Abraham is noted for his great faith. He became a hero to the Jews who looked on him as their father. They even thought that God would overlook their sins because of their relationship to Abraham (Matthew 3:9). Not only do the Jews look upon Abraham as their father. The Gentiles also are referred to as the children of Abraham (Galatians 3:7).

In Abraham, we see clearly how faith and works are equally important and how they are connected to each other. Abraham’s faith was a perfect trust in God’s promises. Faith does not rest in human reason or logic. Rather, it rests in the confidence placed in God as one who cannot lie. For example, God had promised that through Abrahams descendants, the whole world would be blessed. So, when God ordered him to offer his only son as a sacrifice, he “did not waver in unbelief” (Rom. 4:20-21) because he remembered God’s promise. Rather than become despondent or bitter, he believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:9). This is more remarkable when we consider that there is no record of a resurrection at this time in history. Yet, Abraham envisioned it because God promised him a son who would necessarily have lived long enough to continue his seed and become a blessing to the world.

He expressed his great confidence in God by obeying God and sacrificing his son. While it is true that God interceded and prevented Abraham from killing Isaac, his son, he had every intention of completing his task. Faith always expresses itself by works (Hebrews 11). We should have the same will to obey God that only his hand could stop us from obeying his commands. Listen to James write: “You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected..... you see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:22,24).

When Peter said, “Repent and be baptized .... for the remission of sins,” if I have faith in God’s word and rest upon his promise of forgiveness, then I will express it by repenting and being baptized (Gal.3:26-27). If I refuse, do I have faith?