Abraham Obeyed?

Hebrews 11: 8: By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; 9: By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham was commanded to leave his father's house but he tried to take his father with him to go into the land of Canaan. Abraham was promised a son through Sara but he tried to accomplish God's purpose by his own hand. So how is it that God says, Abraham obeyed?

The believer is actively obedient to God throughout the life of faith because God is actively faithful toward us, in spite of our disobedience. Every step Abraham took revealed to him that he had no strength himself yet God remained faithful to his promise (2 Tim 2:13.) Though Abraham tried to take his father with him to go into the land of Canaan, God stopped them in Haran and removed his father through death then removed Abraham through faith (Gen 12:1; Gen 11: 31, 32.) In spite of Abraham's work to accomplish God's purpose by his own hand, God removed the son of the bondwoman and caused Abraham to wait on the Lord (Gen 21: 10-12; Gal 4: 23-31.)

The Lord commands the believer to walk in his truth and to separate himself from all else, but the Lord constantly reminds us throughout the life of faith that it is his faithfulness, not our own, which accomplishes it. As Abraham witnessed God sever every earthly tie that would hinder him from receiving his inheritance, Abraham was continually strengthened in the reality that God would surely give him the city for which he looked. This is what caused Abraham to actively follow God.

Yet, after being so faithful to keep us stayed on Christ, the amazing thing is that God would count us faithful. The Lord declares in his word, Abraham obeyed. What amazing grace! True faith never defends itself in favor of its own actions but true faith praises God that it acts only because God acts upon it (I Thes 5: 23, 23; I Cor 1: 8, 9.)

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SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH Of Princeton, New Jersey

LOCATION & TELEPHONE
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor
150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553
Pastor's Telephone: 615-513-4464

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday 10 AM Bible Class
11 AM Morning Worship
Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service
(The first Sunday of each month, morning worship begins at 10am followed by observing the Lord's Table. Afterwards we have lunch together.)