The Bible Storyline – Lesson 18 – October 25, 2026 – Abraham’s Righteousness

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Abraham Receives Righteousness The Bible Storyline  •  Lesson 18  •  October 25, 2026

 

Setting & Review

In the previous sermon, we began discussing the term – Saving Faith and how it relates to the Bible storyline. As a church, we are learning to read the Bible as one continuous, unfolding storyline from Genesis to Revelation.

Key facts about the Bible storyline:

There are two Kingdoms involved in a cosmic war:

• Kingdom of God
• Kingdom of Satan

The War Began in Heaven when the highest ranking and most beautiful angel was filled with pride.

• He convinced 1/3 of the angels to participate in an insurrection
• Their goal was to dethrone and replace God with Lucifer.

Lucifer and his angels failed and were cast out of Heaven.

• From that time until now Lucifer and his angels are actively trying to establish his kingdom on earth

God created mankind in His own image and after His likeness.

God commanded mankind to reproduce and fill the earth with His image. But when man sinned, that image was distorted and Satan is filling the earth with people who are imitating his character.

Before Adam and Eve sinned, every person born in the world would have been born into the Kingdom of God. But after they sinned every person is now born into the kingdom of Satan.

Living In Eternity

When this life is over, every person will spend eternity as citizens of the kingdom they belonged to on earth.

• This means those who never defect from the kingdom of Satan will live eternally as citizens of his kingdom.
• They will suffer eternal damnation in the lake of fire where they will experience the endless wrath of God.

Saving Faith

In the previous sermon we learned that Abraham believed God and God counted his faith as righteousness.

• This means God deposited, or credited righteousness to Abraham.
• The word “counted” is an accounting term meaning to reckon or credit something to someone’s account.

 

Genesis 15:6 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

 

Because God counted (imputed) righteousness to Abraham, he is declared right with God.

Through faith, Abraham is decisively leaving the kingdom of Satan for the Kingdom of God.

He is pledging his allegiance to God, but his faith had to be demonstrated by actions and not merely words.

• Abraham’s faith produced an action of obedience and commitment to God.

Now that Abraham is declared righteous, what can he expect from the God he is serving?

Psalm 37:29 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

 

Isaiah 60:21 21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

 

The righteous will inherit the earth.

• In other words, now that Abraham is declared righteous by God, he will inherit the kingdom of God.

Two Kingdoms

There are only two kingdoms – the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan; and only one kingdom will survive and inherit the earth. The unrighteous will not inherit the earth.

Unrighteous

1 Corinthians 6:9 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

 

Romans 1:18 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

 

2 Peter 2:9 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

 

Unrighteous

These verses teach us that the unrighteous will NOT inherit the kingdom of God.

Saving Faith

Genesis 15 brings us to one of those pivotal moments in Abraham’s life where he must decide if he will continue with the God of heaven or return to trust, worship, and serve the moon god his family served in Ur.

The author of Hebrews makes this point in Hebrews 11:13-16

Hebrews 11:15-16 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

 

In the previous sermon we started talking about Abraham’s commitment to follow God and his commitment to stay with God when he could not see the benefits of obedience.

Saving Faith

• Hebrews 11:15-16 warn us against being mindful (pre-occupied) with what we give up for God.
• They also provide the example we are to follow by keeping our minds and hearts on the country God is promising.
• The reward will be greater than the sacrifice.
• In Luke 9:62, Jesus warns us that anyone who starts out for the kingdom of God, but their heart remains in their old life of sin, is not worthy of the kingdom of God.

REFLECTION MOMENT

The Apostle Paul reminds us to keep our attention and our heart fixed on things of God to avoid longing for the life of sin and the people of sin God called us to leave for the Kingdom of God Col 3:1-2

Colossians 3:1-2 1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

 

What do you say NO to so you can say yes to God?

• If you are only obeying God when you don’t have anything competing for your time or attention then you may not be sincerely following God.
• What do you say NO to in order to attend church? Sunday School? Wednesday Bible Study?
• What do you say NO to in order to practice the character that images God? (in language, anger, pleasure, relationships, hobbies, etc…)
• What are some things you have said YES to that made you say no to God?
• What keeps you from attending, serving, growing?
• What tempts you to compromise godly character in honesty, integrity, holiness, compassion, love for others, forgiveness, etc?
• What do the people close to you during the week learn about your faith because you model godly character?

Who are you leading?

Your family, friends, co-workers, church family and neighbors are learning from you.

• What do your priorities teach them about the value of God’s kingdom?
• Have you thought about the day in the future when you will answer to God for your priorities?

 

Matthew 18:6 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

 

In light of this verse are you leading people to prioritize God’s kingdom, laws, and character?

Romans 2:17-24 17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

 

These verses call us into accountability for leading by example. There is a greater level of guilt for those who know the truth but neglect or refuse to obey.

• The text claims that God’s name is blasphemed among the unsaved because of the inconsistent values, priorities, and character of “Christians” and church members. – ARE YOU GUILTY OF THIS?

 

Luke 12:47-48 47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

 

You are being watched. Someone is following your example; where are you leading them?

• In the path of righteousness
• In the path of unrighteousness and damnation

Saving Faith

What is saving faith?

Abraham is our example of saving faith. What did his faith look like?

• Abraham did not teach us what saving faith looked like by his words. He taught it by his example. – does your faith match his example?

If my faith is going to be saving faith, then it must imitate Abraham’s faith

Abraham believed the promise of God because he believed the Character of God.

Abraham was putting faith in the God of heaven, even though the promise was unfulfilled at that time. (he had not yet received the benefits of obedience)

Abraham’s faith kept him from giving up on God and returning to his gods in Ur. – his faith in God resulted in faithfulness to God

• Does your faith in God result in faithfulness to God’s laws?
• Have you returned to any sins you practiced before committing yourself to the Kingdom of God?

Abraham Our Father

The Bible calls Abraham the father of all who practice the same saving faith that he did. Gal 3:7-9

Galatians 3:7-9 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

 

Also in Gal 3:29

Galatians 3:29 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

Paul teaches this truth in Romans 4:16

Romans 4:16 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

 

God took Abraham’s faith and imparted righteousness to Abraham. But Abraham’s faith was an obedient, devoted, faithfulness.

• We can say it this way – Abraham’s faith in God’s promises was proven because it resulted in Abraham’s faithfulness to God’s commands.

What is that faith?

Consciously, and intentionally, abandon and forsake the kingdom of Satan.

• Leave behind the practice of sin, the close identification with sinners, and the ways of Satan’s kingdom, and surrender to the kingdom of God in service, obedience, and trust.
• Prioritize your life around God and His commands
• Set your heart on God and His kingdom.

Faith and faithfulness that result in righteousness seeks God’s kingdom and his righteousness above family, finances, hobbies, pride, racial prejudices, political ambition, personal pleasure, schedules, etc

Matthew 6:33 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

Saving Faith prioritizes holiness over happiness

Many things Abraham practiced in obedience to God resulted in sadness and/or a broken heart; BUT they were necessary steps in his path to holiness and righteousness.

• Can you name a time when your heart was broken, or you were deeply saddened because obeying God meant leaving something, changing a behavior, quitting a sin, or separating from a family member or friend?
• Have you failed to follow God’s law or image His character because it would have meant you would be sad or unhappy?
• Have you or someone around you counseled you to follow your heart or do what makes you happy even if you knew it contradicted God’s law?

You do not get dual citizenship

No person is granted citizenship in God’s kingdom who maintains a vacation home in Satan’s.

God’s kingdom requires a full commitment to the KING and the laws of the Kingdom.

• God does not accept you in His kingdom because you rent a P.O. Box there while maintaining a residence in Satan’s kingdom.
• God requires you to abandon Satan’s kingdom and submit yourself to God and the laws of His kingdom.

Immigration and Custom Service (ICE)

The Kingdom of God has an immigration and custom service department.

Matthew 13:41-42 41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

 

Again in Mt 13:49-50

Matthew 13:49-50 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

 

Reflection Question?

If God opened your eyes to see His angels wearing (ICE Agents) what response would you have?

• Would you be afraid that your conduct and character disqualify you as a citizen in God’s Kingdom?
• If you knew you were going to be called into God’s immigration court in six months to be evaluated and your citizenship in God’s kingdom was going to be determined by your submission and service to King God, and your obedience to the laws of the Kingdom, what would you immediately change? What would you start or stop doing?

Saving Faith

Abraham modeled saving faith. Does your faith imitate or image his faith?

• Do you obey God’s commands?
• Is God, His Word, and His church your priority?
• What do you need to change this week to be the husband, wife, son, daughter, or church member God requires of His citizens?
• Does God get the firstfruits of the income He provides for your family?
• What changes will you make this week because of the truths God has revealed to you in this sermon?

Choose you this day whom ye will serve!

Joshua 24:15 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

 

Deuteronomy 30:19 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

 

1 Kings 18:21 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

 

Choose you this day whom ye will serve!