Chldren of Abraham
March 29, 2020 Series
Anchored
Hebrews 6:12–29 (NLT) 12 …You will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their Faith and endurance. 13 For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: 14 “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.” 15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. 16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Abraham a well anchored man.
1. Abraham, Gods friend, was poised for promise.
Romans 4:1–3 (NLT) Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
-Not because he held to a religious system
Romans 4:13–14 (NLT)13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by Faith. 14 If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then Faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.
2. Abraham had a promise and Faith in that promise.
3. Abraham kept the Faith through a long and difficult time.
Romans 4:18–24 (NLT) 18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s Faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his Faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s Faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Abrahamic Covenant: Gen 12 Dominion, Descendants and Blessings to others.
Galatians 3:6–9 (NLT) 6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their Faith in God. 8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their Faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their Faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his Faith.
Galatians 3:29 (NLT) You belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
Realities of Faith
1. Faith is Active Trust
Romans 4:20–21 (NLT) 20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his Faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.
Hebrews 11:1(NLT) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
2 Corinthians 5:7(NIV) We live(walk) by Faith, not by sight.
2. Faith is required to please God.
- Hebrews 11:6(NIV) It is impossible to please God without Faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
- You cannot be righteous by doing anything but only by trusting someone.
3. Faith works(It produces obedience)
- “Faith that won’t work, don't work.”
- “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone” -Martin Luther.
Obedience is the active part of Trust!
James 2:17(NLT) So you see, Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
Hebrews 11:8–10 (NLT) 8 It was by Faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by Faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
4. Faith will be tested
James 1:2–4 (NIV) 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your Faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
How to nurture Faith:
- Pray in the Spirit(Jude 20)
- Go to the word- listen to it, pray it, read it. (Romans 10:17)
- Endure through difficulties(James 1)
- Ask for grace.
Mark 9:24 (NIV)“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
