Genesis 12:1–4; Romans 4:1–5, 13–17; John 3:1–17
Introduction
Imagine being told to leave everything familiar to you, including your home, security, language, culture, people, and walk toward a future you cannot see, guided only by a promise you cannot prove or explain. No map, no contract signed, no guarantees, only God’s word. This is not about geographical relocation, but a renewal, repositioning, refocusing, and re-creation. The Bible has been consistent in showing us that every true encounter with God Almighty demands a decisive step into the unknown; this is "A step in Faith."
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is not passive belief but courageous movement toward God’s promise. The old life cannot be preserved while the new life is embraced; obviously, one must step out and step into the new life (Heb. 12:1, 2).
Obedience, a Step in Faith
The call of Abram and his obedience to step out in faith mark a decisive turning point in the redemptive history of humanity. God commands him, “Go from your country… to the land that I will show you.” The Hebrew imperative of this statement carries existential weight. Abram must detach not only geographically but also personally from all former identities with his father's ungodly household.
According to Gen. 12:1, three step-outs are required: country, kindred, and father’s house. In Ancient Near Eastern culture, these were the main constituents of one’s entire social security system of wellbeing. Meanwhile, God never offered any detailed itinerary, planner, or a full contract with insurance. He only promised him a land, a great nation, blessings, and global impact (“in you all families of the earth shall be blessed”).
Abram’s response is strikingly simple, without questioning God, “Abram went.” There is no recorded hesitation, argument, or demand for proof from Abram, he just obeyed. Faith manifests as obedience before any visible fulfillment of God's promise. The Hebrew writer later interprets this as a paradigm of faith, which is obedience without a sight of what is promised. This is what the military calls "Do before complain."
A journey back to the Garden of Eden reminds us that humanity practically stepped out of God's given life into death through disobedience to the Word of God (Gen. 3). Today, God calls us to step out in faith into a new life through obedience to His Word.
This biblical text reveals that faith involves stepping out of our comfortable old life into a confidently uncertain new life. God calls people out to bring them into something greater. True faith is not an idle speculation, but a firm and intentional confidence that is produced through obedience.
Trust in His Promise, a Step in Faith
Paul revisits Abraham's call to argue that our justification before God does not come by works but by faith. It is worth noting that Abraham was declared righteous before the circumcision, the law, or any identity markers in the Bible. In the same way, faith precedes all religiously identified acts.
Apostle Paul emphasizes that Abraham believed “God who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Rom. 4:17). Faith is oriented toward God’s own Being, His attributes, and creative power. Faith is not about trusting in circumstances but in the nature and character of the Promiser.
Essentially, we must understand that the promise that Abram would inherit the world did not come through the law but through obedience, “the righteousness of faith.” Note that legality exploits obligation, but faith calls for dependence on His promises. Faith is actually a daring confidence in God’s grace and rests entirely on divine initiative, that is, His Word (Rom. 10:17).
Paul's statement, Abraham is the "father of us all," teaches that faith transcends ethnicity, race, culture, and historical dimensions. This has profound implications for the global church, as the new life in God is accessible to all who step out in faith ("That whosoever believeth shall not perish but have eternal life").
New Birth, a Step in Faith
I see Rabbi Nicodemus as a representation of religious competence without spiritual transformation. A respected teacher of Israel comes to Jesus at night, a picture of spiritual dilemma, uncertainty. He says to Jesus, "We know that You have come from God as a teacher" (John 3:2). This is an acknowledgement to Jesus that You, Jesus, have seen the Kingdom of God. Jesus then startles him with how a man can also see what He sees in the Kingdom, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
The Greek word translated as "again" also means "from above," teaching us that participating in the Kingdom of God or living the new life is not a self-generated gain but a divinely initiated grace. Physical birth grants our biological existence, while spiritual birth grants our eternal reign in God’s Kingdom.
Jesus compares the Spirit’s work to the wind being unpredictable, sovereign, unseen, yet powerful. We learn that faith is not a control over God but receptivity to His regenerating action. Being a Christian is not a license to manipulate the mind of God to suit your whims and caprices, but it is your total dependence on the path He carves for us.
Jesus reflects on the bronze serpent episode in Numbers 21. Israel was healed by stepping in faith, looking at the lifted-up bronze serpent God provided. Likewise, salvation comes through faith in the lifted-up Son of man. John 3:16 sums up this divine love initiative saying, the Son is given, believe in Him and receive eternal life.
The Christian faith emerges as a dynamic, bold step into a completely new life without turning back. The Bible expound more on the Christian faith. For instance, 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares that anyone in Christ is a new creation. Ephesians 2:8–9 emphasizes salvation by grace through faith, not works. And Hebrews 12:2 points to Jesus as both author and finisher of faith.
Faith, therefore, is not merely intellectual agreement or an internal reflection but existential surrender with active pragmatic steps into the new life through obedience for transformation.
Conclusion
Stepping out in faith is terrifying because it requires leaving what we control for what only God sustain. Yet Scripture testifies that the greatest tragedy is not in the risk of stepping out but the refusal of the new life. Abram could have stayed in Ur, Nicodemus could have remained a curious observer, Humanity can reject the Son today, but none shall escape the eternal judgement.
Those who step out in faith discover something amazing from God. God meets them and becomes their companion in the journey of life. The land appears, righteousness is credited, new birth begins, and a new life unfolds. A new life that is not defined by past limitations but by the unlimited divine promise.
Precious one, the call is still active for now, to leave the old life. Trust the unseen but realistic presence of God. Receive new life through obedient faith in Christ Jesus. The future God offers cannot be entered by remaining where we are. It is reached only by faith-filled steps into His promises.
Shalom aleikhem...
