The Faith of Abraham by James White

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Mar 4, 1875

The Faith of Abraham

By James White

"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles through Jesus Christ." The faith of Abraham embraces Christ as its glorious object. This is seen in Christ's reply to the Jews, who boasted in Abraham as their father.— "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and saw it, and was glad." John 8:56.

The great plan of salvation through Jesus Christ was opened to Abraham, and his faith reached forward even to the restitution by the Son of God. Abraham did not receive the promised inheritance in Canaan. He sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange land, looking forward to the eternal city of the immortal kingdom where Christ shall reign in all his glory upon the new earth. "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed. And he went out not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb. 11:8-10.

The gospel was preached to the children of Israel in the days of Moses. In his epistle to the Hebrew Christians, Paul states that it had been preached to them as well as to their fathers in a former dispensation. "Unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." Heb. 4:2. He also testifies of the Hebrews in the wilderness, that they "were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ." 1 Cor. 10:2-4.

Moses and the believing Jews had the faith and hope of the gospel. Through the blood of the sacrificial offerings, they saw Christ, and by faith embraced him. Their hopes of the future life were not in the law, but in Christ. The typical system was but the shadow of good things to come, of which Christ, as a sacrifice and mediator, is the center. These good things are the body that casts its shadow into the Jewish age. The bleeding sacrifices of the former ages were but the shadow, while Christ, bleeding on the cross, was the great reality. The blood of beasts offered by the Jews, understandingly, and in faith, as clearly pointed forward to the blood of Christ, as the Lord's supper and baptism point back to his sufferings, death, and resurrection.

The true church of all the ages is the church of Jesus Christ. He is the world's only Redeemer. Those who shut themselves up to the New Testament, and have the foundation of the church laid at the resurrection, or at pentecost, are building too narrow a structure. Let the well instructed disciple, not only sing; "How firm a foundation," but

How broad "a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your hope in its excellent word."

"Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Eph. 2:20. J. W.