The Faith Stream
Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so
that the promise might be sure to ALL the seed.
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God started a new program when he called Abraham. If you look at the timeline in the banner at the top of this website, you will notice that from Abraham (AB), a new stream branches off from the main river of humanity. I call this new stream the "faith stream". Why? Well, that's quite easy to answer. It's called the faith stream because scripture refers to it by the same name. Once you have read this article, you too will recognize it and understand the significance of the faith stream in God's incredible plan of the redemption of believing humanity, and the restoration of creation.
Before I can prove to you the faith stream, I need to start by showing you some incredible similarities between Abraham and Paul. You might ask, "What does Paul have to do with this?" Quite a lot. In actual fact, the reason why I must start at this point is to prove to you that just like Abraham, God started a new program with Paul, but not just another program, no! This program, (the Body of Christ under Grace), is VERY MUCH connected to the faith stream and has some incredible similarities based on evidence I'll prove from scripture.
Lets look at the first of four similarities between Abraham and Paul.
Get out of your country
When God called Abraham, the first words He spoke to Abraham were, "Get out of your country, ...". Lets have a look at the scripture,
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
God needed to remove Abraham from his current environment, from the pagan practices of his countrymen, from the idolatry of his household and from the influences of his father. It is interesting to note that something similar happened to Paul. Paul, a Jew and a devoted Pharisee, obtained permission from the High Priest to travel out to Damascus in Syria to go and arrest the followers of "the way" (Acts 9:2).
Acts 9:1-4 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
It was while Paul was outside of his city, traveling to a different country, that God called him. Whether this is significant or not, I don't know, but the parallel is interesting nonetheless that both Abraham and Paul were instructed to go, or were converted by God, outside of their native countries and cities.
Let's continue with the second of four similarities.
Circumcision
When God made His covenant with Abraham, He declared that the sign of the covenant was circumcision in the flesh,
Genesis 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
This requirement was enforced, as God clearly mentions that if one in this covenant is not circumcised, that soul would be cut off from his people and would have broken God's covenant, effectively stepping out from under the blessings and benefits it holds.
So, since we are comparing Abraham and Paul, does the Bible speak of circumcision in the Grace Dispensation? Absolutely. The grace believer is most certainly circumcised, but not in the flesh as was the format used for the Jew, but in the format common to how God works in the grace program, that is, in the spirit. Have a look at this passage of scripture in Colossians,
Colossians 2:10-11 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (See also: Romans 2:28-29)
Are you starting to see a pattern here? This is not coincidental! Something planned is happening here. The call of Abraham and his resulting seed started a new faith stream, a new distributary separating out of the river of immoral and unbelieving humanity. When God called Paul and set him up as the Apostle to the Gentiles (Rom.11:13), the same attributes that distinguished this new faith stream starting from Abraham, are present with the calling and results of Paul's ministry to.
Lets turn our attention to the third similarity.
Righteousness by faith alone
Paul used the example of Abraham extensively in both Romans 4 and Galatians 3. The reason is because Abraham was declared righteous by faith alone.
Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
It is interesting to note that this occurred before circumcision, before Abraham became the first Jew (or the father of the Jewish nation). Abraham is the only example that Paul can use to teach and qualify the justification of the grace believer.
Romans 4:2-3 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:6-9 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
It is clear from these scriptures above that whether a person is of the flesh seed of Abraham, or whether a person is saved by the grace gospel of Paul, these who are of faith, who believe in God and put faith in Him for salvation are the ones who are the children of Abraham and belong to that faith stream.
The fourth similarity is not so much a parallel as it is a promise and a
position. Let me explain.
The Sand and the Stars
Genesis 22:16-17 ... By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou [Abraham] hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son [from sacrifice]: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
In the above reiteration of the covenant promise to Abraham, God mentions two very different locations. The stars and the sand. Now what is significant of these? Why did God speak of these two locations? There MUST be a reason! Nothing God says is insignificant or meaningless! So, in order to understand the meaning of this, we need to look into other scripture for confirmation. Scripture must interpret scripture!
Before we continue, I want to point out that this is not the ONLY reference to stars and sand. These are mentioned many times. See Genesis 13:14 (sand), Genesis 15:4 (stars), Genesis 26:4 (stars), Genesis 28:14 (sand) and Hebrews 11:12 (sand and stars), Romans 9:27 (sand).
The promise God makes to Abraham mentions that his descendants will be multiplied as many as the stars AND the sand. This is important to note! God did not say the stars OR the sand! If He did, it would imply that there was only one group of Abrahams descendants, and this one group is being compared in number to two different items. However, this is not the case, because God used AND! —And implies that there are two groups of Abrahams descendants, each being compared to a specific item. Do you see the difference! The first group is as numerous as the stars, and the second group is as numerous as the sand on the seashore. This is VERY significant.
With this understanding we can now determine who are the stars and who is the sand? Israel (or more specifically, 'believing' Israel) is the sand and the members of the Body of Christ are the stars. Let me give you my reasons for this determination.
Israel is referred to as being as numerous as the sands of the sea in both Isaiah 10:22 and in Hosea 1:10. Besides these two direct references of Israel as the sand, one can also draw parallels based on the destinations of believing Israel and the Body of Christ. We know from the gospels and the preaching of the Kingdom message that Israel will inherit the earth. The 1000-year reign of Christ is not a spiritual reign, but a very physical and earthly reign. Prophecy and the Kingdom doctrine clearly teaches that Christ returns to earth and will occupy the throne of David in the heart of Jerusalem. He will be the One and only true authority on earth, a benevolent dictator, reigning over all countries and all peoples at that time. Have a look at these few confirming scriptures that Israel is tied to earth,
Job 19:25-27 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
Jeremiah 3:17 At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. No more shall they follow the dictates of their evil hearts.
Matthew 6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (See also: Acts 1:6; Acts 3:21)
In Israel's program, the earth is very much in focus here! Can you see the connection with "sand"?
Now lets look at the Body of Christ. Where is our destination? What does the Bible say regarding our home? Is it also the earth? No —it is not! Our inheritance and destination is the heavens. Have a look at these confirming scriptures,
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 2:6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
In the last verse above, Paul, who being a Jew and very aware of the Jewish destination being the glorious Kingdom of Christ on earth, shows that due to his calling as the Apostle to the Gentiles, he was divinely transferred into the "grace program", as he says that he will be preserved for the Heavenly Kingdom.
In the grace program for the Body of Christ, earth is definitely NOT the focus. It is mentioned over and over in scripture that our destination is the heavens. Can you see the connection to the stars?
So, coming back to Genesis 22:17, God is very subtly revealing that the descendants of Abraham, —those who, like Abraham, responded in faith to God, are the ones who make up this "faith stream" of believing humanity; those of the circumcision in the flesh who will inherit the earth (the sand), and those of the circumcision of the heart who will inherit the heavens (the stars).
In Conclusion
I'd like to now provide you the final scripture to summarize all the details above. This scripture will show the validity of the "faith stream" and confirm that both Jews and Gentiles who put their faith in God, participate in it. Understanding the similarities of Abraham and Paul and their callings within their dispensations, will help you interpret what Paul writes in Romans 4:11-17.
In order to clarify the portions of the scripture passage below, I have colour coded the parts that represent Jews (as the sand) in blue, the Gentiles (as the stars) in green and that which refers to both in red.
LEGEND:
Saved Jew (Sand);
Saved Gentile (Stars);
ALL (Refers to Combined Jews and Gentiles [Saved])
Rom.4:11-17
And he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision,
a seal (Eph.1:13)
of the righteousness of the faith
which he had while still uncircumcised,
that he might be the father of ALL those who believe
(the faith stream), though they are uncircumcised [Gentiles], that righteousness might be imputed to them also [as the Body of Christ], 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision [Jews], but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. [ie: the 'little flock' (Lk.12:32), those Jews who believe in the
identity of Jesus (as their Messiah). Rom.2:25-29; Rom.9] 13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to
Abraham or to his seed through the law,
but through the righteousness of faith. (See Gal.3:6-9) …16 Therefore it is of faith
that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure
to
ALL the seed,
not only to those who are of the law
[Jews],
but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham
[Gentiles], who is the father of
us all
17 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the
presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls
those things which do not exist as though they did;
Gal.3:7 Therefore know that
only those who are of faith
(-the faith stream)
are sons of Abraham...29 If you belong to Christ, then you are
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Eph.3:14
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the
whole family
in
heaven
and
earth
is named.
One Final Word
The timeline in the banner at the top of this site is not a design I made up by my own creativity. Every part of the timeline has biblical meaning and scripture confirmation. This article focuses on the top stream of the timeline chart, branching out from the main river of humanity. This "faith stream" ultimately represents the part of humanity that will enter into eternity in the presence and in the blessings of God. These are the persons throughout the existence of time who responded to God's salvation by faith in His word and His Son, just like Abraham did all those millennia ago.
If you have not yet heard and responded to the grace gospel, I encourage you to read this article which provides the information you need to be saved, to become a member of the Body of Christ and become part of the faith stream.
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