The Faith of Abraham (Hebrews 11:17-19)

(Class Notes)

• Abraham: The perfecting of faith (Hebrews 11:17-19)
  • "By faith Abraham when he was tested hath offered up Isaac: and he that received the promises was offering up his only begotten son" (Hebrews 11:17)
    • The phrase, "hath offered", indicates that God reckoned (imputed) the result of the act as though he actually completed it (James 2:21,23)
    • The phrase, "was offering", sets forth "the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26) - "because thou hast done this thing", that is "obeyed My voice" (Genesis 22:16,18)
  • God reckons (imputes) the righteousness of His Son to us if we believe in God's performance of His promise to us - the death and resurrection of His Son for deliverance from our sins: justification (Romans 4:3-5 cf. Romans 4:23-25)
    • This is why the parallel for us in the age of grace is Abraham's faith in God's performance of His promise to deliver him a son from the reproductive deadness of his own body (Romans 4:18-22)
  • God reckons (imputes) the righteousness of His Son to the Tribulation overcomers by the perfecting of their faith: "losing their life for His sake that they may find it" (James 2:22,24 cf. Matthew 16:24-25)
    • This is why the parallel for the Tribulation overcomers is the perfecting of Abraham's faith in the offering up of Isaac's life so that he could receive him again (Revelation 12:11 cf. Genesis 22:7-9)
    • Christ became the "Captain" of Israel's salvation by being perfected through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 12:2-3 cf. I Peter 1:7; I Peter 4:12-13)
      • Christ said that He would be perfected through resurrection (Luke 13:32 cf. Acts 2:29-33)
      • His brethren will also be perfected through resurrection (Hebrews 12:23 cf. Revelation 15:2-4; Revelation 20:4-6)
  • The "language" of Abraham's faith (Hebrews 11:19)
    • "... I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again unto you" (Genesis 22:5)
    • "... God will provide for Himself a lamb ..." (Genesis 22:8): Jehovah-jireh (Genesis 22:14)
  • The "figure" of Christ (Hebrews 11:19)
    • Abraham did not withhold his only son just as God did not spare His own Son (Genesis 22:12 cf. Romans 8:32)
    • Abraham and Isaac went both of them together (Genesis 22:6,8) just as the Father and the Son are one (John 10:30)
    • The laying of the wood upon Isaac (Genesis 22:6) points to the laying of the cross upon Jesus
      (John 19:17)
    • The ram "caught by his horns" (Genesis 22:13), the expression of his strength, emphasizes the fact that Christ purposed to give up His life out of His own authority rather than be forced to yield out of weakness (John 10:17-18)

Study Outline

Audio Message (Summary)