"Boundaries"
Leading up to The 10 Commandments
Part 7
Abraham & Isaac
God is in the Saving business.
He made the “Right Choice”
And “Successful Gamble” for those who believe in Jesus.
“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only [Unique] Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
-John 3:16-19
God does not take pleasure in punishing the sins of unbelievers.
(Ez 33) ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel? 12 "…say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, [Disbelieves] that person’s former righteousness [former state of righteousness because of their faith] will count for nothing. [They left the faith] And if someone who is wicked repents, [Changes, turns around] that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. … 16 None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live."
-Ezekiel 33:11-16
“God our Savior wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”
-1 Timothy 2:3-6
“The wages of sin [Physical Action]
is death, [Spiritual Result]
but the gift of God [Physical Action]
is eternal life [Spiritual Result] in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
-Romans 6:23
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved… 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” –Rom. 10:9-11
God is patient
“You must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires… 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years… [and visa versa] 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
-2 Peter 3:1-9
“Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous [Jesus] for the unrighteous, [Us] to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”
-1 Peter 3:18
“Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, [Grace] Christ died for us.
-Romans 5:6,8
Jesus AKA “Friend of sinners”
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
-Matthew 11:19
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him…11 the Pharisees… asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” [Those who know they need help]
-Matthew 9:9-17
Examples of God’s Grace with Abraham & Isaac
Genesis 22
“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
In the “School of Life” there will be occasional tests.
Sometimes they are predictable.
Sometimes they are “Pop Quizzes”.
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Abraham believed in resurrection.
“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son… Abraham reasoned [Believed] that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.”-Hebrews 11:17,19
5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. 9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
For Isaac, this was a “Pop Quiz”
11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
-Genesis 22
“Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. ‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ they said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’”
-John 8:56,57
“If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
-Romans 4:2,3
“Understand, then, that those who have faith [Christians] are children of Abraham… If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
-Galatians 3:7,29
If we gave Abraham Grades:
Family Test [He took Dad & Nephew] C
Famine Test [He lied about Sarah/wife] F
Fellowship Test [Gave Lot 1st land choice] A+
Fight Test [Rescuing Lot] A+
Fortune Test [Refused wealth from Kings of Sodom after he rescued POW Lot]
Fatherhood Test [Took Hagar] F
Ishmael Test [Ultimate]. A+
Q: How do you face tests?
Choices:
a. “How can I get out of this?”
b. “What can I get out of this?”
c. a. & b.
Always look for God.
Picture Abraham saying this to you:
8 Abraham answered,
“GOD himself will provide the lamb …
And the two of them went on TOGETHER.
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