Category: What do you think?

Abraham’s Ultimate Test of Faith

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BASED ON A WRITING BY GEORGE WHITEFIELD (c. 1750)

Genesis 22:12 says, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld your only son from me.”

The Apostle Paul tells us that everything written in the past was for our learning, so that through the scriptures we might have hope. Since faith is essential to please God, the examples of strong faith in the Bible were meant for our guidance. That’s why Hebrews 11 highlights the faith of Old Testament saints, encouraging us to follow their example. Abraham, called the “friend of God” and the “father of the faithful,” stands out among them. He faced many trials, but the hardest was God’s command to offer his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. This is the story we reflect on today.

The Bible says God “tested” Abraham, though this doesn’t mean God tempted him to do wrong, as James tells us God never tempts anyone to sin. Instead, God tested Abraham’s faith, just as he sometimes tests ours to strengthen our trust in Him. When God called Abraham, he responded without hesitation, ready to obey, showing the close relationship between God and those who trust in Him.

God commanded Abraham to take Isaac, his beloved and only son, and offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham could have questioned the command, reasoning that it went against natural love for his child and God’s promise of descendants through Isaac. Yet, Abraham obeyed without delay, trusting that God could even raise Isaac from the dead. His faith was so strong that he believed God’s promises despite the command seeming impossible to understand.

This teaches us that true faith trusts God’s word, even when it doesn’t align with human reason. Like Abraham, we must believe in God’s promises, even when they seem beyond our understanding. Where reason fails, faith begins.

Let’s look again at Abraham’s story. God commands him to sacrifice his son Isaac, yet Abraham does not object or question God. Instead, we are told he rises early, gathers what is needed, and begins the journey to the place God had shown him. The fact that Abraham rose early suggests God spoke to him during the night. Perhaps it was right before dawn that God said, “Take your son.”

Despite how difficult this command must have been, Abraham obeys, showing deep humility and faith. He saddles his own donkey and keeps the sacrifice a secret from everyone, including his wife Sarah, knowing she might try to intervene. After three days of walking, Abraham spots the place where he is to offer Isaac. Although he must have struggled internally, Abraham shows no hesitation. When Isaac asks about the missing lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham replies that God will provide, though he knows Isaac is to be the offering.

Isaac, unaware of the full plan, carries the wood for the sacrifice, unknowingly carrying the very instrument of his own death. Abraham binds Isaac and places him on the altar. Just as he lifts the knife to sacrifice his son, an angel stops him, saying, “Do not lay a hand on the boy.” Abraham’s faith had been proven, and God provides a ram to sacrifice instead. Abraham’s obedience is rewarded with a renewed promise that through his offspring, all nations will be blessed.

This story prefigures the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God. Just as Abraham was willing to give up his only son, God actually gave His only Son for our salvation. While Isaac was spared, Jesus was not, and He bore the weight of our sins on the cross.

The lesson here is that faith in God requires trust, even when His commands seem impossible. Like Abraham, we are called to obey without hesitation, believing that God will provide in His time. Abraham’s faith was shown through his actions, and so must ours be—faith without works is dead. True faith changes our hearts and leads to a life of obedience and love for God.

Let this story remind us to hold loosely to worldly things and to be ready to surrender everything to God, just as Abraham did with Isaac.

God’s Glory the Purpose of Man’s Life

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Based on a writing by Rev. Hugh Binning (c. 1650)

Romans 11:36 —“For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (NASB) 1 Corinthians 10:31—“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.” (NASB)

The essential question for all people is: What is our purpose, and how do we achieve it? Like any skill or science, true religion has foundational principles that guide all other knowledge. These principles are few and simple, but they must be considered carefully. When ignored, what is clear becomes difficult and burdensome.

The most important principle is our purpose—our end. Without understanding this, all our actions will be in vain. What is our great purpose? It is to glorify God in everything we do, because he is the source and reason for all things.

God is completely independent and perfect, existing for his own glory. We, on the other hand, are dependent on him. Everything comes from God and should return to him. This principle is written in our very nature: we are made to glorify God, just as we are created by his power. Ignoring this truth leads to confusion and destruction in our lives. God’s pursuit of his own glory is not selfish, because in glorifying himself, he blesses and fulfills his creation.

Unlike the rest of creation, humans bear God’s image, making us uniquely created for his glory. All creation serves humanity, and humanity, in turn, is meant to reflect all glory back to God. We are the mediators of creation’s praise, offering it back to the Creator. Though sin has broken this relationship, through Christ, we are restored to fulfill this purpose once again.

To glorify God is to reflect his attributes in our thoughts, words, and actions. We must live in a way that shows God’s justice, power, goodness, and mercy. This is the ultimate reason for our existence, and failing to do so makes us worthless, like salt that has lost its flavor. But through Christ’s redemption, we are renewed and empowered to glorify God once again.

Our lives should focus on God’s glory. We must ask ourselves: Why are we here? If we neglect this purpose, we will face judgment for wasting our lives on lesser things. Our primary duty is to serve and glorify God in all that we do.

Can Mankind Save Itself Without God?

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

The question, “Is mankind capable of saving itself, or does it need God’s intervention?” has echoed across the ages, and today it still rages as strongly as ever. Throughout history, people have attempted to build their own systems—whether in the form of philosophies, idols, or self-made towers of Babel. Many continue to believe they can navigate life without God’s help.

They may find success in business, politics or achieve social standing. Yet, beneath all these external accomplishments lies a deeper truth: there is a void within every person that only Jesus Christ can fill. The most astonishing fact is that the almighty God of the universe desires to dwell within your heart, regardless of who you are.

“…to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” – Colossians 1:27 (NASB)

The Role of Faith in Justification

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Faith is the key to justification. We are not justified by our works or by meeting certain standards, but by simple, trusting faith in Jesus Christ. This faith isn’t merely intellectual assent; it’s a deep-seated trust that Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross was sufficient to cover our sins. Justifying faith is personal and specific, a conviction that “Jesus died for me.” This assurance allows us to approach God with confidence, knowing we have been forgiven and accepted, despite our past.

The act of justifying faith brings humility, as we acknowledge that we have nothing to offer on our own. Faith is about coming to God with empty hands, trusting solely in what Christ has done for us. When we approach God in faith, He counts our trust as righteousness, granting us a new standing before Him. Justification by faith frees us from the burden of trying to earn God’s favor; it is based entirely on His mercy. This kind of faith is unwavering, resting in the belief that Jesus’s work on the cross was all-sufficient.

Faith, then, is not just a condition for justification; it is the very means by which we enter into a new relationship with God. The humility that accompanies justifying faith aligns us with God’s grace, allowing us to live in peace and gratitude. When we trust in Jesus’s sacrifice, we are transformed by the Spirit, freed from condemnation, and made alive to a new life. Justification by faith is the heart of the gospel, the good news that God has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.

Who Are the Justified?

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Justification is specifically for sinners, the ones who know they need God’s mercy. It is the ungodly, not the righteous, who are in need of justification. Often, people mistakenly believe they must be holy before coming to God, thinking that justification is for those who have already proven themselves worthy. But in truth, justification is for the broken, the lost, and the guilty. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, searches for those who know they cannot save themselves and who need forgiveness. He came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance and restoration.

It is important to understand that no one can earn justification by their own goodness or works. Justification is a gift, given freely to those who believe. A person weighed down by guilt and aware of their sinfulness is precisely the one whom Jesus came to save. In His mercy, God justifies the ungodly, accepting them as they are and transforming them through His grace. The promise of justification assures us that we do not have to become saints before God will receive us; instead, He makes us saints through His gift of grace.

After justification, good works naturally follow as the fruit of faith. These good works are not what makes us acceptable to God but are a response to the love and mercy we have already received. They are the evidence of a changed heart, an expression of gratitude and new life. To those burdened by guilt and striving for worthiness, the message of justification offers rest. Instead of trying to earn acceptance, we are invited to simply believe, allowing God to work in us and through us from that point forward.