Dr. Couch, what did Abraham put his faith in as mentioned in Genesis 15:6?
ANSWER: You mentioned several commentaries and Bible teachers who said they were not sure what Abraham's faith was pointing to. I think they are dead wrong, because the passage to me is clear.
Verse 5 makes the point: God told him he would have a great number of children. "And [God] said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.'" Abraham would be so blessed, then verse 6 adds: "Then he believed in the Lord and He reckoned (accounted, imputed) it to him (his faith) as righteousness." The belief is in what God had said to him about having a great number of children though he was impotent and Sarah was barren. The object for Abraham was God's promises. Now our object is in the Messiah, that He would come and that He died for us!
I don't see the problem the other Bible teachers are having. You should have read Unger who says:
"The condition was solely on the ground of faith in the divine promise of a son, an heir, ..." "Abram's faith rested in the naked word of God. He was 'fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform."
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
--Dr. Mal Couch (4/12)
ANSWER: You mentioned several commentaries and Bible teachers who said they were not sure what Abraham's faith was pointing to. I think they are dead wrong, because the passage to me is clear.
Verse 5 makes the point: God told him he would have a great number of children. "And [God] said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.'" Abraham would be so blessed, then verse 6 adds: "Then he believed in the Lord and He reckoned (accounted, imputed) it to him (his faith) as righteousness." The belief is in what God had said to him about having a great number of children though he was impotent and Sarah was barren. The object for Abraham was God's promises. Now our object is in the Messiah, that He would come and that He died for us!
I don't see the problem the other Bible teachers are having. You should have read Unger who says:
"The condition was solely on the ground of faith in the divine promise of a son, an heir, ..." "Abram's faith rested in the naked word of God. He was 'fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform."
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
--Dr. Mal Couch (4/12)
