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Abraham's Faith and God's Sovereignty in Scripture

Abraham's faith is a foundational concept in biblical theology, frequently cited in both the Old and New Test Testaments as an example of righteousness credited through belief [1, 2]. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 4:3, quotes Genesis 15:6, stating, "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS" [1]. This verse underscores the principle that Abraham's trust in God's promises, rather than his works, was the basis for his righteous standing before God. James 2:23 reiterates this, adding that Abraham "was called the friend of God" [2].

Abraham's journey began with God's sovereign call to leave his homeland for a land that God would show him, promising to make him into a great nation and bless all peoples through him (Genesis 12:1-3) [5, 6, 9]. This divine initiative highlights God's sovereignty, where God acts first and Abraham responds in faith. John Calvin, in his commentary on Genesis, frequently references Abraham's call and the subsequent promises, emphasizing the divine origin of the covenant [5]. The promises made to Abraham were extensive, including descendants, land, and a universal blessing, and these promises are seen as foundational to God's covenant with Israel and ultimately to the coming of Christ [3, 8].

The nature of Abraham's faith is further illuminated by the challenges he faced. He believed God's promise of a son through Sarah despite their advanced age, a situation that humanly speaking was impossible [10]. Matthew Henry notes that Abraham's faith was directed toward "God who quickeneth the dead," implying a belief in God's power to bring life out of barrenness and to fulfill promises beyond natural means [10]. This aspect of Abraham's faith demonstrates a reliance on God's omnipotence and faithfulness to His word [3].

However, Abraham's faith was not without its struggles or imperfections. For instance, he twice presented his wife Sarah as his sister out of fear, first to Pharaoh and later to Abimelech [4]. Despite these lapses, the biblical narrative consistently emphasizes God's continued faithfulness to His covenant promises to Abraham. This suggests that God's sovereign plan and commitment to His promises are not contingent on perfect human obedience but rather on His own character and will [3].

The interplay between Abraham's faith and God's sovereignty is crucial. God initiated the covenant, made the promises, and ultimately ensured their fulfillment. Abraham's role was to believe and obey, even when the path was unclear or difficult. His faith was a "working reality," not a passive assent, manifesting itself in obedience and trust [7]. one commentary tradition by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown describes this as a "realizing, working faith," which produces a continuous chain of "work" [7].

The New Testament authors consistently point to Abraham as the paradigm of faith, not just for Jews but for all who believe [1, 2]. Paul argues in Romans that Abraham's justification by faith occurred before the law was given and before circumcision, establishing a pattern for justification by faith for both circumcised and uncircumcised believers [1]. This demonstrates God's sovereign choice to extend salvation through faith, a principle that transcends ethnic and legal boundaries.

Sources

  1. Romans “Romans 4:3 (NASB) — For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."”
  2. James “James 2:23 (Geneva1599) — And the Scripture was fulfilled which sayeth, Abraham beleeued God, and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse: and hee was called the friende of God.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Promises of God, The — Contained in the Scriptures -- Ro 1:2. Made in Christ -- Eph 3:6; 2Ti 1:1. Made to Christ. -- Ga 3:16,19. Abraham. -- Ge 12:3,7; Ga 3:16. Isaac. -- Ge 26:3,4. Jacob. -- Ge 28:14. David. -- 2Sa 7:12; Ps 89:3,4,35,36. The Israelites. -- Ro 9:4. The Fathers. -- Ac 13:32; 26:6,7. All who are called of God. -- Ac 2:39. Those who love him. -- Jas 1:12; 2:5. Confirmed by an oath -- Ps 89:3,4; Heb 8:6. Covenant established upon -- Heb 8:6. God is faithful to -- Tit 1:2; Heb 10:23. God remembers -- Ps 105:42; Lu 1:54,55. Are Good. -- 1Ki 8:56. Holy. -- ”
  4. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 12, section 1: . Concerning Abimelech; And Concerning Ismael The Son Of Abraham; And Concerning The Arabians, Who Were His Posterity. 1. Abraham now removed to Gerar of Palestine, leading Sarah along with him, under the notion of his sister, using the like dissimulation that he had used before, and this out of fear: for he was afraid of Abimelech, the king of that country, who did also himself fall in love with Sarah, and was disposed to corrupt her; but he was restrained from satisfying his lust by a dangerous distemper which befell him from ”
  5. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 28.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:1-6 1:1-31 1:2 1:28 1:29-30 2:1 2:1-25 2:15 2:19 3:1 3:1-24 3:7 3:16 4:1 4:1-26 4:7 5:1 5:1-32 6:1 6:1-22 6:11-16 7:1-24 7:11 8:1-22 9:1 9:1 9:1-29 9:2 9:24 10 10:1 10:1 10:1-32 10:21 11:1 11:1 11:1-32 11:28 12:1 12:1 12:1 12:1-20 12:4 12:4 12:6 13:1 13:1-20 14:1-24 15:1-21 15:7 16:1-16 16:2 16:8 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1 17:1-27 18:1 18:1 18:1-33 18:19 19:1-38 20:1 20:1 20:1-18 21:1-34 21:15 22:1-24 22:18 23:1-20 24:31 25:1 25:13-16 35:7 48:1 Exodus 6:3 12:40 Leviticus 7:18 17:4 18:25 Numbers 6:2”
  6. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:26 2:10 2:18 2:21 2:21 2:24 2:24 2:24 3:5 3:6 3:11 3:16 3:16 3:16 3:19 3:19 4 4:2 4:6 4:7 4:7 4:7 4:9 4:9 4:10 4:10 4:10 4:11 4:14 6:3 6:3 6:9 9:5 9:20 9:22 11:8 11:31 12:3 12:7 12:7 14:14 15:12 15:13-14 18:3 18:3 18:3 18:7 18:17 18:19 18:27 18:33 21:12 22:3 22:18 25:33 27:27 27:41 27:45 28:12 28:20 29:23 30:1-2 31:7 31:15 31:40 32:10 32:21 32:28 32:29 33:19 37:18 39:1-20 40:23 41:40 41:42-43 42:21 45:5 45:5 45:9 45:24 48:16 49:7 60:8 Exodus 1:14 1:22 2:11 2:13 2:15 2:22 3:1 3:2 3:2 4:10 4:22 5:2 9:11 17:4 18:2”
  7. 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
  8. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:12: (Eph 1:6, Eph 1:14). who first trusted in Christ--rather (we Jewish Christians), "who have before hoped in the Christ": who before the Christ came, looked forward to His coming, waiting for the consolation of Israel. Compare Act 26:6-7, "I am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come." Act 28:20, "the hope of Israel" [ALFORD]. Compare Eph 1:18; Eph 2:12; Eph 4:4.”
  9. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1:11 1:11 1:26 1:26 1:26 1:27 1:27 1:27 1:31 1:31 2:2 2:7 2:17 2:17 2:18 2:23 2:24 2:24 2:24 3:5 3:16 3:24 4 4:9 4:14 6:2 6:3 6:4 6:9 6:12 7:7 8:21 12:1 12:4 12:16 13:10 13:10-11 14:14 14:21-23 15:16 16:5 16:6 17:8 18:11 18:12 18:14 18:21 19:13 19:14 19:24 21:10 21:12 21:12 22:7-8 22:16 22:18 22:18 24:1-67 24:22 24:65 25:21 25:21 26:4 27:46 28:1 28:13 31:42 31:45 32:48 35:18 37:9-10 37:20 39:1 39:6 40:4 40:7 40:8 40:14-15 40:22 41 41:16 42:36 43:14 43:30 45:5 48:15-16 49:9 64:28 Exodus 2:11 2”
  10. Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 4:17: Having observed when Abraham was justified by faith, and why, for the honour of Abraham and for example to us who call him father, the apostle here describes and commends the faith of Abraham, where observe, I. Whom he believed: God who quickeneth. It is God himself that faith fastens upon: other foundation can no man lay. Now observe what in God Abraham's faith had an eye t - o that, certainly, which would be most likely to confirm his faith concerning the things promised: - 1. God who quickeneth the dead. It was promised that he should be the father of many nati”
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