ABRAHAM HEARD

Sunday Morning March 9, 2003

Text: Galatians 3:5-6  "He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted [reckoned] to him for righteousness."

HEARING OF FAITH

Galatians 3:5  "He therefore that ministereth to you the spirit, . . . by the hearing [thing heard] of faith?"

THE THING HEARD

Romans 10:17  "So then faith cometh by hearing [thing heard], and hearing [thing heard] by the word of God."

MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM

Luke 8:10-11  "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. 11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."

ABRAHAM BELIEVED THE THING HEARD

Galatians 3:6  "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted [reckoned] to him for righteousness."

REWARD

Genesis 15:1  ". . Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD

Genesis 15:5-6 "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. (thing heard/Word of God/mysteries)

HEAVENLY SEED

6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness .

INHERITANCE

Genesis 15:7  "And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out . . . to give thee this land to inherit it."

TWO SEEDS

Genesis 22:17  "That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;"

THE THING HEARD

Romans 4:13  "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

Romans 4:1-5 "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

WORKS WITHOUT FAITH

2 For if Abraham were justified by works (along), he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God.

ABRAHAM BELIEVED

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God (about the thing heard), and it was counted [reckoned] unto him for righteousness.

WORKS WITHOUT FAITH

4 Now to him that worketh [present active] (without faith) is the reward not reckoned [counted] of grace, but of debt.

FAITH AND WORKS WORK TOGETHER

James 2:20-24  "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead (vain)? 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar (by faith)? 22. Seest thou how faith (Abraham believed God) wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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.

ABRAHAM JUSTIFIED

24. Ye see then how that by works (of faith) a man is justified, and not by faith only (without works)."

WORKING FAITH

Romans 4:5  But to him that worketh [present middle] not (for himself, middle voice), but believeth [present active, work of God] on him that justifieth [present passive, a continuous process] the (saved) ungodly, his faith (believe in the present tense) is counted [present passive, continues as long as faith continues] for righteousness.”

THE WORK OF GOD

John 6:29  ". . This is the work of God, that ye believe [present active] on him (the Son) whom he (the Father) hath sent."

ABRAHAM, FATHER OF FAITH

Romans 4:11  "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe [present active, (continue in the faith)], though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might (it might not if faith fails) be imputed [reckoned] unto them also:"

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH

Romans 3:22  "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith (with works) of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe [present active participle (them that continue to believe or continue in the faith)]: for there is no difference:"

INHERITANCE

Romans 4:13-14 "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

THE PROMISE

14 For if they which are of the law (works without faith) be heirs, faith (with works) is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

PROMISE DEFINED

1 John 2:25  "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."

COVENANT OF GENESIS 15

Galatians 3:17-18  "And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed (Genesis 15:8-9) before (the law) of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul (the promise), that it (the law) should make the promise of none effect. 18. For if the (heavenly) inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise."

THE END OF THE LAW

Romans 10:4  "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness (that is by faith) to every one that believeth [present active, (active faith)]."

FAITHFUL ISSUES OF LIFE

Romans 10:10-11  "For with the heart man believeth [present passive, (continuous believing)] unto righteousness (which is of faith); and with the mouth confession [present passive, (faithful profession)] is made unto salvation (so great salvation of the soul). 11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth [present active participle (lives by faith)] on him shall not be ashamed (at the judgment seat)."

THE FAITHFUL

1 John 2:28  "And now, little children [teknion, seeking to entering into the kingdom], abide [present active, (do not leave Him or forsake the faith)] in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence (if we do not fall away), and not be ashamed [from] before him at his coming [presence]."