One of the most famous scenes from the Indiana Jones series (other than
that crazy witch doctor ripping some poor man’s heart out) was when Indy took a great step of faith into a vast chasm in search for the Holy Grail. It was a
picturesque example of the assurance of things
hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.
Similarly, from beginning to end, a life of following Jesus will include
countless faith-filled, potentially scary steps. Paul hits on this truth at the
beginning of his letter to the Christians in Rome.
For I am
not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone
who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed
from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” – Romans 1:16-17
In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.
But what does that mean? One way of looking at it is that the gospel reveals both
the faith-filled righteousness that gets us into the kingdom of God, and the faith-filled
righteous way of the kingdom of God.
Clement
of Alexandria, who was basically in charge of the new members classes in the
church of Alexandria, Egypt, explains Romans 1:17 this way:
“The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.” The
apostle, then, manifestly announces a twofold faith, or rather one which admits
of growth and perfection; for the common faith lies beneath as a foundation. To
those, therefore, who desire to be healed, and are moved by faith, He added, “Your
faith has saved you.” But that which is excellently built upon is consummated
in the believer, and is again perfected by the faith which results from
instruction and the word, in order to the performance of the commandments. Such
were the apostles, in whose case it is said that “faith removed mountains and
transplanted trees.” Whence, perceiving the greatness of its power, they asked
“that faith might be added to them;” a faith which benefits the soil and “like
a grain of mustard,” grows magnificently in it. – Clement of Alexandria 195CE, Volume 2, p. 732 [CD-ROM]
According to Clement of Alexandria, it is faith in Jesus’ righteousness
that initially saves and brings us into the kingdom. However, continued faithful
adherence to the righteous words and way of Jesus grows us spiritually and
matures our faith.
Scripture
demonstrate these two stages of faith and righteousness working together in the
life of Abraham.
For what
does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness.” … Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the
uncircumcised also? For we say, “Faith was credited to Abraham as
righteousness.” How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or
uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. … Now not for
his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake
also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus
our Lord from the dead. –
Romans 4:3, 9-10, 23-24
In Romans 4, Paul references
Genesis 15, where God confirms His
promise of an heir to an 80-something-year-old Abraham. Despite having one foot
in the grave and his wife being well past the age of childbearing, Abraham took
the Lord God at His word. He was fully convinced that the Lord’s ability, and
because of Abraham’s faith, God declared him to be in right standing and entered into a covenant with him.
However,
another New Testament author cites the same passage in Genesis 15, yet takes
quite a different approach to it than Paul.
But are
you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is
useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up 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, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,”
and he was called the friend of God. – James 2:20-23
The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. Yes, Abraham’s
faith was credited to him as righteousness when he believed the Lord would
fulfill His promises to him. Yet, we see Abraham’s faith in God promise brought
to full maturity decades later when he is willing to sacrifice the son of the promise, Isaac,
believing that God could raise him from the dead.
It’s no wonder Abraham is called the father of the faithful. If there
was ever a person other than Jesus who demonstrates how to depend on God while
taking leaps of faith out into the unseen, it is Abraham.
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