The Right Focus Series

1. The Confusion - Paul uses this passage to point to Abram's salvation experience. But Abram was saved when he left Ur.

Allen Ross, "Gen. 15:6 provides an important note, but it does not pinpoint Abraham's conversion. That occurred years earlier when he left Ur. The form of the Hebrew word for believe, shows that his faith did not begin after the events recorded in vv. 1-5.

Abraham's faith is recorded here because it is foundational for making the covenant. The Abrahamic Covenant did not give Abram redemption; it was a covenant made with Abraham who had already believed and to whom righteousness had already been imputed."

2. The Conviction - Abram seems to have eventually believed God that him and Sarah would be enabled by God to have a child. Rom. 4:20-21

Yet we have to be careful, after this he goes to Plan C with Hagar; and will allow his wife to become a slave again, to save his own neck.

Trans:The main thing is how Paul uses this passage in Rom. 4:, it demonstrates that righteousness is imputed by faith not earned by works. Few things removes anxiety like understand the truth of imputed righteousness!

There is 14 years between Gen. 15:6 and 17:23-25 when he circumcised!

Martin Luther, "Justification is the chief article of Christian doctrine. Everything else will seem slight and turn to nothing. For what is Peter? What is Paul? What is an angel from heaven? What are all creatures in comparison with the article of justification?

For if we know this article, we are in the clearest light; if we do not know it, we dwell in the densest darkness...It cannot be sufficiently extolled."

In 1975, Felix Jardio, 60, a Filipino farmer had been saving his money for years to buy a caribou. He finally saved 1,300 pesos and found an animal he wanted to purchase.

What Felix did not know was that in 1973, the government had ordered all Philippine paper bills exchanged for the "Bagong Lipunan" issue currency no later than February 28, 1974.

All of Felix's savings were the old currency and they were worthless.

Felix was illiterate, so with the help of some schoolboys, he wrote to the President.

The answer came back. It said: "The law must be followed. Because the deadline for exchanging bills has already passed, the government can no longer change your bills with the new ones. Even the President of the Philippines is not exempt from this rule."

The letter continued: "However, because I believe that you really worked hard to save this money. I am changing them with the new ones from my own personal funds. I hope that you will be able to buy your caribou." The letter was signed President Ferdinand Marcos.

We do not have the currency for righteousness, but our Heavenly Father has credited us to righteousness if we have faith in Christ.

Anxieties cannot remain in a heart that can sing:

"My hope is built on nothing less then Jesus blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame but whole lean on Jesus name."

Con:

1. Our problem is we let life before filled with problems - we need to have only one problem, that of trusting God.