Why was the promise made to Abraham by faith? There
Faith hi accepted of God as a justification required in all those that shall be pardoned and saved. '"'Him that justifieth the ungodly"', that is, him that was before ungodly. His former ungodliness was not a bar to his justification upon his believing. '' That ungodly one"'; that is, Abraham, who before his conversion, it should seem, was carried down the stream of the Chaldean idolatry (Joshua xxiv. 2). No room, therefore, is left for despair. Though God clears not the impenitent guilty, yet through Christ he justifies the ungodly.
6. THE Promise MADE BY FAITH Why was the promise made to Abraham by faith? There were three reasons: (a) "That it might be by grace." This has already been discussed fully (see chapter on Grace).
(5) "That the promise might be sure." 'The first covenant, being a covenant by works, was not sure. Through man's failure the benefits designed by it were cut off. Faith acts in continual dependence upon Christ, as the great trustee of our salvation, and in His keeping it is safe.
(c) "That it might be sure to all the seed." If it had been by law it would have been limited to the Jews.
Now it is in and by this faith that the Christian lives out his life and is sanctified. '"'The Just shall live by faith'', for: (i) It is the honourable character of just men that in times of afflictions they can live by faith (see Heb. x. 38). They can live upon the assured persuasion they have of the truth of God's promises. Faith puts life and vigour into them. They can trust God and live upon Him, and wait His time. And as their faith maintains their spiritual life now, it shall be crowned with eternal life hereafter.
(ii) It is apostasy that is the mark of the brand of those in whom God takes no pleasure (Heb. x. 38). It is a cause of God's severe displeasure and anger. God never was pleased with the formal profession, and external duties and services, of such as do not persevere. He saw the hypocrisy of their hearts then, and He is greatly provoked when their formality in religion ends in an open apostasy from religion. He beholds them with great displeasure. They are an offence to Him.
(iii) The Apostle concludes with declaring his good hope concerning himself and the Hebrews to whom he was writing,