Title James 02:20-26 Abraham's Faith
Content: Abraham's Faith
James 2:20-26
We live in an age of mutual distrust. In the social aspect of newspapers, it is difficult to find gossip and fills the pages with only injustice, corruption, and distrust. Needless to say, there is no relationship between people, and our faith also leads a formal and narcissistic religious life aiming at self-comfort. And I live my life thinking that I am the person who believes in God the most.
Abraham was called the father of faith. It was Abraham who achieved perfect faith as a man of God. Abraham's life itself is a living faith. It was a living and holy sacrifice, worthy in the sight of God. His faith was worthy of being counted as 'righteousness'. His acts and life of faith set an example for all believers. Indeed, Abraham's great faith greatly helps us to live a life of faith even today. We can also receive and enjoy the blessings Abraham received through his faith. To that end, I want to prove what Abraham's faith was.
□. Faith is obedience to God.
Obedience is the most basic and beautiful faith among faith in God. Abraham was a man who fully demonstrated obedient faith. At the age of 75, he received a sudden command from God to leave the home of his relatives and native father. Although he did not know where he was going, he immediately obeyed (Gen. 12:1-4; Hebrews 11:8) because he trusted that He would lead him in the righteous way. Obedience was possible because we believed that God would lead us to the promised land. Judging from the background of the times, it was a departure from which there was no return and a farewell.
God had commanded him to offer the Isaac of his old age as a burnt offering. Don't worry about God's fearful commands It is God who gave it. Because they believed that it was God who took them. He completely obeyed without any excuses or rejections (Genesis 22:1-3).
It was a complete belief in God who is the Lord and righteous Sovereign of all things.
This faith is manifested in the form of obedience. That's right. If you have true faith, it is very natural to obey thoroughly in front of those you trust and rely on. Our members, too, must come before the Lord with faith that is completely obedient to God. God is our true savior and good shepherd. We should be people of faith like Abraham, who shows perfect faith in God, who is a righteous ruler. Only those who have true obedience and faith receive the promised blessings and grace. By believing and obeying, we can live in the grace of the blessing Abraham received.
□. Abraham's faith was faith with works.
“Was not our father Abraham justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?” (James 2:21). Abraham's faith was a living faith with works. By the works of this faith, we were justified. Abraham believed God's promise to give him a land of blessing. I believed with my head and heart and did not sit still. As he believed, he got up immediately and left the country, his relatives, and his father's house. He showed his faith in God who fulfilled his promises through practice. God had commanded him to offer Isaac on the burnt offering on Mount Moriah. Not only did he think that he believed in God in words, but he prepared wood, a sword, and fire for the burnt offering and walked three days to reach Mount Moriah.
Isaac asks his father. “There is wood and fire for the father’s burnt offering, but where are the riches?” Abraham answers. “The Lord has prepared” This was Abraham's faith. And in fact, Isaac was offered as a burnt offering. Although he did not kill Isaac and use it as a burnt offering, Abraham offered Isaac as a burnt offering to God, and God accepted Isaac's offering from Abraham.
No matter how much you believe with your head and heart and no matter how much you say with your mouth, if your actions and life do not show up as you believe, it is not faith. The Bible calls such a false faith and dead faith. Faith in your heart and living according to that belief is perfect faith. Therefore, we, Uiwang Central Church members, long for the faith of Abraham. And you must believe in Christ as Lord and believe that only the Word of God is the truth and life. (Psalm 119:142; Acts 5:20) If you believe, you must actually live your actions and life according to your faith. We must be those of us who serve and follow Christ as our Lord. It must be done according to the Word of God, which is the truth and life. We believe that God's grace and blessings will come according to His Word based on perfect faith with works.
□. Abraham's faith was a devoted faith.
We value something. And above all else, trust. Then we will do our best and dedicate ourselves to it, even at the expense of others.
Do we really believe in God as the most precious person? Do I trust and rely on you as my God and my Creator? Do I firmly believe that a relationship of faith with Him brings true life and blessings to me? If so, you deserve to make the best of sacrifices for him and to keep your faith with him.
Abraham's faith was such a devoted faith. I had clear faith in God who leads me to a more righteous and blessed path. This belief made it possible to boldly give up the greatest civilization of the time, peace, security, wealth, and even loved ones. He was also able to generously donate his dearest friend, Isaac, whom he loved more than himself. God saw Abraham's devoted faith and valued it. God gave Abraham's devoted faith
He gave greater and more abundant blessings above. (Genesis 22:16-18) He promises, "I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse."
Dear saints,
I hope that you will become a devoted saint for the most precious and precious God. We must follow the perfect will of God. In order to do that, we must become people of precious faith who can afford any sacrifice or devotion.
Dear saints,
Let's look back on our past deeds of faith.
Have you really lived a life of faith before God? Did you not live your life thinking that you had faith? Have we lived a life of faith by obedience before the Word? Or, I hope this is a time to look back on how we have lived our lives according to our faith and obedience.
What do we want to leave behind on this earth? Is it your name? Is it honor? is it wealth?
He wants to be left as a man of God who is called a man of faith. It was by faith that Abraham was justified. It was an obedient, working, committed faith.
I pray that you will become people of perfect and right faith. -Amen