ROM. iv. 11. “That he might be the father of all
that believe.”
I. ABRAHAM’S faith. What did he believe?
1. He believed in God, and a mighty article of faith that
is. He separated himself. He reposed on Him more than
on the great empire of the world—more than on the bright
light of heaven worshipped by others—more than on tribe
or kindred. He made God his Rock, his Shield, his Re-
fuge, and his Protection.
2. Abraham believed the great promise of the covenant
—”In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be
blessed.” The man who heard these wonderful words in
the mysterious, awful calm of an Eastern night, pondered
them well, weighed them every syllable. He searched into
the meaning of the words, and the Spirit helped him; and
through them he saw the flashing of the coming day. He
saw the Messiah in them.
3. His faith reached beyond the present world. His
mind stole away from the tent and thought of the eternal
city. So Jacob said, “I have waited for Thy salvation, O
Lord.”
II. The effect of this faith on Abraham.
1. Through faith he had acceptance with God. It was
accounted to him for righteousness. He was received, ap-
proved, justified, When we are united to Christ, all good
is made possible to our nature.
2. Through faith he became a good, a great, and a noble
man. We know that he was not perfect. To err is human.
But think of him with Ephron the Hittite, and when there
was strife between the shepherds.
3. Through faith he became the father of the future
Church. What a glorious name it is—father of the faith-
ful. What an immense family then was his. Multitudes
like the falling drops of rain—like the stars of heaven. It
was night—and the deep blue Eastern heavens contained
countless stars. From horizon to horizon the stars were
thick as wild flowers in a meadow. “So shall thy seed
be.”
Thomas Jones