1

Abraham believed in Jehovah, and he regards it as righteousness

2

[Genesis 15:6]

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

3

God promised Abram that he would make a great nation.

Abram believed God's promise and left his hometown for the land of Canaan.

4

When Abram lived in the land of Canaan, his nephew Lot,

who lived in Sodom, was taken prisoner.

Soon after, Abram rescued his nephew Lot with his 318 trained soldiers.

5

After this incident, Abram suddenly felt insecure.

Especially the fact that he had no son has made Abram's heart sad.

God knew Abram's heart and came to him.

6

God told Abram.

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield. And I will give you a great reward.”

7

Abram answered God.

“O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless,

and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

8

God once again promised Abram when he heard Abram's words.

“This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”

9

God took Abram outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars,

if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

When Abram heard the word of God, he had great faith in his heart.

He was convinced that it would be done according to the word of God.

10

God saw Abram's faith and made him righteous. God spoke to Abram.

“I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans

to give you this land to possess.”

11

But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

God said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old,

a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”

12

Abram prepared as God had said.

“And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half opposite the other.

But he did not cut the birds in half.”

13

And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram.

And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.

14

Then the LORD said to Abram,

“Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs

and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve,

and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”

15

When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold,

a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between the pieces.

This is the ordinance that directly promised Abram that it would be done as God had said.

16

Everything was done as God promised Abram.

The descendants of Abraham returned to the land of Canaan after 400 years in Egypt,

and they chased away the nations and took possession of the land.

After that, Abram's children flourished beyond count.

17

This promise of God will also be made in a more important way after many years.

Jesus, our Lord of salvation, came to this earth as a descendant of Abraham.

All those who believe in Jesus and are saved are spiritually descendants of Abraham.

The promise that Jesus came to this land and made Abraham's children so numerous that

they could not count as the stars of heaven, was fully fulfilled.

18

Abram believed in the God of the covenant.

God fully kept the covenant with Abram, and God saw Abram's faith and righteousness.

Today we are also justified because we believe in Jesus, the Messiah,

and have become children of God, the covenant people.

We also inherited the great blessings which Abram received.

We must always thank God for His great grace.

I hope that all the friends who serve one God alone will be done!

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)