God?

Whydid Abram

Believe

Genesis 15(CB, p. 19 OT)

“Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be

very great.”

“O Lord Jehovah, what will you give me, for I continue

childless?”

“Your very own son shall be your heir”

“Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are

able to number them.”

“So shall your offspring be.”

“And he believed Jehovah, and He counted it to him as

righteousness.”

“And he believed Jehovah, and He counted it to him as

righteousness.”

Was this just...

WISHFUL THINKING?

Was this just...

IRRATIONAL?

Was this just...

BLIND FAITH?

Was this just...

A LEAP OF FAITH?

was this

based on evidence?

OR

“And he believed Jehovah, and He counted it to him as

righteousness.”

“Gofrom your

country and your kindred

and your father’s

house to the land that I will show

you.”

“Gofrom your

country and your kindred

and your father’s

house to the land that I will show

you.”

“AndI will make

of you a great nation, and I will bless you

and make your name great,so that you

will be a blessing.”

“AndI will make

of you a great nation, and I will bless you

and make your name great,so that you

will be a blessing.”

“I willbless thosewho bless

you, and him who dishonors

you I will curse.”

“I willbless thosewho bless

you, and him who dishonors

you I will curse.”

“andin you all

the familiesof the earth

shall be blessed.”

“And he believed Jehovah, and He counted it to him as

righteousness.”

Why did Abram believe God?

God makes promises.

Why did Abram believe God?

God makes promises.

God isFaithful.

Why did Abram believe God?

God makes promises.

God isFaithful.

God makes promises.

Why did Abram believe God?

God makes promises.

God isFaithful.

God makes promises.

Abram believes.

Why did Abram believe God?

Abram’s faithwas based on EVIDENCE!

Romans 4.16-25(CB, p. 269 NT)

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

Romans 4.17(CB, p. 269 NT)

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

My ownbody: good as

dead.

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

My ownbody: good as

dead.

Sarah is barren.

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

My ownbody: good as

dead.

Sarah is barren.

“He did not weaken in faith”

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

God is able to do what He promises.

...the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead

and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

God is able to do what He promises.

“No distrust made him waver”

Why did Abram believe God?

Knowledge of God.

Why did Abram believe God?

Knowledge of God.

Why did Abram believe God?

Hope

Knowledge of God.

Why did Abram believe God?

Hope

Grew Strong

Knowledge of God.

Why did Abram believe God?

Hope

Grew Strong Gave glory to God

Knowledge of God.

Why did Abram believe God?

Hope

Grew Strong Gave glory to God

Fully Convinced

Knowledge of God.

Why did Abram believe God?

Hope

Grew Strong Gave glory to God

Fully Convinced

God is able to do what He promises

Knowledge of God.

“the promise may be certain”

Hope

Grew Strong Gave glory to God

Fully Convinced

God is able to do what He promises

(NASB)

“And he believed Jehovah, and He counted it to him as

righteousness.”

Abram’s faithwas based on EVIDENCE!

God

—Promise

—Power

—Faithful

God

—Promise

—Power

—Faithful

Me—Believe —Hope

—Strong

—Fully Convinced

“Now faith isthe assurance of things

hoped for,the conviction of things

not seen.”—Hebrews 11.1(CB p. 393 NT)

“Now faith isthe assurance of things

hoped for,the conviction of things

not seen.”—Hebrews 11.1(CB p. 393 NT)

“Now faith isthe assurance of things

hoped for,the conviction of things

not seen.”—Hebrews 11.1(CB p. 393 NT)

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to

God must believe that He exists and that He rewards

those who seek Him.”—Hebrews 11.6(CB p. 394 NT)

“By faithAbraham obeyed”

—Hebrews 11.8(CB p. 394 NT)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes

has eternal life.”—John 6.47

(CB p. 173 NT)

Will today be the day you believe and are saved?

Fellowship with GodGod’s Plan for our Salvation

#08

Why did Abram Believe God?Genesis 15.6

Compiled and Presented by:

Dave Stewart22 November, 2009

Las Cruces, NMwww.churchofchristmiranda.com

Synopsis: Abram is commended for believing in God. But why did he believe? We seldom think about this, but the scriptures clearly teach us why He believed. God had kept promises in the past and Abram knew God was faithful and powerful. So Abram trusted in God’s promises.

“Let all that you do be done with love.”

“Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Photo Credits:

Girl with Book: michael1959http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=9494535

Abram and stars: http://www.mazinsweiss.com/ThecallofAbraham.html

Abraham: http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures/Standard%20Bible%20Story%20Reader,%20Book%20Three/target7.html

Caravan: http://www.cts.edu/ImageLibrary/Images/tissot/tisscara.jpg