13God promised Abraham and his descendants that he would give them the world. This promise wasn't made because Abraham had obeyed a law, but because his faith in God made him acceptable. 14If Abraham and his descendants were given this promise because they had obeyed a law, then faith would mean nothing, and the promise would be worthless.
15God becomes angry when his Law is broken. But where there isn't a law, it cannot be broken. 16Everything depends on having faith in God, so that God's promise is assured by his great kindness. This promise isn't only for Abraham's descendants who have the Law. It is for all who are Abraham's descendants because they have faith, just as he did. Abraham is the ancestor of us all. 17The Scriptures say that Abraham would become the ancestor of many nations. This promise was made to Abraham because he had faith in God, who raises the dead to life and creates new things.
18God promised Abraham a lot of descendants. And when it all seemed hopeless, Abraham still had faith in God and became the ancestor of many nations. 19Abraham's faith never became weak, not even when he was nearly a hundred years old. He knew that he was almost dead and that his wife Sarah could not have children. 20But Abraham never doubted or questioned God's promise. His faith made him strong, and he gave all the credit to God.
21Abraham was certain that God could do what he had promised. 22So God accepted him, 23just as we read in the Scriptures. But these words were not written only for Abraham. 24They were written for us, since we will also be accepted because of our faith in God, who raised our Lord Jesus to life. 25God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and he raised him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God.
The entire, amazing, life of Abraham was based upon faith. Everything God did for him was because Abraham "believed God". Some of the highlights from Abraham's life are...
God told Abram to leave his native land and his father’s house for a land that God would show him, promising to make of him a great nation, bless him, make his name great, bless those who blessed him, and curse those who cursed him. (Genesis 12)
During the rebellion of the Jordan River cities against Elam, Lot, was taken prisoner along with his entire household. Abram immediately assembled 318 trained servants and pursued the Elamite army. In a daring night raid, they were able to free the captives and slaughter the Elamite forces along with their King Chedorlaomer. Upon Abram’s return, Melchizedek king of Jerusalem, a priest of God Most High, brought out bread and wine and blessed Abram and God.
The word of God came to Abram in a vision and repeated the promise of the land and descendants as numerous as the stars. Abram and God made a covenant ceremony, and God told of the future bondage of Israel in Egypt. God described to Abram the land that his offspring would claim: "the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”
Abraham had been sitting at the entrance of his tent and saw three men in the presence of God. Abraham offered to wash their feet and feed them..to which they assented. One of the visitors told Abraham that upon his return next year, Sarah would have a son.
Abraham was commanded by God to offer his son up as a sacrifice in the land of Moriah. Just as Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, he was prevented by an angel, and given a ram which he sacrificed in place of his son. As a reward for his obedience he received another promise of numerous descendants and abundant prosperity.
Abraham died a wealthy man and is now the father of the three most influential religions in the world. On par, we'd have to say Abraham lived an amazing, blessed life. And today...Paul tells us that God promises to do the same for us. Although I don't really want another son when I'm 100 years old. (I'm just saying...)
So...do we want to be recorded in history as having received amazing blessings from God almighty? Paul shows us the way. Believe God.
Live boldly out there today...
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