Ronald Bartanen

            “By faith Abraham, when he was called obeyed; and he went out” (Hebrews 11:8). No Old Testament person is more significant than faithful Abraham, a man honored by the adherents to the world’s  three most prominent religions””Christian, Jewish and Islam.

He is the one Old Testament saint most often referred to in the New Testament. Paul spoke of him as “the father of all them that believe who walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham” (Romans 4:11-12). Verses 17 and 18 thus speak of him as “a father of many nations.” He was truly a man called of God, who was willing to step out in faith and obey God.

Among the promises God gave to Abraham was, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed”(Genesis 22:18). That promised seed or descendant is Jesus (Galatians 3:16). Only in Christ do we obtain the blessing conferred upon this man of faith. When called by the gospel of Christ (2 Thess. 2:14), would you show the same type of faith exhibited by Abraham to obey that call?

                          Ronald Bartanen is the minister of the Arthur (IL) Church of Christ