The Text
Introduction: Abraham, the Friend of God
I am going to speak tonight on the subject, Abraham, Friend of God. When one mentions Abraham, everyone knows something about him — even the children and young people here are familiar with his name. Turn to the book of James, chapter 2, verse 23. Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and he was called the Friend of God. God spake to Abraham face to face as a man speaks to his friend.
The Lord Jesus is called in Galatians chapter 3 the seed of Abraham. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. Christ is the seed of Abraham. And if we be in Christ by faith, by grace, then are we Abraham's seed — full-fledged heirs of the promise. As our Lord said, Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
But was Abraham not a sinner like you and me? Was he not a fallen son of Adam, by nature a child of wrath? Yes. In Joshua chapter 24, verse 2, we read: Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old times, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. That is where God found Abraham — dwelling among idolaters, seventy-five years of age, when God called him by grace.
I have five questions to ask about Abraham tonight, and they will serve as my sermon points. First, what did Abraham find? Second, how did he find it? Third, when did he find it? Fourth, what proof do we have that he found it? And fifth, what has all this got to do with me?
I. What Did Abraham Find?
Turn to Romans chapter 4. What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. But what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Abraham found righteousness. Perfect holiness. Purity before Almighty God. Our Lord said in Matthew 5: Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. How good does a man have to be to go to heaven? Just as good as God. How holy does a person have to be to stand in God's presence? As holy as God.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 10: Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. They were not atheists. They believed in God. But they were ignorant of that righteousness and holiness which Christ has purchased for his people — righteousness and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.
In Jeremiah 23, that righteousness is named: This is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jehovah Tsidkenu. Christ Jesus is my righteousness. The hymn writer said: With his spotless garment on, I'm as holy as God's Son. That is how holy I have to be. Another said: Near, so near to God — nearer I cannot be; for in the person of his Son I am as near as he. Clothed in his righteousness, washed in his blood. That is what Abraham found.
II. How Did Abraham Find It?
How did he find it? Was he an unusually holy child? No — he was born in sin just like we were. Did he live the most holy life after he met the Lord? He told a king that Sarah was his sister because he feared for his life. What sayeth the Scripture? Abraham believed God. And it was counted unto him for righteousness.
That word — counted, reckoned, imputed — appears about eleven times in Romans 4. By faith. Abraham believed God. Not merely that there is a God, not merely that he believed in God — Abraham believed him. He believed God himself.
I watched a believer die not long ago. It was about 10:30 at night when the phone rang. A family told me the doctor said she wouldn't make it through the night and she'd like to see me. I went down to the hospital. When I walked in and sat beside her — she was eighty years old, smiling the sweetest smile — I said, Mamie, are you resting in Christ? Are you ready to meet him? She said, Brother Henry, I want you to listen. She said, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and his righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, I wholly lean on Jesus. She said, I watched you on television last Sunday lying here in this hospital. You preached on believing God. And she said, I want you to know right now, I don't just believe in God. I believe God. Abraham believed God, and that is the secret.
Look at Romans 4, verses 20 and 21: Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. That is the key. Abraham was fully persuaded that what God promised, God was able to perform. Saving faith is faith in a sovereign God who is able to do what he says. He's able to save to the uttermost. He's able to keep me from falling. He's able to raise my vile body and make it like his own. He's able to present me faultless before his Father's presence with exceeding glory. He is able.
III. When Did Abraham Find This Righteousness?
When did he find it? Romans 4, verse 9: Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
God took Abraham outside and said, look at the stars and count them. He said, I cannot. God said, that is how many descendants you shall have — and Abraham believed God, and right then it was counted to him for righteousness. He was not yet circumcised. That came fifteen years later. Isaac was born years beyond that. Abraham was declared righteous when he believed God, right there, that night.
Think of the thief on the cross. Somebody said there was only one thief — that no one may presume. But there was one, thank God, that no one need despise. Was he saved? He never walked, never washed, never worked, never won a soul, never witnessed. He died within hours after he believed. But he went to glory. How was he saved? He believed God. When? Right then. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace. If anything were required other than trusting him, then it would not be by grace. But by grace it is, and being by grace it is sure.
IV. What Proof Do We Have That Abraham Believed God?
He obeyed God. That is the proof. Turn to James chapter 2: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Now Paul said, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us — totally and completely justified by faith alone. But James comes along and says Abraham was justified by works. What does James mean?
Paul is dealing with the justification of the soul before God — by faith alone, without works. But James is speaking to people who claim to believe God and yet have no grace, no holiness, no obedience in their lives. He says that kind of faith cannot save. Faith without works is dead. A man shows that he believes God when he obeys God.
Abraham believed God and left his father's house not knowing where he was going — seventy-five years old, walking out into the unknown. That is faith. The Lord told him he would have a son, and he believed him, not knowing how. He was ninety-nine years old. And then God told him to take that son whom he loved and sacrifice him on the mountain. And Abraham started up the mountain, not knowing why. Three days' journey, and he kept going — believing God, believing God. Was he saved because he did that? No. He did that because he was saved.
You are not saved because you pray — but if you are saved, you will pray. You are not saved by giving — but if you are saved, you will give. You are not saved because you love somebody — but if you are saved, you will. True believers are not motivated by fear, by duty, by reward, or by pride. They are motivated by love. If ye love me, keep my commandments. A home built on law is not worth much, but one built on love is very sweet.
V. What Has All This Got to Do with Me?
Romans 4, verses 23 and 24: Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
This is what it has to do with you. Righteousness — holiness, acceptance before God — shall be imputed, reckoned, charged to us also, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. What a gospel of the free sovereign grace of God. It is by grace through faith. Not of yourself — that is the gift of God. Repentance is the gift of God. Faith is the gift of God. Anything worth having is the gift of God. The only thing original about me is sin. I have original sin. Everything else is from him.
Closing Prayer
Our Father, I thank you for these days together. Thank you for your mercies and blessings, and for helping us preach the gospel. Thank you for our dear friends and for this family of believers. Thank you for their leaders. Lord, bless the Word preached this week. Use it for your glory. Make it effectual to every heart. Do what we cannot do for anyone — convict of sin, grant repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Save us, that we may win Christ in the found days, that we may know him and the power of his resurrection, and attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Through his precious blood we pray. Amen.