LESSON XII.—THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM.
1. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, what did God do for him? Gen. 17. 2. What special promise did the Lord make him at this time? Verses 16, 19. 4. How was his faith counted to him? Rom. 4:3. 5. How was it necessary that Abraham's faith should be proved? 7. What did the Lord require Abraham to do with Isaac? Gen. 22:2. 10. Did God allow Abraham to take the life of his son? Gen. 22:11, 12. 11. What did he say to him through his angel? Verse 12. 12. In both these trials of faith, what was Abraham required to believe? 13. Was it for Abraham's benefit alone that it was recorded that his faith was imputed to him for righteousness? Rom. 4:22–25. 14. On what conditions will our faith be imputed to us for righteousness? Rom. 4:24. 15. For what was Christ delivered to die? Rom. 4:25. 16. For what was he raised? 17. Who will be blessed with faithful Abraham? Gal. 3:9. 18. To whom will righteousness be imputed as well as to him? Rom. 4:11. 19. What is this righteousness called? Rom. 3:22. 21. If we should live a perfect life hereafter, would that atone for past sins? 24. Unless the demands of the law are met, can God forgive us and be just? Rom. 3:26. 26. Does God accept him in our stead? Rom. 3:25. 27. What do we obtain by faith in him? Verse 25. 28. Having obtained forgiveness for past sins, what must we do in order to be saved? 29. What must we do if we sin again? When Abram was ninety-nine years of age, the Lord appeared to him, and renewed his promises and his covenant. He also changed the name of Abram to Abraham, and of Sarai to Sarah. He said that Sarah should be a mother of nations, although she was then ninety years old. Abraham believed this promise, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Rom. 4:3. It was necessary, however, that Abraham's faith should be proved by works. In due time Isaac was born, according to the promise, and the Lord said to Abraham, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Gen. 21:12. But when Isaac had grown nearly to manhood, the Lord told Abraham to offer him on Mount Moriah as a burnt offering. Read Gen. 22. Abraham proceeded at once to obey God, believing that Isaac would be raised from the dead; but the Lord stayed the hand of Abraham, as he raised the knife to slay his son, and said, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” Gen. 22:12. In both these trials of faith, Abraham was required to believe what was naturally impossible. Read Rom. 4:18–22; Heb. 11:17–19. In Rom. 4:22–25 we read of Abraham's faith as follows: “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” Those who have such faith as Abraham had will be blessed with him. Gal. 3:9. Righteousness will be imputed to them as well as to him. Rom. 4:11. This righteousness is called the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe. Rom. 3:22. We have all sinned. Rom. 3:23. If we should live a perfect life from this time on, it would not atone for our past wrongs. We have broken God's law, and justice demands our life. This demand must be met or God cannot forgive us and be just. Christ has given his life for us. God accepts him in our stead. By faith in him we have forgiveness for sins that are past. Then, if we keep all God's commandments, we shall be saved. If we sin again, we must again seek pardon through Christ. Read Rom. 3:22–26.