Judy, I am not sure what your point is below. Apparently the problem was with Abraham's wife. The fact is, Abraham could do nothing about the promise apart from God's intervention. All that was left for him was simply to believe. THAT is the bibilical context for the statement. It is THAT example that defines "salvation by faith apart from our own effor (works of law). John
In a message dated 1/15/2005 11:32:00 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
That his faith was reckon as righteousness. What does that look like? You have scripture on that, you know. An old man and an old woman, given a promise that was completely beyond their abilities. All he could do was to look at those stars his Creator spoke of and believe. There was nothing else that he could do. In fact, when he decided to help God out with this promise, it was wrong. Did Abraham continue to be as faithful to G-d as he knew how? Of course. But that obedience had nothing to do with the fulfillment of the promise...........especially if we understand the seed to be Christ, himself (Gal.3:16). John
On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 11:55:08 EST [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
What you cannot do, IMO, Judy, is take events out of Abraham's life and use them to contradict what was said. And what was said?
jt: He could not produce the spiritual seed (which eventually became the child of Promise) but he was able to impregnate Hagar and get an Ishmael wasn't he? Physically that is. I am referring to the faith revealed by his willingness to take Isaac to the mountain in obedience as a sacrifice to God. Abraham's faith was tested and so is the faith of everyone else which includes each of us also. jht.
jt: What does "saved by grace through faith" look like?
Abraham is given as our example of one who had saving faith the kind that is reckoned as righteousness - but Abraham also passed the ultimate test.
