Faith and righteousness

mizpeh · #1 09-11-2016, 02:29 PM

How does Abraham's faith in God's promise relate to our faith in Christ's atonement for our sins? I mean, if Abraham's sins were forgiven when he believed God's promise to make him a father of many nations then why did Christ have to die? Why didn't God simply make a promise of eternal life to us and then we believe it and are credited righteousness?

Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. 8 “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” 9 Is this blessing then on [d]the circumcised, or on [e]the uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.”

Esaias · #2 09-11-2016, 02:35 PM

All forgiveness and declarations of righteousness are dependent on the cross, either looking forward to it or looking back to it. Abraham understood the idea of sacrifice, and therefore understood the concept of atonement and expiation. But he was declared righteous by God because he believed God. Not that he merely intellectually agreed with God's declaration(s), but that he put his trust in God, as did Noah, as did Abel, as do all the righteous who ever lived.

God declared him righteous on the basis of the atonement he would accomplish in Christ, with faith being a necessary condition of justification (as it always has been, and always will be).

mizpeh · #3 09-11-2016, 02:40 PM

But Abraham wasn't seeking to have his sins forgiven but to obtain a land to live in.

Esaias · #4 09-11-2016, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Shouldn't there have been a shedding of blood for remission of Abraham's sins?

There was - Christ's. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. And, the blood of animals can never take away sins. Therefore, it follows that if any sins were remitted, ever, they were remitted on the basis of the cross. Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This was God's plan from the beginning. So then, all BC remissions of sin were in anticipation of the cross, and all post-Calvary remission of sin has been looking back to it. There is only one sacrifice, and it transcends time, apparently.

Esaias · #5 09-11-2016, 02:44 PM

Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and was glad... Abraham looked forward to Christ, as did all OT saints.

2theX · #6 09-11-2016, 02:45 PM

Hebrews11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

mizpeh · #7 09-11-2016, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esaias

All forgiveness and declarations of righteousness are dependent on the cross, either looking forward to it or looking back to it. Abraham understood the idea of sacrifice, and therefore understood the concept of atonement and expiation. But he was declared righteous by God because he believed God. Not that he merely intellectually agreed with God's declaration(s), but that he put his trust in God, as did Noah, as did Abel, as do all the righteous who ever lived.

God declared him righteous on the basis of the atonement he would accomplish in Christ, with faith being a necessary condition of justification (as it always has been, and always will be).

Then why couldn't God simply say that everyone who believes in me will be credited with righteousness and receive eternal life? Why did Jesus have to die? Abraham wasn't seeking forgiveness but a land.

mizpeh · #8 09-11-2016, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esaias

Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and was glad... Abraham looked forward to Christ, as did all OT saints.

But did they really understand what the coming of the Messiah would mean? not just to have peace from their enemies in the land God had promised them but also atonement for their sins?

Esaias · #9 09-11-2016, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Then why couldn't God simply say that everyone who believes in me will be credited with righteousness and receive eternal life? Why did Jesus have to die? Abraham wasn't seeking forgiveness but a land.

Why did Jesus have to die? Good question.

I'm short on time, but here's an excellent, if heavy, read on the subject:

http://www.gospeltruth.net/1856OE/56..._atonement.htm

"The atonement is a governmental expedient to sustain law without the execution of its penalty on the sinner. Of course, it must always be a difficult thing in any government to sustain the authority of law, and the respect due to it, without the execution of penalty. Yet God has accomplished it most perfectly.
...
Let it be distinctly understood that the divine law originates in God's benevolence, and has no other than benevolent ends in view. It was revealed only and solely to promote the greatest possible good, by means of obedience. Now, such a law can allow of pardon, provided an expression can be given which will equally secure obedience--making an equal revelation of the lawgiver's firmness, integrity and love. The law being perfect, and being most essential to the good of his creatures, God must not set aside its penalty without some equivalent influence to induce obedience.

The penalty was designed as a testimony to God's regard for the precept of his law, and to his purpose to sustain it. An atonement, therefore, which should answer as a substitute for the infliction of this penalty, must be of such sort as to show God's regard for both the precept and penalty of his law. It must be adapted to enforce obedience. Its moral power must be in this respect equal to that of the infliction of the penalty on the sinner.

Consequently, we find that, in this atonement God has expressed his high regard for his law and for obedience to it.

The design of executing the penalty of the law was to make a strong impression of the majesty, excellence and utility of the law. Anything may answer as a substitute, which will as thoroughly demonstrate the mischief and odiousness of sin, God's hatred of it, and his determination to carry out his law in all its demands. Especially may the proposed substitute avail if it shall also make a signal manifestation of God's love to sinners. This the atonement, by the death of Christ, has most emphatically done."

Esaias · #10 09-11-2016, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizpeh

But did they really understand what the coming of the Messiah would mean? not just to have peace from their enemies in the land God had promised them but also atonement for their sins?

Abraham was not JUST looking for some real estate in Palestine. If you believe God has called you, covenanted with you, and would even raise your son from the dead, you will not JUST be looking for mere real estate.