ABRAHAM - HITS POSITION IN GOD’S PROPHETIC DECLARATION

Christian Family Fellowship - PDO, Muscat.
TOPIC: Abraham - His Position In God’s Prophetic Declaration

Golden Texts: Genesis 22:1-19; Roman. 4:1-25; Galatians 3:1-29; James 2:14-26

Memory Verse: Galatians 3:7,9,29: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. And ~f ye be Clwist’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise."

You are welcome to the third session on Abraham. During the last two sessions, we looked at the public life and testimony of Abraham [his call, the crisis of the call and his display of contentment - which is great gainl, and the private life and history of Abraham with God [father of faith - his implicit trust and dependence on God, fervency in hospitality and friend of God - his close relationship and walk with God.

It became clear from the depth of discussions that (a) faith, obedience and righteousness are inseparable (b) the righteousness of Abraham was from God in response to his trust and dependence on Him: Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (c) a mark of transformation is staggering generosity based on revelation from God and not the flesh (d) as Abraham’s intercession saved Lot from destruction in Sodom, so our intercession could save men/women from physical, emotional, spiritual and eternal calamity.

Obligations of the Covenant Genesis 12:1-15, 17: 1-22

God’s method is always man. The call of Abraham begins a new era in the old testament revelation of God’s purpose to redeem and save humanity. He found a man (Abraham) who would serve Him with devoted faith hence He chose to raise a family (and a nation) through him that would be separated from the ungodly ways of other nations, to do His will and to bring forth Jesus Christ - the Saviour of the whole world, the promised seed of the woman. In Abraham, God was establishing the important pnnciple that believers are to separate themselves from all that hinders His purpose for their lives. With the call of Abraham, God reveals Himself as the God of grace and mercy, manifesting His love to us not because man deserves it but because of His own desire to be faithful to the first implicit promise He made at the beginning to bring about the plan of redemption for the whole world (Genesis. 3:15).

Obtaining the Promise Romans 4:1-25; Galatians 3:1-29; James 2: 17-24

The promise of God to and blessing on Abraham extend not only to his physical descendants (i.e.,. believing Jews), but all who in true faith embrace and follow Jesus Christ, the true seed of Abraham: "And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justij5’ the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, in thee shall all nations be blessed" and all who possess faith like Abraham are ‘children of Abraham’ and are blessed with him: "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:14, 29).

To receive the Spirit is to have righteousness, life and all other spiritual blessings. Two certain works of the Holy Spirit within us are: the implicit and spontaneous cry to God as Father (Galatians 4:6) and our quick obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord (1 CorinthianS 12:3). Obtaining the promise of salvation (from sin and condemnation, and for feliowsltip with God in holiness and good works) is of faith, that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed"

(Romans 4:16).

Offering of Isaac Genesis 22: 1-18; Galatians 3:5-10;

The central issue in God’s commandment to Abraham regarding the sacrifice of Isaac relates to His measure of dealing withbelievers(spiritual seed of Abraham) to assess the deegree of the love for God compared to others, and whether our hope and expectation for the fulfilment of the promise is in God or some others. From this episode we learn that:

• God sometimes tests the faith of believers (1 Peter6: 1-7).

• God is to be trusted for His presence, grace, and all necessary provision that is within his will (Ephes 3:20).

• God works His redemptive work through the death of a vision and He may allow things in our lives that seems to destroy our hopes and dreams (Mark 14:43-50)

• The right way to find true life in Christ is through willingness to sacrifice all that God requires (John 12:25).

Moreover, the declaration of Abraham, in answer to the question from Isaac: "And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together", is prophet C and points to God providing a substitute sacrifice (the lamb in the thicket). The ultimate manifestation of the prophecy is found in Jesus Christ as the propitiation for the sin of mankind on the cross at Calvary. Signifying that God Himself did what Abraham was asked to do. Isaac was a type of Jesus Christ.

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