Author's Bias | Interpretation: conservative

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A Relationship Between Fact and Faith

And He took him outside and said, 'Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them' And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.' Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. (Gen 15:5-6)

For most Israelites of the Old Testament, the historical event that formed the basis of their faith was the Exodus. The preamble of the Ten Commandments, read with the Decalogue, was read at least annually, and reminded the Israelites of the reality of God through His historical work (Ex 20:2).

God is real, because He freed the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt.

God is real, because He is faithful to His promises. The Exodus was a partial fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 15:13-14; Ex 2:24).

Faith has a basis in historical fact with a view towards the future as God fulfills His covenants.

Abraham (Gen 15:6) is noted as a great example of faith in the New Testament (Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6; James 2:23).

Abraham leaves his home, from Haran to Egypt, on God's verbal promise of the future (Gen 12:1-4).

Despite the age of him and his spouse, Abraham believes in God's promise of an heir (Gen 15:6).

Abraham had no historical basis that God was real!


For his faith, God declares Abraham "righteous" and appropriate for a covenant relationship; the unilateral and unconditional Abrahamic Covenant results. God identifies Himself as "the God of Abraham" (Ex 3:6) and Abraham is known as "God's friend forever" (2 Chron 20:7).


For deeper study:

What are the themes of "faith" in the Old Testament?



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Series: The Doctrine on Salvation
Faith and the New Testament

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Series: The Doctrine on Salvation
Faith and the Old Testament


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