Sermon Direct Link
11/23/25
Rev. Clint Smith
Abraham is one of the most well-known figures in Scripture for his acts of faith when called by God. Though he was a sinful man, he obeyed the Lord, and Scripture even calls him a “friend of God.” Genesis 22”1-19; 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8-11; James 2:23
When God called Abraham to leave his homeland, he obeyed without knowing where he was going. He believed God’s promise of a spiritual inheritance and, by faith, set out on a journey that would ultimately lead to a future he couldn’t yet see or imagine. Genesis chapters 12-16
Abraham and Sarah trusted God for the child He had promised, and in faith, they waited for the fulfillment of that promise. They also looked forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Genesis chapters 17-18, 21
All of these patriarchs died in faith, guided and sustained by it, without receiving the full realization of God’s promises. Instead, they welcomed them from a distance, acknowledging that they were strangers and exiles on earth. They were righteous pilgrims, living by faith in God’s unseen promises.
The faithful patriarchs were commended for their heavenly focus. Scripture tells us that if they had been thinking of returning to the godless nations they had left behind, they could have easily gone back. But in truth, they longed for a better country—a heavenly one.
God showed divine favor to His righteous people. He prepared a city for His prepared people! John 14
God’s grace toward us is abundant also, and His heavenly home is prepared for the righteous of all generations. Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, aligning his life with God’s will and purpose, so it is with us. The Scriptures, knowing that God would justify the Gentiles through faith, shared the good news with Abraham ahead of time. Anyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, are blessed and favored by God. That person is declared free from the guilt of sin and its penalty and placed in right standing with Him. Galatians 3:6-9