For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. (Romans 4:13-15)
We studied in the previous lesson how Abraham is considered the "father of faith", because “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3) We could go back to Noah and say the same thing, because from the time Adam and Eve were removed from the garden of Eden up until the time of Noah, the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast,... for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. ... Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:7-9) Everything God told Noah to do, Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. (Genesis 6:22)
After everything was done, from the flood to the receding of the water, God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. ... Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you,... Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Genesis 9:1, 8-11) Through Noah's descendants, the world was repopulated; then through Abraham's descendants, "...all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)
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” [Genesis 17:5]) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” [Genesis 15:5] (Romans 4:16:18)
The phrase, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did, is so powerful! “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27) Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. (Jeremiah 32:17) Abraham believed God, And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” [Genesis 15:6] (Romans 4:19-22)
Now, do we more clearly understand why we have to have faith in God? But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6) Salvation is believing in God- believe that He is; then believing Him- in hope, according to what He has spoken. Noah, Abraham and a host of others, all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. (Hebrews 11:39-40)
Salvation is not dependent on people seeing Jesus in the flesh or reading the books of the Bible. What may be known of God is manifest in them [mankind], for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,... (Romans 1:19-20) Nor is it dependent on the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Salvation is dependent on "whose report will we believe? We will believe the report of the Lord!"
Noah believed God and was saved; Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him [Abraham], but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him [God] who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 4:23-25) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2) AMEN!
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