Covenants 8

Chapter 8
The Abrahamic Covenant,
Part 2—The Salvation of Abram

Readings: Gen 15:1-6

v This morning, we will see the salvation of Abram—we will examine how God worked this in his life.

v This time, we will examine the way of Abram’s salvation—this is very important, because the way Abram was saved is the only way of salvation, the only way there has ever been, and the only way there ever will be.

v We have a lot of ideas and paradigms about salvation in our minds that we need to be rid of.

· Because of the influence of Arminianism, many misunderstand the eternal plan of God and the watchcare He takes over His people throughout their life.

· God had worked in Abram’s life for many years, and had done marvelous things for Abram, through Abram, and in Abram, but as we look at 15:1-5, God has not yet saved Abram. Abram is, until 15:6 an unjustified, unsaved man. We will say more about that in a minute.

· I can look back now over my life, and I can see God’s Hand at work in my life many years before He saved me, as He gently drew me, worked in my life, slowly revealed Himself to me.

· I was not aware of what was going on, and the casual Christian observer would think I was just another lost person, and based on what I knew at the time, I might have been just another lost person, but God had His hand on my life.

v Gal 1:13-16

· In the same way, what we see this morning is the final stage of God’s drawing ministry to Abram, as Abram becomes truly a child of God, and, in Abram’s case, the father of the faithful.

1. The Context of the Text—"After these things…”

a. Abram made a detour to Egypt—Gen 12:10
(1) Famine—There was famine in the land, and Abram did not know what to do.
(2) Abram had a failure of faith—He did not depend upon God for provision, nor wait on God, he took matters in his own hands, and left the Holy Land to go to Egypt.

(3) While in Egypt, out of fear, Abram lied about Sarai—He did not depend upon God for his protection, but upon his wiles.

(4) Picked up Hagar in Egypt—(probably)


b. Abram returned to the land— Gen 12:20-Gen 13:1

(1) The famine is not said to be over, but God’s Providence put Abram back where God wanted him.
(2) First, Abram went to the South—it is a dry place.
(3) Then Abram traveled to and worshipped at Bethel—upon returning to the Land, upon recovery from his backsliding, Abram worshipped.
(4) There was strife between Abram’s men and Lot’s men.
(5) Lot was allured by Sodom, Lot chose Sodom.

Gen 13:10 "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar." :

(6) Sodom was on the border of the Land, but not in the Land. Sodom was out of the place of blessing, and Sodom was a wicked place: Gen 13:11-13
c. After Lot’s voluntary separation, God made yet another land promise to Abram: (Gen 13:14-18)
d. Abram rescued Lot and the kings of the cities from the army that had captured them.
e. Abram met with Melchizedek.
f. The Amazing Thing: Abram is, at this point, still a lost man.

(1) He is going to be saved—but only God knows that at this time.
(2) He has done many wonderful things in the service of God, and has dedicated his life to that service.
(3) But he has never believed in the Messiah to come. Because his justification before God is not certified until 15:6, we know the amazing truth that Abram, at this point, and after all these trials and victories, was as yet an unjustified man!
(4) Faith in the Messiah of God is all-important!

(5) It matters not what you have done, what you have achieved, how “good” you have been in human terms.

(6) If you have not been to Calvary for the Saving Power, if you are not washed in the Blood, you are lost, lost, lost!

2. Abram Sees A Vision— Gen 15 "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

a. God had communicated with Abram before:

(1) Following the call, God appeared to Abram.

(i) Gen 12:7 "And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him."

(2) The incident with Melchizedek—possibly a theopany
(3) God had spoken to Abram before, on several occasions.
(4) And now, God sends His Word in a vision— Gen 15:1 "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

1. “…Christ, the essential Word appeared to Abram in a human form, visible to him, and with an articulate voice spoke unto him…” [1]

b. The exhortation to Abram—“…Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

(1) Fear Not—Abram had feared before, when he went to Egypt.
(a) He had feared the famine—that is why he went to Egypt.
(b) He had feared the Pharaoh, that is why he lied about Sarah.
(c) God tells Abram not to fear.
(d) Abram has won a military victory against five kings, but he has not wiped them out. They are still a potential danger—but God tells Abram not to fear.
(e) Abram is a small fish in a spiritually hostile environment—But God tells him not to fear.

(2) I am thy shield
(a) Jehovah God will protect Abram—He is pledging to personally be the shield of Abram.

(b) The attacks may and will come, but Jehovah’s protection will not change—because He will not change, and He IS the protection.

(3) And thy exceeding great reward…

“…Though he had generously refused taking any reward for the service he had done in pursuing the kings…and bringing back the persons and goods they had taken away; yet he should be no loser by it, the Lord would reward him in a way of grace with greater and better things; nay, He himself would be his reward, and which must be a great one, an exceeding great one; as Christ is to all His people in His person, offices, and grace, all being theirs and he all and all to them; all the blessings of grace and glory coming along with him, and he being their portion here and herafter, to all eternity; for since He is theirs, all are theirs, all things…pertaining to life and godliness, and eternal life itself. [2]

(1) Abram had honored God.
(2) Abram would not accept reward for what God had done.
(3) Abram had refused earthly benefit—he had stayed in the land when Lot chose the fairer fields of Sodom.

(4) And God HIMSELF is Abram’s reward.

(a) It was Christ Himself who lived for us.

(b) It was Christ Himself who died for us.
(c) It was Christ Himself who rose for us.
(d) It was Christ Himself who ascended for us and now intercedes for us.
(e) It is Christ Himself who lives in us through the Holy Spirit.
(f) It is Christ Himself who will return for us.
(g) Christ Himself is our reward!

3. Abram’s Need— 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

a. The honest expression of Abram

(1) He didn’t try to kid God—Abram had a problem with the way things were, and he did not understand what God was doing.

(2) Abram saw the most important thing to be children to come. He thought perhaps that God would work through Eliezer, his trusted servant.

(3) There is a note of disappointment in his voice, perhaps, but perhaps also a sign to God that Abram can accept this, if it is God’s will.

b. The situation of Abram

(1) God had not promised that someone from Abram’s house would be made into many nations.
(2) God had promised that Abram would be the father of many nations.
(3) Abram was perhaps thinking that God would not literally fulfill His promises, but only figuratively, or spiritually.
(4) But God’s promises are always fulfilled, and they are always fulfilled literally.

c. The extent of the need that Abram was aware of: his physical need.

(1) His need was absolute—without a physical heir, his hopes would be forever dashed.
(2) His need was desperate; no substitutes would suffice. If he had no heir, he had no heir.
(3) His need was immediate—he did not know how long he had.
(4) His need was beyond his ability to fulfill on his own.

d. The extent of the need that Abram was NOT aware of: justification before God.

(1) His need was absolute—without salvation, all his works would mean nothing.
(2) His need was desperate; no substitutes would suffice. There was only one way of salvation.
(3) His need was immediate—he did not know how long he had to live, and he did not realize he even had the need.
(4) His need was beyond his ability to fulfill on his own.

4. God’s Promise Renewed—4-5

a. Eliezer would not be the heir, there would be a physical heir.
b. There would be a numberless seed.

(1) I believe this includes all of the four seeds of Abram.
(2) But by far the greatest number will be found in the multitude no man can number, singing around the throne.
(a) Gal 3:29 "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
(b) Rev 7:9 "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands…“

c. But most importantly, this includes the Messiah.

(1) The previously-promised universal Blessing.

(a) Gen 12:3 "…in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
(b) All families—the saved come from every nation, kindred, and tongue.

(2) Preeminently, the Unique Seed, Christ, singular—Gal 3:16 "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."
(3) The Gospel had been preached to Abram long before: Gal 3:6-17

5. Abram Justified By Faith—6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

a. What is the situation—

(1) God has appeared to Abram
(2) This is most likely Christ in His pre-incarnate form
(3) He has told Abram the wonderful news that HE is Abram’s reward.
(4) He answers Abram’s need with a marvelous prophecy that includes His own incarnation as our Savior.

b. And Abraham Believed!

(1) In what Jehovah said

(2) But also in God Himself—He believed in Jehovah God.
(a) His Faith is in the Person of the LORD, the I AM.
(b) His Faith is in the Promise of the LORD, the I AM.
(c) His Faith is in the LORD, the I AM, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Seed to come.
(d) He looks forward to the future work of Christ.
(e) But in the present, He knows Christ!

John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad."

c. And Abram is Justified by Faith in Christ!

Gen 15:6 "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."

d. This is the same as New Testament Justification.

(1) The Bible plainly declares it—Rom 4:1-3 "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
(2) There can be no other way to save lost men!
(3) The roll call of Hebrews 11 plainly lists the OT saints as “in the faith…” Heb 11:8-13
(4) Some have erroneously taught that OT salvation was different, that it had to do with animal sacrifices, rituals, and works.
(5) But the Truth is, that OT salvation was by Grace through Faith in the Christ to come, just as NT salvation is by Grace through Faith in the Christ who has come—Job 19:25-26 "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:"

e. What did NOT happen in the justification of Abram.

(1) God did not take Abram’s self-generated faith as a substitute for righteousness.

(a) This is an important point, because there are many who teach and believe this sort of thing.
(b) In this idea, God tried the Law, and it was too hard, so he said, “OK, there is only one law now, just believe and we will call it even. Your faith equals righteousness.”
(c) Like many heresies, this sounds right on the surface, this seems plausible, but it is a demonic false teaching.

(d) Abram, and all the rest of us who are saved, are saved because of the Person and the Works of Christ. He fulfilled righteousness for us, and it is because faith is in HIM that we are saved.
(e) And furthermore, that faith is not self-generated; it is a gift of God.
(f) Jesus paid it ALL.

(2) Also, God did not just arbitrarily declare Abram was righteous; God did not just forgive.
(3) God knew that He would work a way of salvation through the sacrifice of His Son.
(4) God did not just forgive Abram’s sins—Abram’s sins were seen as paid for by the sacrifice of Christ, who had not yet even come—Rom 4:17
(5) God did not just see Abram as righteous; by faith, Abram was righteous, through the righteousness of Christ Jesus, the Messiah to come.

f. What did happen in Abram’s justification:

(1) Abram was awakened to the realization that he could do nothing to make the promise happen.
(2) Abram saw his own inadequacy.
(3) Abram looked to Jehovah God and saw in Him the answer for every need.

(4) Abram was granted the gift of faith, and in faith, he looked to Jehovah God alone for all things.
(5) God took Abram’s sin and applied it to the account of Christ.
(6) God took Christ’s righteousness and applied it to the account of Abram.
(7) Then God closed the account—Rom 4:8 "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."


[1] John Gill, Gill’s Commentary, Volume 1, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1980 reprint from the 1852 edition by William Hill, London, UK, page 87
[2] Ibid.