Abraham's Faith Points to Christ

 



Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation.  What did he discover about being made right with God?  If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about.  But that was not God's way.           Romans 4:1-2

Abraham is presented not merely as an ancient patriarch, but as the great biblical illustration of how God justifies sinners: by grace, through faith, apart from human merit or law-keeping. The righteousness I cannot produce, God freely provides in Christ.

Righteousness is received, not earned

The central spiritual truth is that Abraham was declared righteous because he believed God, not because he had performed enough religious works. Romans 4 says that if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have something to boast about—but not before God; instead, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

For me, this dismantles spiritual pride. No one stands before God because of pedigree, morality, ritual, or effort. Salvation is God’s gift to the ungodly who trust Him, not a wage owed to the spiritually accomplished.

Faith has God as its object

Abraham’s faith was not vague optimism or belief in belief. Its strength lay in the One it trusted: the God “who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

This teaches that faith is only as strong as its object. Abraham faced real obstacles—his aged body and Sarah’s barrenness—but he did not deny them; he looked beyond them to God’s power and promise. True faith therefore is not pretending difficulties do not exist, but refusing to let difficulties have the final word over God’s word.

Hope can survive impossible circumstances

Abraham “hoped against hope.” Humanly speaking, the promise of a son seemed impossible; spiritually speaking, God’s promise made hope reasonable.

The lesson is that Christian hope is anchored in God’s faithfulness rather than in favorable circumstances. When natural prospects collapse, faith rests on the character and ability of God—especially His power to bring life where there is death.

Justification produces humility and worship

Romans 4 says Abraham grew strong in faith as he gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God was able to do what He had promised.

Genuine faith humbles us: it removes grounds for boasting and redirects all glory to God. Faith is not a human achievement God rewards; it is the empty hand that receives what God graciously gives. That posture naturally becomes worship.

Abraham’s faith points to Christ

Abraham’s experience was written “not for his sake alone,” but for all who believe in God who raised Jesus from the dead. Christ was “delivered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification.”

So Abraham’s faith ultimately foreshadows Christian faith: he trusted the God who could give life to the dead, while Christians trust the God who raised Jesus. The righteousness credited to Abraham is the same righteousness credited to everyone who believes in Christ.

Faith is personal, active, and growing

Faith is more than intellectual agreement. Abraham believed God and acted on that belief; saving faith trusts God’s revelation and follows His call.

At the same time, faith is not static. Abraham’s trust deepened through waiting, testing, and repeated encounters with God. The spiritual lesson is that believers grow in confidence not by manufacturing stronger feelings, but by repeatedly returning to God’s promises and His proven faithfulness.

The heart of the message

“Abraham’s Faith” calls me to abandon self-righteousness and rest in God’s remedy: Christ’s finished work. In summary the gospel can be expressed as: “I deserved Hell; Jesus took my Hell; there is nothing left for me but His Heaven.”

My Notes from Donald Grey Barnhouse's chapter "Abraham's Faith" in his book Romans, vol 3: God's Remedy


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