Sharper Iron — In the Beginning – Genesis 15:1-6: Reckoned Righteous through Faith

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After Abram rescues Lot, the LORD reassures Abram with His promise. Yet Abram sees that a household servant is currently his heir, and Abram questions the LORD what He will give since no child has yet been born to him. The LORD doubles down on His promise, telling Abram that a child will be born of his own loins. As a visual sermon, the LORD challenges Abram to count the stars. Such will be the number of Abram’s descendants. Abram believes this promise, and the LORD counts that faith as righteousness. Such is the way all Christians are saved: through faith in the promise of God in Jesus.

Rev. Jeremy Swem, pastor at Our Savior Lutheran Church and School in Grand Rapids, MI, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Genesis 15:1-6.

To learn more about Our Savior, visit oursavior-gr.org.

“In the Beginning” is a series on Sharper Iron that studies Genesis. The first book of Moses sets the stage for God’s entire story of salvation. As we learn the beginning of the story, God prepares us to receive the fulfillment of the story: Jesus Christ, the Offspring of the woman who has crushed our enemy’s head.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Genesis 15:1-6

God’s Covenant with Abram

15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue[a] childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son[b] shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

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Footnotes

Genesis 15:2 Or I shall die

Genesis 15:4 Hebrew what will come out of your own loins