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Let us consider:

I. THE CHARACTER OF HIS FAITH. Few things are more talked about, and less understood, than this subject of faith. St. James teaches us in his second chapter and twenty-sixth verse, that there are two distinct kinds of faith — that, as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. There are those who possess what we may call a living faith amongst the heathen — a faith which indeed does not come down from the living Spirit — but it inspires the soul of the Hindoo mother when she is constrained to cast her own child beneath the wheels of the ponderous machine which carries the god called Juggernaut. Is it not so, also, where the Jew really trusts on his god — who, however, is not the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, but one of his own creation? Is it not equally so with the Mahommedan, who will imbrue his hands in the blood of those who deny that Mahomet was God's prophet? Is it not so with those Roman Catholics who believe the Virgin Mary to be more tender and compassionate than Christ, who came into the world and suffered death to save us? They exercise a living faith, but its object is such as to render it nevertheless short of salvation. You will observe that the right object of faith is as essential as the living principle of faith. Here then is the one true and only object by which faith is made instrumental in saving the soul. I need not say that faith itself never saves a man — it is the object of that faith. Faith is the instrument — it is not the life which is brought into the soul, but it merely opens the soul to receive that life — it leads the thirsty soul to the waters of life, where it may be refreshed. Still, it may be asked, how can this be true as regards the Old Testament Saints? The text teaches us to take Abraham as a type of the whole of the Old Testament Saints, and that Abraham did believe in Jesus Christ; for you will find in verse 16 — "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, 'and to seeds,' as of many; but, as of one, 'and to thy seed' — which is Christ." He did believe. As you read in the first lesson of this evening's service, you will remember that Abraham said unto his son — "My son, God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt-offering." Now this Lamb was no other than the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it is said — "He was the Lamb which was slain from the foundation of the world." He was regarded by all the Old Testament Saints as a Lamb slain for them. They looked forward to the sacrifice which was to be made, as we look back to it now it has been made. The promise made to Abraham is noticed in Galatians 3:8. Now this does away with the notion that any faith in the abstract can possibly save. I know that there is a common notion amongst men in these latitudinarian days, by which they affirm and endeavour to maintain that it matters little what a man's faith is, provided it be sincere. Now you will observe from this that it does matter altogether what his faith is; for it may be sincerely placed on a wrong object. We come, therefore, to the inevitable conclusion, that unless the object of your faith be one with the object of Abraham's faith — i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ, His blessing cannot be yours.

II. THE INFLUENCE OF HIS FAITH. They that be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham by righteousness imputed to their souls. Another point is, that through faith Abraham walked with God. St. James tells us that Abraham was a friend of God. What an exalted honour and privilege is this. Can there be any term more endearing to the believing soul than to be called the friend of God? And yet Jesus says to His people, "Ye are my friends"! Now, dear friends, those who be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. They have the same blessing, and they, too, are the friends of God. How do they prove they are His friends? They follow the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, who says, "My sheep hear My voice, and they follow Me." Through faith Abraham was supported in all his trials, and protected in all his dangers; and was there ever a friend of God left in an un-befriended state by God? No! Genesis 15:1 — "Fear not, I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." He is a shield to ward off and protect. But not only was Abraham blessed: he was made a blessing to others. He was made a blessing to all the families of the earth by being the father of the seed to whom the promises were made. He was also a blessing by his bright example of faith and holiness, and all who follow his example shall receive his blessing. He was made a blessing to others; and, dear friends, all who are "of faith" are "blessed with faithful Abraham" by being made a blessing to others. Suffer me, then, to ask you, brethren, whether you this night have the mark of the blessing of Abraham? Because, if you have not this mark, you have not his faith, and consequently are not blessed with him. There is, one thought more before we leave the subject, Abraham through faith realized the Lord as his portion. You will find in Genesis 15:1: "I am thy shield and exceeding great reward." Dear friends, what a depth there is here! "I am thy exceeding great reward!" This is what we are all seeking for — a recompense for our labours, toils, and anxieties. But here — "All them that be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham" — they have the Lord as their "exceeding great reward." He is their portion, their everlasting inheritance — He is their all in all in this world! But here is a blessing which reaches not only to the end of time, but to all eternity.

(G. A. Rogers, M. A.)

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KJV: So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

WEB: So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.