Bible Passage: Gen 12:1-9
For most people, faith is just a common word used in a positive spiritual context. Perhaps someone has told you to have “more faith” in a situation as if it were akin to magical power. Even for Christians who claim to be saved by faith, justified by faith, and called to walk by faith, can we even describe it clearly? A great definition would help, but nothing beats a living, breathing example of faith in action. That’s where Abraham comes in. In this text, we will explore what faith is and how Abraham’s example directs us not inward but outward to the powerful promise of God’s Word.
1. Where Does It Come From?
Last week, we learned about Abraham’s background. His family worshipped the moon god, and there were no apparent signs of faith in the one true God. Where did his faith come from suddenly at this turning point in Genesis? In 12:1, we see that it came from the call of God, who commanded him to “go.” Heb 11:8 clarifies, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed…” Abraham’s faith wasn’t the result of an inward search. In the same way, we don’t work it up or generate it. The source of genuine faith is the powerful, personal call of God in His Word.
Don’t think to yourself, “Well, if God spoke to me as he did to Abraham…” The apostle Paul reminds us that we are in a better place now! “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). The Bible tells us not to expect faith or find it magically within if there is no hearing or listening to the Word- the message of Jesus Christ in the Gospel. By His word, God calls us and calls forth faith in Him.
2. What Are Its Qualities?
How do we know if faith is genuine? We must test its qualities or what makes it up, like trying to determine if something colored gold is real gold. Two essential qualities in Abraham’s initial act of faith are the same for us:
Go From - Our modern context might prevent us from seeing that Abraham’s choice to obey cost him everything - his land, his relatives, and his father’s house. Faith in God would mean faith in Him alone. Lest we think this is only the case for poor Abraham, consider Prov 3:5, “trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Or look to Jesus, who called his disciples to follow him and lose their livelihoods and lives for his mission. Faith always has a going from, and this turning of trust we call repentance - turning our faith from anything that is not God to God alone.
Go To - Where are we going, Lord? “To the land I will show you” (12:1). Heb 11:8 tells us Abraham “went out, even though he did not know where he was going.” Can’t we have a picture, a timeline, or maybe a well-delivered PowerPoint presentation? No. The only faith worth having is one whose quality has been tested. If God had shown Abraham everything he would have gone through, there is a good chance you would not be reading this today. Only in the “go to” and the “go through” do we learn to trust in God alone.
3. How Do I Get It (And Grow It)?
Biblical faith is not a floating spiritual force we tap into to increase obedience, force success, or generate a positive attitude. Nor is it a blind leap devoid of a reasonable nature. By definition, every instance of faith requires an object, and the strength or depth of faith depends upon that object. That object makes a promise or covenant with us, leading to a promised future. So how did Abraham have faith to “go from” and “go to?” By sheer grace, God gave Abraham the strongest possible object for his faith: a perfect promise (12:2-3) given by a perfect Promiser.
All Abraham had to do was receive what was promised. Today, we have even more reasons to trust the Promiser and receive the promise. Gal 3:8-9 reminds us that our gracious God “proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham” so that “those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.” The perfect promise is yours by faith in Christ, for “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:29). You don’t need to “get faith” because you already have faith in something. The question is what is the object of your faith? What promises are you trusted will deliver you the future you want? The gospel offers us an unparalleled promise guaranteed by a Promiser who came to fulfill and guarantee it’s completion.
QUESTIONS
What about the sermon most impacted you or left you with questions?
The way we often talk about faith, it seems many believe the source of our faith is within us. How does Abram’s story point us to a different source? How does this speak to us when we feel we can’t “garner up” the faith we want?
If the source of faith is the powerful and personal call of God’s Word, then how could you be more receptive to hearing God’s Word in your life?
John Newton describes faith as “a renouncing of everything we are apt to call our own.” What are some ways God is calling you to “go from” in your faith? What’s holding you back?
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” Is this encouraging blind faith? Why or why not? Where is God calling you to go to something unknown in faith?
The power of sin often draws us into false promises that can only be countered by a greater promise. What is a false promise or a faulty object of faith you have given into before? How is the Gospel of Jesus a far better promise? What reasons do we have to trust the promise of the gospel?