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!

Objective Justification

We're not commonly exposed to the doctrine of "objective justification."  An example of this way of preaching the gospel is found in 2 Cor 5:18-21:

18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  19 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. 

This refers to the accomplished and finished reconciliation of the world to God through the finished work of Christ on the cross.  God is judicially reconciled with the world.  God is not potentially reconciled, but is actually reconciled. There is all encouragement that God receives us for Christ's sake, and there is nothing left for anyone to do but to receive this.  There is no "work" left to be done by man.  The objective, finished justification is received by faith.

The gospel is then preached not as if God were imperiously demanding our submission, but rather that he is pleading for men to rest in the finished work of his son:

20 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.  21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

On the basis of Paul's teaching here, one can teach that the reconciliation of the world is accomplished, and not tentatively, but finally.  The word of the gospel is the word of the finished reconciliation.  God is not angry with sinners any more, but sinners are angry with God.  Hearing that God is no longer angry, they should be reconciled to God and accept the objective justification that Jesus Christ has earned for them.  They should believe the gospel.  Faith is not a work.  The truth is simply received. 

Objections:

It is not as if God were content with persons in their natural state, regardless of whether or not they believe.  He is not.  But, he is reconciled with all men in the preaching of the gospel.  There is nothing one can do to ingratiate oneself with God or to earn the application of the merits of Christ.  Just believe the truth.

Nor does this doctrine of objective justification imply that God in Christ is frustrated by those who never receive his atonement.  The death of Christ does not go for nought, but fully reconciles those whom he has predestined to glory.

Conclusions:

There are many theological mysteries which cannot be answered, but this passage shows how the gospel is preached.  God is already reconciled to sinners in the gospel.  Sinners need to hear that Christ's work is finished, and that God is no longer angry, in Christ.  They should freely receive it!

One should also carefully inspect the context of this passage in Chapter 5 and 6 of the epistle.  It's not only about calling outsiders into the faith, but is also, even mainly, about calling people to rest in Christ who are in the church and who already profess his Lordship!  The context is dealing with unbelief!  It's not only the outsiders and "sinners" who need to hear this gospel and effectively rest on the rock Christ.  It is us.