Posts Tagged ‘genesis 17’

Spiritual Training 20 December 2012

Posted: December 20, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 4:16-17 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring-not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham.  He is the father of us all.  As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed –the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. 

Paul explains that Abraham had pleased God through Abraham’s faith alone, before he had ever heard about the rituals that would become so important to the Jewish people.

The promise (or covenant) God gave Abraham stated that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:2-4) and that the entire world would be blessed through him.  This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  Jesus was from Abraham’s line, and truly the whole world was blessed through him.

Lets Bring it Home: We too are saved by faith plus nothing.  It is not by loving God and doing good that we are saved; neither is it by faith plus love or by faith plus good deeds. We are saved only through faith in Christ, trusting him to forgive all our sins.  For more on Abraham, see his Profile in Genesis 17.

Spiritual Training 19 December 2012

Posted: December 19, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 4:09-12 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?  We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.  Under what circumstances was it credited?  Was it after he was circumcised, or before?  It was not after, but before! And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.  So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.  And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 

 Rituals did not earn any reward for Abraham; he had been blessed long before the circumcision ceremony was introduce,  Abraham found favor with God by faith alone, before he was circumcised.  Genesis 12:1-4 tells of God’s call to Abraham when he was 75 years old; the circumcision ceremony was introduced when he was 99 (Genesis 17:1-14).  Ceremonies and rituals serve as reminders of our faith, and they instruct new and younger believers.

Lets Bring it Home: But we should not think that they give us any special merit before God.  They are outward signs and seals that demonstrate inward belief and trust.  The focus of our faith should be on Christ and his saving actions, not on our own actions.  Are we walking in the footsteps of our baptism, or are we walking in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised?