For the 12th Sunday after Pentecost in Series C, the three readings are Jeremiah 23:16-29; Hebrews 11:17-40; 12:1-3 and Luke 12:49-56. Chosen to preach about is Hebrews 11:19, “accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”
“Have faith” appears to be a favorite phrase of many. But just what is meant by it? The Law and Gospel distinctions of “Living under the Law” and “Living under the Gospel” provide clarity. “Living under the Law” would mean that the faith I am to have is faith in myself to do what may even appear to be the impossible as long as I have the help of God. “Living under the Gospel” has quite a different object of faith than my own faith. Let’s examine the background of Abraham’s faith to understand the difference.
Abraham had been told by God that he would have a son that would result in all the nations of the earth being blessed. Issac is born. Then God tells Abraham to put Issac to death by means of a sacrifice on an altar. This is no simple knifing that would occur but also a burning up of the body. How could Abraham proceed to put to death the one from whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed? He did so through faith. But what exactly does that mean? How at the same time could Abraham believe that Issac was the promised seed while at the same time believe that God wanted him to die?
The answer is found in verse 19. Abraham’s faith was such that it trusted the promise of God that even were Issac to be put to death and his body burnt up, yet God would then proceed to raise Issac from the dead! In a sense was that not the way that Issac had been conceived from the apparently dead womb of a woman who was 90 years old, and therefore quite past child bearing age. But Abraham did not take into account his surroundings or experience. Rather, he trusted in a promise even though he had no evidence to back up God’s Word.
That is the faith of the Christian. For the object of faith are the benefits that come to those who believe whose sins are forgiven, who wear the robe of righteousness, who will live forever and ever and so on. The promises of God are sure because the holy Trinity never lies. Though there is little if any evidence for what God promises, our faith which is a gift of the Holy Spirit is the evidence of things not seen. Therefore we do not have faith in us but have faith in Him Who died so that we will never really die and Who lives so that we live eternally.
Name:Tom Baker