MEN WHO WALKED WITH GOD- -ABRAHAM- -GENESIS 15:1-6; ROMANS 4:1-5

MEN WHO WALKED WITH GOD- -ABRAHAM

GENESIS 15:1-6; ROMANS  4:1-5

INTRODUCTION:

Abraham is the father of the Hebrew people. He is also called the “father of the faithful.” In these two passages of Scripture we will note how God has dealt with Abraham and how he walked with God and became know as “the friend of God,” James 2:23. Let us note how God dealt with Abraham and how Abraham “believe God.”

I.     ABRAHAM IS CALLED TO THE UNKNOWN- -GENESIS 12:1

A. He moves out by faith in the one who called him saying, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” v. 1.

1. Abraham left his family behind at God’s bidding.

2. He traveled to a land God promised to show him.

B. God promises a blessing, vs. 2-3

1. Personal and temporal blessings, v. 2.

a. “I will make thee a great nation.”

b. I will make “thy name great.”

2. Spiritual Blessings, “thou shalt be a blessing.” vs. 2-3.

a. “I will bless them that bless thee,” v. 3.

b. “I will bless them that bless thee,” v. 3.

II. ABRAHAM RECEIVES THE PROMISE OF A SON FROM THE LORD- -GENESIS 15:1-6

A. God’s promise, “And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4- And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir 5- And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” vs. 3-5.

B. Abraham believes God, v. 6; Romans 4:3 “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

1. Abraham listened to God’s promise, vs. 3-5; Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2. He believed God, v. 6.

a. His faith was counted for righteousness, Romans 4:3.

b. Abraham was justified by faith without works, Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

III. ABRAHAM’S CLOSE WALK WITH GOD.

James 2:23, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

A. He staggered not at the promise of God, Romans 4:20, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;”

1. He had no lack of faith in God’s Word.

2. He gave glory to God for his faith.

B. He was fully persuaded that God could fulfill His Word, v. 21.

1. Abraham could say as Paul did in 2 Timothy 1:12, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

CONCLUSION:

Abraham truly walked with God. In Galatians 3:9, Paul calls him “faithful Abraham.” In Romans 4:16, he refers to him as “the father of us all.” Perhaps the title most impressive is that found in James 2:23 where Abraham is called “the friend of God.”