ADDRESSES ON ROMANS asking this question Abraham acknowledged that he had nothing to offer God, and that whatever he received from ·Him would have to be a free gift..-all of grace. He took his true place before God as a poor, needy soul. The man who thinks he is justified by works is not conscious of his need. 3. "LooK Now TowARD HEAVEN and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be" (Gen. 15: 5). In these words God promised to make Abraham the father of Israel; and through this nation He promised also to send the Redeemer into the world. 4. "LoRD Goo, WHEREBY SHALL I KNow THAT I SHALL INHERIT IT?" (Gen. 15: 8). Thus Abraham claimed the prom- ises of God. And God said, "Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon." Abraham obeyed God, and offered these animals as a sacrifice. This is all highly typical of the shed blood of Christ; and upon this basis God made the covenant with Abraham. It was in this connection that "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Gen. 15: 6; Rom. 413 ). When he offered these animal sacrifices, he saw Christ's day and was glad. And every sacrifice of Old Testa- ment times, offered in faith, was a type of the coming of the Lord into the world, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Look now at verses 4 and 5, where Paul is making com- ment on verse 3. "Work" and "wages" are contrasted with "faith" and "grace:-'' ln othe; words, if a man works for his master;- he merits his wages, and is given his pay check be- cause of debt. Those wages are not of grace. They are according to debt. But suppose that laborer becomes ill and . can not work, yet the master sends his pay check just the same. That would be according to grace, a gift of generosity. Thus it is to him that "worketh not." There is no use in our trying to work for wages from God, because we are sin-sick, unable to work and merit justification before Him. To trust [Page 61
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