According to our study of Abram’s life, thus far, it was impossible for him to break the covenant God made with him in Genesis 15, because the Lord took sole responsibility for its fulfillment! Often, when things simply sound too good to be true, they are; that is, they prove false. Abraham’s faith in the Lord is often compared with the believer’s faith under the New Covenant. Paul speaks of Abraham being the father of all who believe (Romans 4:11). However, Paul’s proof text concerned Genesis 17, where Abraham didn’t consider the deadness of his own body or that of Sarah’s womb. Instead, he believed in the power of God to bring Isaac into the world (Genesis 17:17). Nevertheless, what was true in Genesis 17 was also true in Genesis 15. The only difference is, Abraham didn’t fully understand the principle of grace in Genesis 15. There were things he had to yet work through, before he was mature enough to believe, as he did in Genesis 17.
So, once again, if God made himself totally responsible for the fulfillment of the promises, which he made to Abram in Genesis 15, is it too good to be true, if we apply the same grace to the New Covenant promises? I don’t believe grace is too good to be true, although some have tried to claim it is, when they label it cheap grace. Nevertheless, the grace that comes to us for our salvation never comes cheap. Jesus paid it all; all to him I owe.[1] How is it possible for me to add to or take away from such grace as Jesus’ crucifixion? I may not be able to fully understand, what is fully and freely given to me, but I know how feeble I am to change what Jesus did for me.
Some will say that it is possible for one to lose his salvation, but I don’t believe they are correct. Just as Abram didn’t fully understand grace until Genesis 17, neither do these brethren completely understand the grace of the cross. While I may, certainly, lose my reward, because that is something I work for. However, how could I ever lose, what Jesus freely gave me, while I was yet a sinner and dead in my spirit. Salvation wasn’t mine to receive; it was only his to give. So, how could I lose that, over which I have no authority?
All believers, at the time of Jesus public ministry and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, abandoned Christ, and he went to the cross alone, just as the smoking furnace and the burning lamp passed between the animal carcasses alone. Abram, although he was still in some ignorance of the whole truth, just as Jesus’ disciples were in ignorance, simply witnessed the Lord’s signature on the covenant the Lord made with him that day (Genesis 15:18). In a similar manner, all I can do is figuratively witness what the Lord did for me so long ago, the same that I find recorded in the pages of the Bible by those men who literally witnessed the covenant that was cut for us on that day, on the cross, and not only for us, but for all mankind (cp. 1Timothy 4:10)!
Too good to be true? Nothing about the Lord God, Jesus, is too good to be true. Folks can phrase that any way they wish, add to it, take away from it, but the fact remains that all men have no rights at the foot of the cross. There is no room there to boast of one’s works or one’s faith. All anyone can do, whether believer or enemy, all that can be done by anyone is to witness what the Lord, Jesus, did for mankind there.
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[1] Quote from the first two lines of the refrain of: Jesus Paid It All, by Elvina M. Hall
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