Topical Bible: God: Special Grace: To Abraham

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Introduction

The concept of special grace refers to the unique and unmerited favor that God bestows upon individuals or groups for His divine purposes. In the biblical narrative, Abraham is a quintessential recipient of God's special grace. This grace is evident in God's covenantal relationship with Abraham, His promises, and the unfolding of His redemptive plan through Abraham's lineage.

The Call of Abraham

God's special grace to Abraham is first manifested in Genesis 12:1-3, where God calls Abram (later named Abraham) to leave his country, his people, and his father's household to go to a land that God would show him. This call is accompanied by a series of promises: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:2-3). This divine initiative marks the beginning of a covenantal relationship that is foundational to the biblical narrative.

The Covenant with Abraham

God's special grace is further demonstrated in the covenant He establishes with Abraham. In Genesis 15, God reassures Abraham of His promises despite Abraham's childlessness. God takes Abraham outside and says, "Look now at the sky and count the stars, if you are able. Then He told him, 'So shall your offspring be'" (Genesis 15:5). Abraham's belief in God's promise is credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6), highlighting the grace that underpins this covenantal relationship.

The formalization of the covenant occurs in Genesis 17, where God changes Abram's name to Abraham, meaning "father of many nations," and institutes the sign of circumcision as a perpetual covenant. God promises, "I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you" (Genesis 17:7).

The Promise of Isaac

A significant aspect of God's special grace to Abraham is the promise of a son, Isaac, through whom the covenantal promises would be realized. Despite Abraham and Sarah's advanced age, God assures them of a son. In Genesis 18:10, the Lord says, "I will surely return to you at this time next year, and your wife Sarah will have a son" . The birth of Isaac is a testament to God's faithfulness and the miraculous nature of His grace.

The Test of Faith

God's special grace is also evident in the testing of Abraham's faith. In Genesis 22, God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham's willingness to obey demonstrates his profound trust in God's promises. At the last moment, God intervenes, providing a ram as a substitute sacrifice. This event not only underscores Abraham's faith but also foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, through whom all nations would indeed be blessed.

The Legacy of Abraham's Faith

Abraham's reception of God's special grace has far-reaching implications. The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Galatians, emphasizes that those who have faith are children of Abraham and are blessed along with him (Galatians 3:7-9). Abraham's faith and the grace he received serve as a paradigm for believers, illustrating the righteousness that comes by faith and the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through history.

Conclusion

The narrative of God's special grace to Abraham is a profound testament to God's sovereign choice and His unfolding plan of redemption. Through Abraham, God establishes a covenant that not only shapes the history of Israel but also sets the stage for the coming of the Messiah, through whom all nations would be blessed.

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Genesis 12:2
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing:
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Library

Whether Man Can Know that He Has Grace?
... that, There are three ways of knowing a thing: first, by revelation, and thus anyone
may know that he has grace, for God by a special privilege reveals ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether man can know that.htm

Of the Eternal Election, by which God Has Predestinated Some to ...
... step of a more limited nature, or one in which the grace of God was displayed in
a more special form, when of the same family of Abraham God rejected some, and ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 21 of the eternal.htm

Whether a Man Can Know that He Has Grace
... A man may know by revelation that he has grace, since there are times when God reveals
this to some as a special privilege, thus engendering within ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article five whether a man 2.htm

Saved by Grace Alone.
... I WANT to call your special attention to the fact ... Prayer Book: now hear paul; "Abraham
believed God; and it ... worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sovereign grace/chapter ii saved by grace.htm

The Work of Grace a Unit.
... but it always bore a preliminary and special character. ... occupied with the preparation
of objective grace, without a ... Nay, the love of God never works toward the ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/ii the work of grace.htm

Special Preparation for Baptism.
... Chapter III."Special Preparation for Baptism ... is declared by revelation from God,
the grace which is ... set formul??, such as the Divine names, "The God of Abraham ...
/.../chapter iii special preparation for baptism.htm

Whether the Degrees of Prophecy Change as Time Goes On?
... namely before the law, under the law, and under grace. ... hitherto, because then not
only certain special persons or ... to Jacob, by the name of God almighty, and My ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the degrees of prophecy 2.htm

Relation v. Observations on Certain Points of Spirituality.
... in union; to have that knowledge is a special grace of God ... when God is about to bestow
any great grace upon it ... the soul, to be by it recommended to God; that an ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/relation v observations on certain.htm

Of Love to God
... 3). Love is bred at court, it is a noble munificent grace. ... a gracious heart gives
to God such a special distinguishing love ... We must love God more than relations ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/of love to god.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... a regeneration, [171]284; a life-giving grace, [172]307 ... one sense worse than
covetousness, [646]101; special dissuasive from ... will of man, a part of God's plan ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm