Old Testament Grace Sighting!

This year, I am reading through the Old Testament systematically, looking for what I call "grace sightings". Since Christ was the plan of God from before the foundation of the world ("that before the world even existed, I would be holy and without blame before Him, in Christ" as Ephesians says - and as we heard it preached at Harvest Church yesterday) it stands to reason that the Old Testament is full of the gospel of Jesus Christ - or, the gospel of grace.

Grace is, quite simply, unmerited favor. Undeserved blessing. A righteousness completely, utterly outside of ourselves, imputed to us as a gift.

Well, the Old Covenant is so full of grace, that my studies are very slow going. Grace is splattered everywhere, from Genesis to Malachai. I've only made it to the life of Isaac, so far.


And the LORD appeared unto (Isaac) and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.



The untrained student will read the above and conclude that the blessing of God was given to Isaac because his father Abraham kept the law.

As I read the above passage this morning, with the veil of the law removed from my eyes, I could clearly see that God was, in fact, making yet another statement of grace here. Never forget that Abraham's righteousness was "reckoned" to him because of his faith. It was an imputed right-standing with God, based on covenant alone.

Want proof? Here you go: The law had not yet been given.

God said that Abraham obeyed all his laws and statutes 400 years before there was ever a single law or statute.

It is impossible for anyone but God to declare that Abraham had been fully and completely obedient to all obvious and obscure laws that he did not know about...pages of fine print that did not even yet exist. It is particularly impossible for anyone but God to declare that Abraham had been fully obedient, in spite of Abraham's not being fully obedient. How can even God do this, without telling a lie?

By keeping the law on Abraham's behalf, before the law ever came into being. By planning to take Abraham's punishment - being Abraham's substitution.

Yeah. Go ahead. Wrap your mind around it, if you can.

After prayerfully writing my own commentary on this passage, I then (and only then) consulted other commentaries. And yes, many of those dead guys agree with me.

Calvin's commentary:

Because that Abraham obeyed my voice. Moses does not mean that Abraham’s obedience was the reason why the promise of God was confirmed and ratified to him; but from what has been said before, (#Ge 22:18), where we have a similar expression, we learn, that what God freely bestows upon the faithful is sometimes, beyond their desert, ascribed to themselves; that they, knowing their intention to be approved by the Lord, may the more ardently addict and devote themselves entirely to his service: so he now commends the obedience of Abraham, in order that Isaac may be stimulated to an imitation of his example."
Poole's commentary:
Here was a covenant made between God and Abraham; and as, if Abraham had broken the condition of walking before God required on his part, God had been discharged from the promise made on his part; so contrarily, because Abraham performed his condition, God engageth himself to perform his promise to him, and to his seed. But as that promise and covenant was made by God of mere grace, as is evident and confessed; so the mercies promised and performed to him and his are so great and vast, that it is an idle thing to think they could be merited by so mean a compensation as Abraham’s obedience, which was a debt that he owed to God, had there been no such covenant or promise made by God, and which also was an effect of God’s graces to him and in him.
Trapp:

Because that Abraham.] His obedience was universal to all the wills of God; and is here alleged, not as the meritorious cause, but as an antecedent, of the blessing. Our good works do truly please God in Christ, and move him, after a sort, to do us good; yet not as merits, but as certain effects of Christ’s merits alone, and such as of his merit. {a}
Good ol' Matthew Henry:


The obedience of Abraham to the Divine command, was evidence of that faith, whereby, as a sinner, he was justified before God, and the effect of that love whereby true faith works. God testifies that he approved this obedience, to encourage others, especially Isaac.

If you have hung in there this far, you are a student.

It is sad to hear a believer say, "I try to keep the law, because I want the blessings that come with keeping the law." This is a sad statement to hear, because it reveals how precious little foundation has been laid in the life of that believer. Where are the true apostles and pastors who are courageous enough to preach the gospel?

It is much easier to comply with the merit-mongers. But once your eyes are enlightened, if one time revelation hits you, you can no longer give lollipops to law lovers. When you see Christ in all His glory, you become a card-carrying Jesus Freak, with "Sola Gracia" emblazoned on your chest. You cannot pretend that anyone can attain to a righteousness that is of their self-will.

You can't even pretend it with your best friend.

"I want to be a friend of God."