Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, August 24, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

WHEN ABRAHAM SAW THE DAY OF JESUS

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: John 8:56; Romans 4:1-8; Genesis 15:1-6

Text: Genesis 15:6

Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Introduction: Jesus said to the Jews:

John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

When did this happen? The Bible does not say. However, we have reason to believe that it was in the birth of Isaac, one of the greatest prophetic pictures of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament.

In Isaac we see pictures of the

Supernatural Birth of Christ
Submissive Spirit of Christ
Sacrificial Offering of Christ
Successful Resurrection of Christ
Sending for a Bride for Christ

Perhaps ALL of these are partial objects of the Lord’s reference. However, I suspect that the first and foremost application is to the promise of Isaac’s birth.

Our text is, according to Romans 4, an Old Testament illustration of how God saves sinners today. It is not exactly the same, of course, but there are some things that are similar.

Ask God to show you Jesus in Genesis 15, remembering that He said:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

and again in that chapter:

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

I remind you that after His resurrection Jesus took two of His disciples,

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

See if you don’t see the way that God saves sinners through faith in Jesus Christ in Genesis 15,

WHEN ABRAHAM SAW THE DAY OF JESUS

I want to point out 4 great elements of this event:

I. AN UNCOMPLICATED INSTRUCTION

Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

John 3:14-16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

A. Consider the source of the instruction – The LORD Romans 10:17

B. Consider the simplicity of the instruction – “look”

C. Consider the secret of the instruction – “Look now toward HEAVEN”

D. Consider the stress – “Look NOW”;

“Come NOW” – Isaiah 1:18
2 Corinthians 6:1-2

II. AN UNBELIEVABLE STATEMENT

Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

“Unbelievable” truths about Christ that are believed by Christians:

A. His virgin birth

B. His virtuous life

C. His vicarious death

D. His victorious resurrection

III. AN UNBRIDLED FAITH

Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

A. He believed in the PERSON of God

B. He believe in the PROMISE of God

C. He believed in the POWER of God

IV. AN UNEQUALLED RESULT

Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans 4:23-25 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Romans 4:5-8 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose
iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Thank God for HIS righteousness!

GOD’S righteousness is:

Imputed
Imported
Imparted

Look at Romans 4:7-8 at these blessings:

A. Our disobedience is forgiven

“whose iniquities are forgiven”
What a BLESSING!

B. Our defilement is covered

“whose sins are covered.”
As Adam
What a BLESSING!

C. Our debt is cleared

“to whom the Lord will NOT IMPUTE sin”
AMEN! What a BLESSING!