Profiles in Faith:

The Friend of God

Greatest Bible Characters?

•Moses

• Joshua

• Joseph

•David

•Daniel

•Ruth

• Esther

• Elijah

• Elisha

• John the Baptist

•Paul

•Peter

• John

• James

O.T. References to Abraham

•Genesis

• Exodus

• Leviticus

•Numbers

•Deuteronomy

• Joshua

•1 & 2 Kings

•1 & 2 Chronicles

•Nehemiah

•Psalms

• Isaiah

• Jeremiah

• Ezekiel

•Micah

N.T. References to Abraham

•Matthew

•Mark

• Luke

• John

•Acts

•Romans

•2 Corinthians

•Galatians

•Hebrews

• James

•1 Peter

Abraham Was a Man of Faith

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness …”

(James 3:23)

“The Friend of God”

Profiles in Faith•Moses: The Law Giver: 10 Commandments. Led

the nation out of Egyptian bondage

• Joshua: a great military leader who guided Israel across the Jordan and conquered the Promised Land

•David: the most brilliant and beloved king. Authored many of the Psalms and was called a man after God’s own heart

•Daniel: an outstanding spokesman and statesman

• Elijah/Elisha: among greatest of the prophets

•Paul: wrote the majority of the N.T.

“The Friend of God”

A Friend of God• “Did you not, our God, drive out the

inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?” (2 Chron 20:7, ESV)

• “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend.” (Isa 41:8, ESV)

• “And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’—and he was called a friend of God.” (James 2:23, ESV)

“The Friend of God”

Genesis 12:1-4“Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ So Abram went, as the LORD had told him, and Lot went with him.” (ESV)

Abraham Followed When God Called

“Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house …”

(Gen 12:1)

“The Friend of God”

God asked Abraham to leave …•His country …

“The Friend of God”

God asked Abraham to leave …•His country …• “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was

called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents …”

(Heb 11:8-9, ESV)

“The Friend of God”

God asked Abraham to leave …•His country …

•His people …

“The Friend of God”

God asked Abraham to leave …•His country …

•His people …• “And Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus

says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.’”

(Joshua 24:2, ESV)

“The Friend of God”

God asked Abraham to leave …•His country …

•His people …

•His family …

“The Friend of God”

God asked Abraham to leave …•His country …

•His people …

•His family …• “And he said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, there is

no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.’”

(Luke 18:29-30, ESV)

Abraham Struggled, But Kept Moving Forward

“Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran … God removed him from there …” (Acts 7:4)

“The Friend of God”

Abraham’s Journey

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“The Friend of God”

Hebrews 11:8-12“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents ... Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”

(ESV)

“The Friend of God”

Which Best Describes Your Spiritual Journey?

• You need to take the first step and become a committed follower of Jesus.

• You are a Christian, but have stumbled somewhere along the way—you need to get up and get going again.

• You are on your way, but realize the journey is never over. You will never arrive until you see Christ face-to-face.

“The Friend of God”

Profiles in Faith• The study of Abraham shows how one man heard

the call of God and was willing to abandon everything to follow. • He left his country, but he found a new country and

even looked beyond it to that heavenly country whose foundations, builder, and maker was God.

• He left his people, but he became the father of a new people.

• He left his father's house, but he found room in the house of God.

• So will it be for you. These blessings are for all who set out on this journey of faith. Wherever you are at the moment, remember, the goal is to be called “A Friend of God.”

Profiles in Faith:

God was not ashamed to be called his God