Covenants 9

The Covenants of God
Part 9

The Abrahamic Covenant,
Part b—The Salvation of Abram

Readings: Gen 15:1-6

Introductory Thoughts

* A great and persistent heresy in the world concerns the way of salvation.

* This is an old heresy, dating back to the days immediately after the Garden of Eden, when Cain wanted salvation his way—by his efforts.

* There are always those who want salvation their way, though the way varies.

** Many in our day assume that salvation belongs to anyone and everyone, except perhaps a few “really bad” people.

** Others in our day see salvation in almost equally broad terms—if you have any kind of faith in any kind of God, you are safe, heaven will be your home.

** Still others have some degree of works salvation. You do certain things, you jump through certain hoops, and God saves you as a result of what you have earned from Him.

** Then there is the persistent heresy that a person can state certain words, go through certain ceremonies, and the result is salvation. There is no commitment, no confession (in the Biblical meaning of confession), and no change of life.

** The simple Truth is that God’s way of salvation, which has always been the same, is misunderstood, untaught in many circles, and it is ignored by the vast majority of religious people, as well as by all others who are not religious.

* The text today is the first explanation in the Bible of the way of salvation; it is the first time that a person is saved and we are really told why and how.



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) Failure of Faith—He did not depend upon God for provision, nor wait on God, he took matters in his own hands.

(3) Lied about Sarai—He did not depend upon God for his protection.

(4) Picked up Hagar in Egypt—probably

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

(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: Sodom was on the border of the Land, but not in the Land, and Sodom was a wicked place:

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

a. God had communicated with Abram before:

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

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."

“…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.

(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]

(4) Abram had honored God.

(5) Abram would not accept reward for what God had done.

(6) Abram had refused earthly benefit—he had stayed in the land when Lot chose the fairer fields of Sodom.

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

* It was Christ Himself who lived for us.

* It was Christ Himself who died for us.

* It was Christ Himself who rose for us.

* It was Christ Himself who ascended for us and now intercedes for us.

* It is Christ Himself who lives in us through the Holy Spirit.

* It is Christ Himself who will return for us.

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 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

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.

Gal 3:29 "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

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…“

d. 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 "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham… 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. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect."



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…”

(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 here:

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

(2) 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 "…God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were."

(5) God did not just see Abram as righteous; in God’s eyes, Abram was righteous, through the righteousness of Christ Jesus, the Messiah to come.




6. Abram’s Justification Applied Today—6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

a. The Need—whoever you are, you need salvation.

(1) Your need is absolute—without salvation, you lose everything.

(2) Your need is desperate—no substitutes will do.

(3) Your need is immediate—you did not know how long you have.

(4) Your need is beyond your ability to fulfill on your own.

b. The Promise

(1) A simple way of salvation is given to us in the Bible, but it is often ignored in favor of human-inspired ways.

(2) Killing some sacred cows—salvation is not:

(a) Salvation is not “Accepting Christ as personal Savior…” If that statement offends you, then show me one verse of the Bible that mentions either of these terms: “accepting Christ,” or “personal Savior.” You can’t—the words do not appear.

(i) There is not a single verse of the Bible that says anything about “…accepting Christ.”

(ii) One accepts things that are inevitable, whether one identifies with them or not.

(iii) If you pull a gun on me and have the drop on me, I must accept that fact.

(iv) The Devil accepts Christ—he has no choice.

(b) We are told that people “receive” Christ, in John 1:12 but receive and accept are vastly different words, and no one is ever told to “receive Him,” we are only told that people do receive Him.

(c) The Bible NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, says that we should “ask Christ into our hearts…” I know that is a sacred cow, but it is no more Biblical than worshipping Mary.

(d) The Bible NEVER tells us to “open our hearts to Christ.” The only verse in the Bible that speaks of the heart being opened is Acts 16:14, which says that God opened Lydia’s heart.

(e) Why make the point? Because the Bible is very specific about the way of salvation, and I believe we should be strictly Biblical.

(3) The way Given by the Bible:

Acts 16:30-31 "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

(4) There is a misconception here as well—everyone believes. I commonly hear the excuse from obviously lost people, “well, I believe in God…” So what if you believe in the obvious fact that there is a God—that only proves you are not a total fool. Remember, on the list of all the creatures in the universe who believe in God are all the hosts of Satan! James tells us:

James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."

c. What is saving faith? What is this faith that Abram had which justified him? What is salvation? Salvation is centered in two words: confess, and believe.

Rom 10:8-10 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

(1)



c. Justification by Faith

(1) If you believe in Christ, if you confess Him as Lord and Savior, you will be saved, you will be justified.

(2) Your record of sins will be wiped away, the righteousness of Christ will be put to your account, and the account is closed!

Rom 4:5-8 "… to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin."

d. Identification with Christ—

(1) He is our Protection

(2) He is our Reward

(3) He is our Lord.


[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.