The Gospel of Abraham

In Genesis 12, it is recorded that God called Abram out of Ur, promising to make him into a great nation.  God said to him, "In you shall all the families of the earth be blessed."  Paul, in Galatians 3, implies strongly that Abraham was believing at this point.  

In Genesis 15, it is explicitly recorded that the Messianic Promise of the Seed was made to Abram, which he believed.  His continuing and increasing faith was put to his account as if it were righteousness -- not because of the merit of believing, but because of the power and authority of the one believed.

The curious thing about all this is that Abram is not believing an offer of the promise, but believing a promise.  An "offer" is contingent on fulfillment of the condition (faith).  But, Abram is believing a promise which is not said to be contingent.  In effect, Abraham believed the promise of his own election!  Humanly speaking, of course, his receiving the gift of salvation is contingent on his faith, as it is for all of us.  But, this instance in the history of Abraham shows that God can speak the gospel (from the standpoint of his election to salvation) apart from any contingency.  God said to Abraham (the father of the faithful) that he would be saved through his Seed.  It was a statement of "free grace" (no conditions).  Abraham believed it.  It was put to his account as righteousness.

Since we are not privy to the name list of God's elect, our methods of gospel preaching must somewhat differ.  However, the "free grace" method of preaching the gospel is demonstrated in Scripture in a manner that may be used by us:

2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

The work of reconciling the world to God has been finished "in Christ." There is no contingency whether or not this work is finished, or whether the provision of salvation has been completed.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 

The pleading of God is that men be reconciled in their own hearts to him.  They should drop their enmity, because he has already dropped his, in Christ.  He is not saying that he will drop his enmity, if you will drop yours (first).  He is saying that he has dropped all his enmity, in Christ, and therefore you may drop your enmity against him and have your sins canceled now!  All contingency about the provision of salvation is done away, and it need only be received.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Christ has taken our sin, that we might receive his righteousness.

Just believe it!