The Promises of a Covenant God

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Joan McCoy
5 years ago
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1 God of the Impossible 1

2 God of the Impossible Abram, Father of Many But Abram was the father of none. Promise was made to him and to his seed. Abram was an Oriental. With his vast wealth and holdings of wells, he would have been in constant contact with travelers. The questions would have gone like this: Who are you? How old are you? How long have you been here? 2

3 God of the Impossible Abram and Hagar The proof of this was in Sarai s proposal. Abram is given and chooses to go into the arms of Hagar and all would have known. The problem is brought to light. The natural versus the spiritual Ishmael helps to change the answers. Abram and Sarai still fall short. 3

4 God of the Impossible The Covenant Confirmed God appears to remind Abram of the promise. Abram reminds God of Ishmael. God changes Abram s name for emphasis. Abraham means father of a multitude. Abraham worships God. Abraham shares his experience. Shear foolishness or unbelievable faith! 4

5 God of the Impossible A Covenant God God s covenants are unilateral come from God alone, one sided. God s covenants are eternal God does not change and, therefore, neither do His covenants. God s covenants are gracious God s good favor, never dependent on anything found in man. 5

6 God s Part/Man s Part as for me God/ as for you Abraham God says, I will seven times in eight verses all God s initiative. Consequence of the I wills is you must. God is sovereign His will is never dependent on our actions. God does what He does! It is no less true or no less important that we must do though not a prerequisite. 6

7 God s Part/Man s Part (continued) God justifies the ungodly by grace alone a work entirely of God. God justifies by grace alone on the basis of the person and work of Christ alone. God never justifies without regenerating. The one whom He justifies will, must, and shall respond in ways that are glorifying to God. 7

8 The Breath of God Abraham believes God will do these things! Now Abraham has responsibilities, but he is not sure he can do them, though he wants to. Abraham recognizes that God is and he is not! God lets Abraham know that he can, by God, do these things by changing his name. He goes from Abram (father of many) to Abraham (father of a multitude). 8

9 The Breath of God (continued) When God adds the h to Abraham s name, He not only changes the meaning but adds the sound of a breath. In ancient languages, breath and spirit are one and the same. Rauch in Hebrew, Pneuma in Greek Therefore, a breath was always associated with God s Spirit. 9

10 The Breath of God (continued) YHVH Yahweh IEhOvAH Jehovah Jews would only read Adonai. God is breathing His Sprit into Abraham. God is also joining His name with that of Abraham. The same is true of Sarai to Sarah. They would do this in God s power! 10

11 God and the Christian Believers have been joined to Christ and take on His Spirit and His name! The sign of this for Abraham was circumcision. One sign for us today is baptism. Dying to past and self Rising to newness of life Identifying with the Lord Jesus Christ The Lord s Supper continued dependence 11

12 Blessings for Others This is not just about Abraham. This spills over to Sarah. It also spills over to Ishmael. 12

13 Application Are you united to Christ in Spirit and name? Do you understand the significance of bearing the seal of God s Covenant? Are you one from whom the blessings of God spill over into all areas of your life and onto all with whom you come in contact? 13

^.l %,l Lekh Lekha (Go For Yourself)

Parashat HaShavuah ^.l %,l Lekh Lekha (Go For Yourself) Bereishit 12:1 17:27 (Genesis 12:1 17:27) Searching the Parshiot Objective Learn how to 1) uncover the theme (subject) of a passage, 2) relate it