Having the Faith of Abraham

By David R. Ferguson     In Hebrews 11:8 [NAS] we read, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.”     To this very day, Abraham is respected so highly that even his very name is considered synonymously with that of faith, for it is upon Abraham that God has bestowed the title of “the father of all who believe” in Romans 4:11 [NAS]. In speaking of the righteousness and faith of Abraham, the Apostle Paul states in Romans 4:10-12 [NAS], 10. How then was it reckoned? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11. and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be reckoned to them, 12. and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.     Abraham did as His Lord had commanded, and he went and dwelt in a land that was not his. It was by faith that he went there and lived. By faith it means he lived by the spoken word of God. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Romans 10:17 (NAS), 7. for we walk by faith, not by sight. 17. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”     Abraham had been given a promise and, no doubt, he was encouraged greatly by that promise. He was willing to travel some 400 miles and dwell in tents in a temporary home in a strange land because the home he longed for and waited for was a home with foundations that could not be shaken. The Hebrews writer tells us in Hebrews 11:10 [NAS] concerning Abram’s great faith, “for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.”     As children of God we, too are heirs of this same promise. As Paul states in Galatians 3:27-29 [NAS], 27. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.     As heirs with Abraham may we, too, look forward to living in that city not made with hands!

- David R. Ferguson preaches for the Mentor Church of Christ in Mentor, OH.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://mentorchurchofchrist.com/ or davidferguson61@yahoo.com