Sermon Central
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It Has Always Been About Grace Series
Contributed by Stephen Todd on Apr 11, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Genesis 15 shows that God’s plan for salvation has always been salvation by grace through faith.
April 6, 2003
One of the biggest mistakes I believe the early dispensationalists made was calling the OT age Law and the New Testament age Grace. I prefer Israel and the Church.
Grace has always been God’s operating program with man.
Genesis 15 falls into a double pattern.
God identifies himself.
Abram questions God.
God demonstrates his Grace.
1. God identifies himself 15:1; 7
in the first section note that God himself is Abram’s reward.
2. Abram questions God 15:2-3; 8
notice that in both that Abram uses the title Sovereign Lord
adonai jehovah - Lord God
3. God demonstrates his Grace 15:4-5; 9-19
in both cases the work will be completely Jehovah’s
The hinge verse 15:6
Romans 4:16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring-- not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
17 As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-- the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead-- since he was about a hundred years old-- and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.
20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."
23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone,
24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness-- for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
