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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Are you a follower of Jesus or a church? | Matt 10:32 | flinkywood | 108876 | ||
Thanks, Aixen. You wrote: "...when we believe God we are declared righteous and we will keep his commandments. This is a part of living by faith. It is not a means to an end." In the New Covenant our righteousness depends on belief in Christ, without whom our "good" works, our attempts at self-justification, are dead. In the OT, however, something interesting is going on. In Genesis 12:1-2 God tells Abram, then 76-yrs-old, to go forth from his country "...to the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, and make your name great..." But it's not until Genesis 15:6 when Abram is 99, before the birth of Ishmael, that we read "Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." 23 years had passed from God's first promise to Abram. Why was Abram's righteousness so long in coming? What of all those prior years? Colin |
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2 | Are you a follower of Jesus or a church? | Matt 10:32 | Aixen7z4 | 108919 | ||
Although it is not stated in Genesis 12, it is evident that Abraham believed God when God told him to go and he went. It was by faith that Abraham obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went (Hebrews 11:8). That faith is pointed out again in Genesis 15 and again in Genesis 22 when God said, “Now I know”. Some will say that it was only then that he was saved, as the sacrifice of Christ was prefigured. But his righteousness was declared in Genesis 15, and I submit that it had been bestowed in Genesis 11 when he obeyed and arose and went. Righteousness never did come by the law because the Law did not have that power. The law judged and condemned. It led men to look to Christ even before he was manifested in the flesh. They laid hold on the promise that he was coming and they trusted in him. When they did they were saved. In the New Covenant our righteousness depends on belief in Christ. And it was the same in the Old. Why was Abram's righteousness so long in coming? It may be it had been there without his realizing it. It may be that intellectual assurance comes with time, but justification is instantaneous when faith is exercised. There is a certain settled peace which we may not recognize at first or ever fully understand. I wonder if Abram had that peace as he left his home not knowing where he was going. That is one reason God gives us his word. And we should wait to hear what the Lord will speak, but the Lord will speak peace to his people. At the moment of faith we have that righteousness imputed. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Sooner or later we will know it. |
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3 | Are you a follower of Jesus or a church? | Matt 10:32 | flinkywood | 108920 | ||
Aixen, thanks for your considered reply. Colin |
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