Abraham: An Example of Grace
Publish date:
May 25, 2009
Summary:
The ancient life of Abraham has relevance for our lives today. His choices and relationship with God show us the true meaning of grace.
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Abraham, like all the patriarchs, offered the sacrificial lamb. Throughout all history, the only means of salvation has been through sacrificial bloodshed—never through what humans can achieve.
Abraham was instructed by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on an altar (Genesis 22). It was an enactment of the plan of salvation, God showing the world His method of dealing with sin. As Abraham was about to kill his beloved son, God supplied the sacrificial animal Himself. This predicted in type that God would give His own Son as a sacrifice.
Abraham’s willingness to obey God displays a faith that could move mountains. He knew God had promised that salvation would come through His and Isaac’s seed (Genesis 21:12). Abraham knew that even if he should offer Isaac, God would have to raise him from the dead to fulfill His promise (Hebrews 11:17-19). Abraham knew that God would never lie. In Genesis 22:5, Abraham says to his companions, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you” (NKJV).
Do we have that kind of unshakeable faith in the Word of God? No wonder the Bible says in Galatians 3:8 that the Gospel was preached unto Abraham. No wonder Christ referred to Abraham’s faith when He said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day [by faith he saw the day of Christ’s sacrifice as the Lamb of God], and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56).
Abraham was saved by faith in the Son of God, but this did not free him of the obligation to keep God’s law:
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws (Genesis 26:5).
It was on Mount Moriah that Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his beloved son. It was on Mount Moriah that Solomon built the temple and where the altar of burnt offerings stood. And it was at the northern edge of Mount Moriah, at the place called Golgotha, where the Son of God laid down His life.
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This article is adapted from Truth Matters by Professor Walter J. Veith, an international speaker who has studied Biblical issues in-depth in his quest for truth. His popular series Genesis Conflict brings the debate between Creation and evolution to a new climax as he dissects the arguments with a scientific eye. His highly-acclaimed series Total Onslaught sheds light on the state of the world today as we move to a one-world government and an anticipated apocalypse.
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