Get Forgiven Like Abraham. Obey Like Joseph.

God, in inspiring the Bible, went through the Creation, theFall, and the Flood all in eleven chapters. It is as if God was in a hurry toget to Abraham. Then with the next 38 chapters God goes into detail on Abrahamand the next three generations. Abraham was the “friend of God” and the fatherof the Jews and the Faithful. David is a “man after God’s own heart.” TheMessiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the son of David.

“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefatheraccording to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham wasjustified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. Whatdoes Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him asrighteousness.’ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a giftbut as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God whojustifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says thesame thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God creditsrighteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose transgressions areforgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sinthe Lord will never count against them’” (Rom. 4:1-8).

This is a portion of one of the great chapters on salvationby faith in the finished work of Christ. There is another emphasis besides theone on faith.

“God who justifies the wicked” (verse 5).

“Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not countagainst him” (Psalm 32:2).

Abraham was wicked. So was David. Abraham gave hiswife away twice because of fear for his own life (although in both cases Godprevented anyone from touching her). David took another man’s wife.

Abraham was justified. David’s sin was not counted againsthim. this is the message of Romans. Wicked men can be saved, made righteous,and greatly used of God.

However, Abraham and David were not men of integrityafter their salvation. There were no holy men.

Joseph was. So was Daniel. Joseph was sold as a slave by hisbothers to slave traders from a foreign country to another foreign, pagancountry. He had no Bible; Genesis was not yet written. He had a father at homewho thought he was dead. His mother had died in childbirth when Joseph was achild. As a slave, his owner’s wife tried to seduce him. Here is his answer.“No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing fromme except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wickedthing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).

Joseph would not take another man’s wife. She tried thisdaily. He refused and avoided her. Finally, she grabbed his coat. He got out ofthe coat and ran. She lied. He was put in prison. He was godly in prison andgodly when he got out.

Daniel was taken captive by the Babylonians. He and a fewothers were given special treatment. They ate from the king’s table. It wasgreat food for Babylonians. It was unclean food for the Jews. “But Danielresolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked thechief official for permission not to defile himself this way” (Daniel 1:8).

Daniel still had his integrity in his old age. “No whenDaniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairsroom where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got downon his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before”(Daniel 6:10). For this he was thrown to the lions.

These life and death decisions were simple for Joseph andDaniel because the decisions were made long before the temptation occurred.

We should make decisions on principle on absolutes and makethem in advance. We should not wait and consider the pros and cons at the time.We should obey by grace and faith.

We get forgiven like Abraham and David. This isrighteousness.

We obey like Joseph and Daniel. This is holiness.

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