Key Text: "And he (Abraham) believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur. Of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it." Genesis 15:6-7

"And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." James 2:23

With this third message on the general theme, "Abraham and Isaac Climbing the Mountain", I hope you will take the time and go back and read Genesis Chapters 15 and 22. While Abraham did work for God, we see in Genesis and James that he is justified by faith. His faith was in God and we read in the Scriptures that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart.

"...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." I Samuel 16:7

Dwight L. Moody, founder of Moody Bible Institute and Pastor of Moody Bible Church in Chicago, for years conducted testimonial services on a regular schedule. During one of these mid-week services, a dear man raised his hand and when Mr. Moody recognized him the man stood and said, "Pastor Moody, I can give my testimony in less than one minute what it took me 40 years to learn." Mr. Moody replied, "Say on sir." The man said, "I was a sinner, lost in sin and could not save myself. The Lord did not require me to save myself. The good news is Jesus paid it all."

That is the true story of salvation. We can not save ourselves, the Lord knows that and does not require us to try and save ourselves. Jesus did pay it all. Salvation is the free gift of God. We must not take away from - Jesus paid it all. We cannot add to - Jesus paid it all. Working, struggling, striving, living daily in a world of conflict, a world of controversy, and doing battle with Satan, the enemy. All are part of the Christian’s daily routine, but as good as all these may be, they are not the key, the entrance to the Kingdom. The one key, the one door, the one way is: Jesus paid it all. The sins of the world were laid on Jesus and His precious life, death, burial, and resurrection made the atonement and paid the redemption price for our sins. That is the free gift of God, eternal, everlasting life, and Jesus paid it all.

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stirpes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:4-6

Now, friend, the road for God’s children is the road traveled by Abraham. He went down the road of faith. And his faith was counted for righteousness. Genesis 15:5-6

In this sermon let us look at three things having to do with the justification and faith of Abraham. First, let us see Abraham’s faith counted for righteousness. Second, we will see that Abraham’s faith produces CHANGE. And thirdly, let us understand that Abraham’s faith acknowledges a finished work on the cross.

"And he believed in the Lord, and He (the Lord) counted it to him for righteousness." Genesis 15:5-6

Abraham was counted righteous. Just like all mankind, Abraham had no righteousness. He was empty, Spiritually bankrupt of any holiness. The word counted is a legal or financial term, it means "to put on one’s account". As a sinner, Abraham trusted God for righteousness. He did not earn righteousness; nor did he merit righteousness. Righteousness was given to him as a FREE GIFT. This is an act of God when the sinner trusts the life and work of Christ. God declares the believing sinner justified and righteous on the basis of Christ’s finished work on the cross. There on the cross, the perfect, holy, pure Son of God, the ONE without sin, without spot or blemish, died that we might have eternal life. He who knew no sin died for the sinner. How and what do we receive? We receive righteousness by and through trusting faith, by surrendering to God. What we receive is the perfect life of righteousness that Christ lived. What He lived is what we receive! See Romans 5:8-10

1. Declared Righteous is the Act of God

When a believing sinner comes to Christ with a godly sorrow for sin and truly repents of sin, God gives as a free gift justification. God grants that man or lady the forgiveness of sin as though they had never sinned. The Spiritual garment found in the parable of the wedding feast is put on that believing sinner and legally their record in heaven is all clean. Their sin debt is taken care of and Christ’s perfect life, His perfect holiness stands in place of our unrighteousness. We are saved as the Scripture teaches, by His life.

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, WE SHALL Be SAVED BY HIS LIFE." Romans 5:10

Simply stated: We are declared righteous because of Christ’s perfect righteousness put to our account.

2. Daily Life of Christ Assures Our Daily Sanctification

While sanctification is the work of a life time, Christ’s holy life of righteousness is available a life time. So, by faith, we daily look to Jesus and His righteousness. From the beginning to the end we have the holiness of our Lord and we trust Him, love Him, and by faith, we have His righteousness put to our account. What a joy it is to have the assurance of His life accredited to our account. He has paid the sin debt.

3. Doctrine is Practiced in the Life of the Believer

The offering of Isaac on the altar was a genuine act of Abraham’s faith. Friend, that act of offering Isaac was a definite sign and work of the relationship between Abraham and his God. Abraham’s faith was put into action. He practiced his religion by an active faith. We see then, that Abraham was not saved by works, but rather by faith that does work. In the past, in the present, and in the ages to come, it has been, is now, and always will be salvation by Grace through Faith.

Scriptural Illustration: "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto PRAISE and HONOR and GLORY at the appearing of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:7

"Pray for faith that will not SHRINK when it is washed in the waters of affliction." - Ernest Wadseworth

The justified person has a changed life. It was true in the life of Noah, Abraham, Moses, etc. in the old testament. It was true in the life of Matthew, the tax collector, Peter, the fisherman, and Paul, the Christian hater, etc. The changed life is the natural act of true justification.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." II Corinthians 5:17

The justified person has a changed life and obeys the will of God. Not that he/she is saved by works, but rather his faith is demonstrated by his works. It was true in the life of Abraham.

"Abraham’s unquestioning obedience was one of the most striking instances of faith and reliance upon God to be found in the Sacred Record. With only the naked promise that his descendants should possess Canaan, without the least outward evidence, he followed on where God should lead, fully and sincerely complying with the conditions on his part, and confidence that the Lord would faithfully perform his word. The patriarch went wherever God indicated his duty; he passed through wildernesses without terror; he went among idolatrous nations, with the one thought, ‘God has spoken; I am obeying his voice; he will guide, he will protect me.’

"Just such faith and confidence as Abraham had, the messengers of God need to-day. But many whom the Lord could use will not move onward, hearing and obeying the one Voice above all others. The connection with kindred and friends, the former habits and associations, too often have so great an influence upon God’s servants that he can give them but little instruction, can communicate to them but little knowledge of his purposes; and often after a time he sets them aside, and calls others in their place, whom he proves and tests in the same manner. The Lord would do much more for his servants, if they were wholly consecrated to him, esteeming his service above the ties of kindred, and all other earthly associations." Testimony for the Church, Vol. 4, Page 524, E. G. White

"Even as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 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." Galatians 3:6-8

The glorious gospel has always been. That is since the fall of Adam and Eve and down through all ages. John in Revelation 14:6. Calls the gospel, "The Everlasting Gospel" and here in Galatians, we find that the gospel was preached unto Abraham. The life, death, burial, and the resurrection of our blessed Lord make up the full gospel and faith in that gospel gave Abraham his justification and so it is with us. To confirm this, the apostle reminds us of the promise made to Abraham (Genesis 12:3), In thee shall all nations be blessed. Through Abraham’s seed came the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This great truth of the gospel not only gives us the blessing of being the seed of Abraham, we are blessed as Abraham was, we are justified as he was. And Paul calls this the preaching of the gospel to Abraham. Galatians 3:9

1. At the Cross Christ FINISHED His Work

"I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." John 17:4

"When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." John 19:30

Friends, it is finished, Christ had lived the life and there on Mount Calvary, He died the death to pay the redemption price and freely justify the children of God as though we had never sinned.

"The hope of Israel was embodied in the promise made at the time of the call of Abraham, and afterward repeated again and again to his posterity, ‘In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.’ Genesis 12:3. As the purpose of God for the redemption of the race was unfolded to Abraham, the Sun of Righteousness shone upon his heart, and his darkness was scattered. And when, at last, the Savior Himself walked and talked among the sons of men, He bore witness to the Jews of the patriarch’s bright hope of deliverance through the coming of a Redeemer. ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day,’ Christ declared; ‘and he saw it, and was glad.’ John 8:56.

"This same blessed hope was foreshadowed in the benediction pronounced by the dying patriarch Jacob upon his son Judah: (Genesis 49:8-10)" Prophets and Kings, p. 683, E. G. White

2. At the Cross Christ magnified His Life

He would not come down from the cross. The mob around the cross called for Christ to come down on two points:

a. ‘...IF THOU BE THE SON OF GOD, COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS." (Matthew 27:40).

b. "...If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him." (Matthew 27:42).

It was a sad day, the day Jesus died and yet it was a good day for all the children of God. Why? It was a good day because Jesus would not come down from the cross. You see, friend, had He come down it would have destroyed the perfect life He lived. To die on the cross was the reason, the purpose for His coming to earth. The dying on the cross was a part of His mission. He had lived the life (perfect and holy), now He must die the death. That was His work, to live and die.

There is a work for the believers. The few believers around the cross, their work was to prepare His body and to give Him an honorable burial. The work of the Heavenly Father is to resurrect His Son and the work of the angels was to come from heaven, roll away the stone, and greet the women as they came to the empty tomb. He did not come down from the cross, but He did come out of the tomb. And in doing so, He magnified His life and His death.

3. At the Cross Christ Taught Again His Purpose for Coming to Planet Earth

Christ came to seek and save (Luke 19:10). And during His last few hours, before His death, hanging between two thieves, our Lord forgave a sinner and promised him eternal life. "And Jesus said unto him, (one of the thieves) Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). That day, a sinner found the Savior. In His dying hour our Lord taught again the purpose of His life on earth.

A finished work at the cross, yes, but there is more, much more, the Lord Jesus Christ is now back in Heaven with the Heavenly Father. Christ has a work to do in the Heavenly Sanctuary and He is now serving as our mediator. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (I Timothy 2:5).

George Bennard wrote these words and set them to music. I have in mind the song, "The Old Rugged Cross" and that is the hymn we will close with.

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.

4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,

Where His glory forever I’ll share.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown.