Misconception is a false notion that takes us down a wrong road. The following common misconceptions, concerning the walk of Abraham, present the father of Christian faith as a disobedient liar who lacked faith, when nothing could be further from the truth. Understanding the truth about Abraham’s walk is crucial, because everyone who belongs to Christ is Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to God’s promise.
- 1. Abraham is often accused of an act of disobedience since Lot went with him on his journeys, because God had told him to “go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house.” The truth is: God said “Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him” (Gen. 12:1-4). God never criticized Abraham for taking Lot on any of his journeys and continued blessing them both.
- 2. Abraham is often accused of being a liar when he said of Sarai his wife while in Egypt, “She is my sister”. The truth is: Since Sarah was beautiful, Abraham knew he would be eliminated in order for other men to have her. Therefore, they both agreed she would always be spoken of as being his sister during all their travels, because she was in fact, his half-sister. (Gen. 12:10-20; 20: 2, 11-13). God never criticized Abraham for this decision.
- 3. Abraham is often accused of lacking faith, which resulted in the birth of Ishmael. The truth is: Sarah had given Hagar to Abraham as a wife in order to obtain a child to raise as her own. Abraham listened to Sarah in this matter (Gen. 16:1-4). God never criticized Abraham or Sarah. On the contrary, He blessed both Hagar and Ishmael (Gen. 16:7-16; 21:10-13, 17-20).
Why is this important to know? It is important because God made a covenant with Abraham that affects you, the everlasting covenant of circumcision which contains the promise of eternal life. Circumcision means death to the life of the flesh in order to belong to Christ. It was through the establishment of this covenant that Jesus came to the earth and died for the sins of the world–but for this covenant to be established, Abraham was required to walk blamelessly before God (Gen. 17:1-2, 9;18:19). And he did, for God said of Abraham after his death, “Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws” (Gen. 26:5). Throughout Scripture, God never criticized the walk of Abraham!
Scripture teaches that Christ Jesus is the only descendant of Abraham included in the covenant of circumcision! “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, `And to seeds,’ as referring to many (God is not referring to Abraham’s flesh offspring), but rather to one, `And to your seed,’ that is, Christ (Gal. 3:16). These same covenant promises are extended to all who belong to Christ, all Jews and Gentiles who no longer walk after their flesh: “Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24). And so, “If you belong to Christ, THEN you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal. 3:26-29).
How was it possible for Abraham to walk blamelessly before God? After all, it is traditionally taught that only Jesus did this (Heb. 5:7-10). God provided power within His covenant promise, enabling Abraham, through faith, to walk blamelessly before Him. This covenant promise is found in Genesis 17:9: “You shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.” Abraham’s covenant offspring receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit, empowering them to serve God in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives (Gal. 3:14; Lk. 1:72-75). “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you (Acts 1:8). “All who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God” (Ro. 8:14). Moreover, to ensure that this covenant would be kept, Melchizedek became Abraham’s high priest, the perfecter of Abraham’s faith (Gen. 14:18-23; Heb. 7:11-19). In the same way, Christ Jesus is our high priest today, according to the order of Melchizedek, bringing about the same outcome in us–the perfection of our faith (Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:7-10; 12:1, 2; 1 Jn. 4:16-17).
The Holy Spirit preached the Gospel to Abraham, empowering him to walk with a perfectly good conscience before God, becoming a doer of the Law, resulting in his justification (Ro. 2:13; Gal. 3:8; Heb. 9:13-15). “Was not Abraham our Father justified by works (obedience to the Holy Spirit), when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, `Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God” (Jas. 2:21-23). In the same way, we too are justified by our works of obedience to the Holy Spirit, our faith is also perfected, and as well, the Scripture is fulfilled and righteousness is reckoned to us.
Therefore, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham” (Jn. 8:39), by keeping “God’s charge, His commandments, His statutes and His laws” (Gen. 26:5). “The one who says, `I have come to know Him’, and does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:4). Since God expects this standard of obedience, we must come to accept this truth: God has supplied those who belong to Christ with the power to completely obey Him.
Misconceptions about the walk of Abraham have been stumbling stones for many of us. Finding fault with Abraham’s walk supports the error that no one belonging to Christ is expected to walk blamelessly. This false notion spawns unbelief and has turned us away from practicing righteousness (1 Jn. 3:10). The offspring of Abraham do not become weak in faith when facing the seemingly impossible task of walking blamelessly upon earth, but with respect to the promises of God they grow strong, boasting in God’s power to perfect their faith, not wavering in unbelief, but absolutely assured and satisfied that what God promised He is also able to perform (Ro. 4:16-25). This kind of faith is reckoned as righteousness, pleasing God. By this kind of faith we become Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.