed in him, to be brought safe into the heavenly Jerusalem (see Hebrews 11:10, etc.).

All of this is meant when the text says that Abram believed God. He trusted in God; he believed his word; his faith was in the Christ. 

And then we read these critically important words: “The LORD counted it to him as righteousness.”

Notice that the text does not say that the Lord saw that Abram was righteous. It does not say that this proved Abram was righteous. But that “The LORD counted it to him as righteousness.”   This means that the LORD gave Abram something that he did not have before — righteousness. When Abram believed the LORD, Abram was made right with God. 

Paul makes much of this passage in Romans 4. He uses this text to prove that Abram was justified, or counted as righteous, not by keeping the law, but by grace alone through faith alone. 

He makes much of the fact that this episode wherein Abram “believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness” took place before Abram was circumcised. Abram will receive the sign of circumcision in Genesis 17. We are now in Genesis 15. 

This might seems like a minor and insignificant detail. But if you understand the significance of circumcision and the nature of the covenant of which it was a seal, then you would agree with Paul that the order of things is indeed very important.

Listen again to Paul in Romans 4. After talking about the blessing of having your sins covered and forgiven he asks,  “Is this blessing [the blessing of the forgivness of sins] then only for the circumcised [that is, for the Jew], or also for the uncircumcised  [that is, for the non-Jew]? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised” (Romans 4:9–12, ESV).

This is so important. Paul proves from this little narrative in Genesis 15 that our right standing before God depends not on our ethnicity, not our keeping of the law of Moses, nor of our participation in ceremony, but it is received by grace alone through faith alone.  This, he says, has always been the case. And it has always been the case for Jews and gentiles alike. In fact, the reason Abram was counted as righteous when he believed upon the LORD prior to his circumcision was so that no one would get the wrong idea about how a person could be right with God. 

Friends, salvation has always been by grace alone through faith alone. To this established order, the law of Moses was indeed added. Circumcision was given  to the Hebrew people. The Mosaic law was imposed upon them. But all of that came second. Before that it was firmly established that the way to be right with God was through faith in the LORD, in his promises, and in the Christ that he would send.  The Old Mosaic Covenant would be established with Israel, but it would not do away with the order that had been established previously.

This is what Paul teaches in Galatians 3:19. “Why then the law?”,  he  asks. Why was the law of Moses and the Old Covenant, of which circumcision was a sign, added if our right standing before God was received by faith alone, as in the days of Abram prior to his circumcision? His answer: “It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made… Is the law then contrary to the promises of God?” That is a good question! Are these two things, the law Moses and the gospel that was preached previously at odds with one  another? His answer: “Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:19–22, ESV). The law and the gospel sweetly comply, friends (see Second London Confession 19.7). 

The law of Moses, and circumcision which signified it, set the Hebrew people off from the rest of the world so that through them the Christ would be born into the world. The law also magnified sin. The law shows us our sin and drives us to Christ. This law was added. It was set down on top of a previously existing order, namely, the imputation of the righteousness of Christ to the one who has faith in him. 

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Conclusion  

APPLICATION: Are you trusting in Christ alone for the forgiveness of you sins? If not, then you are not right with God. You are still in your sins. For this is the only way to have your sins forgiven and to be made righteous. It is by faith in Christ alone. You must be found in him, clothed in his righteousness. Friends, do you have the faith of Abram? Your ethnicity does not matter at all. Even if you are a purebred descendent of Abraham according to the flesh, I still ask you, do you have the faith of father Abraham? 

Those  who descended from Abraham according to the flesh enjoyed many blessings in this world.  Paul, reflecting on these earthly blessings, said, “They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 9:4–5, ESV). But notice that the forgiveness of sins and life eternal was not one of those blessings. For he goes on to say in that same passage,“For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring” (Romans 9:6–8, ESV).

Do you have the faith of Abram? This question must be pressed upon Jews and Gentile alike. For it only by faith — faith like Abram’s faith —  faith in the gospel of Christ — that men and women are made right before God. If the Jewish people must be urged to believe upon Christ, how much more the Gentiles! For again Paul says, “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:26–29, ESV).