Christianity Oasis Forum

[mlg]

Anyone have any thoughts on this? If so please share.

This scripture stands out to me greatly...imputed unto him for righteousness...from what I can tell imputed means to be given by God as a gift...is that correct? And Abraham was called the Friend of God...notice the word Friend is capitalized...what's the significance of the capital F in friend? Also this is the only reference in the Bible to anyone being called the friend of God...does this mean Abraham was more special than others?

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

[lizzie]

hiya mlgeee

My thoughts on your question:

Well it is said quite a few times in the Bible (NT), as in the scripture you shared, that it was Abraham's strong faith that justified him in the eyes of God i.e. made him righteous. This is what pleased God about Abraham, his faith.

I think Hebrews 11 puts it beautifully:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

In the same way, our Faith in Jesus, which is necessary for salvation, makes us right with God, justifies us, so we too can be called friends of God

John 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command

Lookin fwd to other thoughts on this.

Luv ya mlg.

[Mackenaw]

Hello Mlg

Isn't it awesome to meditate on His Word, and to dig for the deeper things of God?!!! Wooooohoooooo! I love it too!!!

According to Strong's Concordance, the word "imputed" means: to credit, count or reckon. So, Abraham's faith in God was credited to him as righteousness -- credited to him to be in right standing with God.

As far as the word "Friend" being capitalized -- I think it is because of scripture where God referred to Abraham as His friend. God speaking to Isaiah/Jacob ... Isaiah 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, my friend.

I hope this helps.

God bless and keep you, Mlg.
Love,
Mack

[morningrain]

Have all kinds of questions coming to mind to ask anyone to think one with this verse.

imputed means - Charged to the account of; attributed; ascribed.

"And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God."

God seen the faith Abraham had. He was willing to sacrifce his son Issac unto God and yet his faith did not fail. No matter how great the sacrifice ended up having to be Abraham kept his faith in the Lord. Believe God looked into the heart of Abraham and seen what was on his mind. Abraham believed God with all his mind, heart and soul.

How great is our faith? Can it be imputed unto us for righteousness?

Faith, producing good works. I believe God rejoices over those who truely believe. Are we able to delight ourselves in the Lord? How is our personal relationship with and in the Lord? As we draw closer to the Lord and seek His will in our lives is our faith growing? In our everyday lives are we putting that faith to work in all we do?

Ok that is what all comes to my mind for now.

[Lionhearted]

hey sis this could be a great study for you!!

i did a quick search on biblegateway thru keyword search, then cross referenced on esword using the words imputed and friend.

similar to the word love ... there are many variations. the english lumps them all together and just tranlates if "love"; the word friend(s) has many variations. i would suggest that you do this search perhaps it would tie it all in for you.

keep up the read'n and dig'n sis

luvsya

[momof3]

Friend..being a title God gave him? the way the word was translated into english..as a title? such as when we say mom...

"Mom, may I?" vs. "my mom said yes" ?

[vahn]

One of the many reasons I visit this forum specifically , is the fact that it never fails to put me in a state of "Oh , I never thought of that" or "Hmm !" which in turn sets me off to sift through the Bible . Anything that leads me back to the Bible is , to me , God's will for me for today .

Before I even pick up the Bible , I remind myself , and change the "mode" of my thinking from "let me find out" to "This is the Word of God , .. this is God talking " . Since God is Spirit , He speaks through the Spirit , and I need to listen to Him on the Spiritual plain .

What made Abraham so "special" . Faith and Obedience right ? Well , didn't Noah before Abraham have the same Faith and Obedience ?

My thoughts were , if I were to look and compare the two "Faiths" , maybe I'll find out why one ended up drunk and the other , Friend of God .

Noah's Faith and Obedience was basically based on , in a nutshell , saving his own butt . He is saying to us , "If you listen to the Lord , and do what He asks you to , you'll save yours too" (then you go out and get drunk , ... NO , just a joke ok ?)

In order for me to really "understand" Abraham's Faith , (and this is for me only ok ?) , I have to understand first , who his sacrifice was . Of course we all know , his very own son right ? But really ? Was Isaac really his very own ? Wasn't Isaac a gift from God as well ? I mean , Abraham was very old and stuff .. he went whaaat ? .. a son ? ... Me ?? Okkaaayyy !! Wattevaahh !!
Lo and behold , there's this Isaac !! going "What's up pops ! What are we doing ? " and Abraham "What do I look like ? A know-it-all ? All I know is that I am very happy you are here "

God goes "Psst , Abraham , come here , Kill him !!"
"HUH ?? " ... "Okkaayy !! You gave it , you take it right ? But Your wish is my Command , and I know Your ways are not like my ways , You KNOW what You're doing , and I don't"

WE ALL KNOW JOHN 3:16 .... WELL , SO DID ABRAHAM !!!!

Abraham was God's Friend , they knew each other , that righteousness (of God) was imputed ( relegated , transferred , intrusted for safe keeping) to him , because God knew Abraham would think likewise , and he would not betray Him .

Only my thoughts . And I thank so much for bringing it up . Hence we enlighten each other . I as well need and would like to very much hear more .


In Christ , our Lord

[morningrain]

Ok couldn't help it had to laugh a bit with your reply vahn. A good kin of laugh.

Think there are many in the Old Testament that could have been called a friend of God, not just Abraham, but God used Abraham as a great example. Myself i thinking after Abraham seen he didn't have to kill his own son, thinking he took on a great understanding what God was going to do. By giving his only begotten Son. That it had to be through perfect blood.

When Isaac said and asked his dad, "Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

Abrahams reply was, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together."

To me this is just an awsome response there is a deep knowledge there and a great trust that Abraham placed in God even though he didn't seem fully understand it himself at the time. As you mentioned Noah, Noah had the same trust in God. So that brings me back to a question How deep is ur trust in God?

Lord Bless you Vahn
angel