Key Bible Verse #

Genesis 15:6 — “Then Abram believed in (affirmed, trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord; and He counted (credited) it to him as righteousness (doing right in regard to God and man).”

Faith: Abraham’s vs. Christ’s #

Faith is at the heart of our journey with God. In the Old Testament, Abraham was the model of faith. He believed what God said, and God counted it as righteousness.

But the New Covenant takes it further. We aren’t just called to have faith like Abraham—we now live by the faith of Jesus Christ!

Galatians 2:20 — “I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

This is a big shift—from believing in promises to resting in Christ’s finished work.

1. Abraham’s Faith: Trusting a Promise #

Abraham believed God’s word, even when it sounded impossible.

Genesis 12:1-4 — “Now [in Haran] the Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go away from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others].'”

Romans 4:20-21 — “But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God, being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised.”

Abraham’s faith looked ahead to something yet to come. He never saw the full promise in his lifetime. Imagine being very old, and God tells you, “You’re going to have a child!” Abraham could have laughed himself into a coma, but he believed God.

Hebrews 11:13 — “All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, but having [only] seen [them] and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”

2. Christ’s Faith: Living in the Promise #

Abraham had faith in what would come. We now live in what has already come—Jesus!

Galatians 3:16 — “Now the promises [in the covenants] were decreed to Abraham and to his seed. God does not say, ‘And to seeds (descendants, heirs),’ as if [referring] to many [persons], but as to one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is [none other than] Christ.”

Unlike Abraham, we have the full picture. God’s plan isn’t a puzzle anymore—it’s clear as day. Salvation is in Christ.

Hebrews 1:1-2 — “God, having spoken to the fathers long ago in [the voices and writings of] the prophets in many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the truth], and in many ways, has in these last days spoken [with finality] to us in [the person of One who is by His character and nature] His Son [namely Jesus], whom He appointed heir and lawful owner of all things, through whom also He created the universe [that is, the universe as a space-time-matter continuum].”

With Abraham, righteousness was “credited” like a loan. With Jesus, righteousness is “given”—no repayments required!

2 Corinthians 5:21 — “He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].”

3. The Holy Spirit: Then and Now #

In Abraham’s Time

Genesis 18:17-19 — “The Lord said, ‘Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do, since Abraham is destined to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?'”

Romans 4:19 — “Without becoming weak in faith he considered his own body, now as good as dead [for producing children] since he was about a hundred years old, and [he considered] the deadness of Sarah’s womb.”

Back then, the Holy Spirit showed up like a guest speaker—powerful but temporary. He came upon people for specific moments but didn’t stick around permanently.

Today, The Holy Spirit Lives in Us

John 14:16-17 — “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you [continually] and will be in you.”

Romans 8:14 — “For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

1 Corinthians 6:19 — “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]?”

Abraham needed direction from God’s spoken word. We have the Holy Spirit living in us, guiding us daily!

How Do We Apply This Today? #

We learn from Abraham’s faith. He trusted God even when things didn’t make sense.

We live by Christ’s faith. His faith is perfect. We rely on His finished work, not our efforts.

We stop striving. Faith isn’t about trying harder—it’s about trusting deeper.

Conclusion: The Best of Both! #

• Abraham’s faith looked forward to Jesus.
• Christ’s faith brings us into the full reality of salvation.
• The Holy Spirit guided Abraham externally and now lives in us permanently.

We don’t live by Abraham’s faith. We live by the faith of Christ!

Bible Reading (For Study) #

• Genesis 12:1-4
• Genesis 15:6
• Romans 4:19-21
• Galatians 2:20
• Galatians 3:16
• Hebrews 1:1-2
• 2 Corinthians 5:21
• Romans 8:14
• 1 Corinthians 6:19

Prayer #

Lord, I thank You for the faith of Abraham, but even more for the faith of Jesus Christ. I no longer live by my strength—I live by Christ in me. Help me to rest in Your finished work and trust the Holy Spirit in me. Amen.

In Christ,
Shaliach.