I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
Just so we are all clear, the works of the flesh mean the following:
Adultery is when a married person has sex with a person other than their spouse.
Fornication is when a person has sex with another person and they are not married to each other.
Uncleanness means not clean, foul, dirty, filthy, morally defiled.
Lewdness is obscenity, lustful, being preoccupied with sex and sexual desire.
Idolatry is the worship of an object or person as a god.
Sorcery use of magical powers through evil spirits, illicit drug use.
Hatred is intense dislike or ill will, prejudiced hostility and animosity.
Contentions is a heated disagreement, act or instance of striving in controversy and debate.
Jealousies is an unhappy or angry feeling of wanting to have what someone else has, resentment against a rival or a person enjoying success or advantage.
Wrath is forceful, often vindictive anger.
Selfish is having or showing concern only for yourself and not for the needs or feelings of others.
Ambitions is an eager desire to achieve something, such as fame and power. (James 4:3)
Dissensions are disagreements that lead to discord.
Heresies are beliefs or opinions that do not agree with the Word of God.
Envy is the feeling of wanting to have what someone else has.
Murders is the unlawful killing of one human being by another human being, especially with premeditated malice.
Drunkenness is habitual intoxication, delirious with or as if with strong drink.
Revelries is lively and noisy festivities, usually involving the drinking of large amounts of alcohol.
We all have been guilty of at least one of these sins of the flesh, For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10) But for us who have accepted salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
If we profess to be Christians, but we are daily fulfilling the lusts of the flesh without any conviction that we are doing wrong, we may not be what we profess to be, because those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. We can call ourselves anything, but the proof that we are a Christians is that we are filled with the Holy Spirit, And when He has come, He [the Spirit of truth] will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (John 16:8) No, we don't change immediately, but we do immediately become less comfortable willingly committing sin, to the point that we eventually don't practice it anymore.
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. (I John 2:3-5) No, we are not perfect, but the love of God is perfected in us if we commit through the power of the Holy Spirit to "deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily, and follow Christ". (Luke 9:23; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34) Why would Christ say deny first? Because He knows that we want to fulfill the lusts of the flesh because we enjoy doing those things. But God commands that we “Be holy, for I [the Lord your God] am holy.” (I Peter 1:16; Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:2, 20:7, 20:26, 21:8)
The issue is not whether we are sinners or not, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23) But the question is, if we want to have a relationship with a holy God, are we willing to deny ourselves the things we naturally want to do because we are still in the flesh; take up our cross daily of struggling to let go of those things God commands us not to do; and follow Christ, Who will help us overcome our lusts of the flesh? Most people will say no, I don't want to do this, ...for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
But for the few of us who choose to accept salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, those of us who really are what we profess to be, Christians, we have an assurance from God that we will overcome the lusts of the flesh. We are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, and therefore we walk in the Spirit and are led by the Spirit. We, over time, no longer enjoy to the point where we will no longer practice the works of the flesh; But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22-26)
Love is God! In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. (I John 3:10) “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27) Love is not what you do with a person. Most people misuse the word love by saying "making love". That's not making love, that's having sex, committing adultery, fornication, practicing homosexuality, lesbianism, sodomy, bestiality, etc., which is sin (Leviticus 18; Romans 1:18-32), unless it is sex between a man and a woman who are married to each other (Genesis 2:18-25; Matthew 19:1-9; Mark 10:1-10 )! Love is not just how you feel about someone nor is it what you do with someone, but love is how you treat first God and then everyone else. (I Corinthians 13)
If we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we have all these fruit of the Spirit, and over time, just like it takes the fruit to grow on a tree, this fruit will become evident in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Jesus said it best, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit." (Matthew 12:33) “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit." (Luke 6:43-44)
The conclusion is this, if we are Christians, you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh nor practice the works of the flesh, but we will walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit. Why? Because we love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, so much so that we are willing to deny ourselves, and take up our cross daily, and follow Christ! Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (I John 2:15-17) AMEN!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
GALATIANS: Christian Freedom and Liberty - Behavior Gauged by Love; "Through love serve one another!"
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)
In the previous lesson, Paul used the example of Abraham's ...two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. (Galatians 4:22) Sin is our bondage, but through faith in Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are made free. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say?“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. (Galatians 4:28-31)
We reiterated that ...as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I [the Lord your God] am holy.” (I Peter 1:15-16) Just as Ishmael could not stay with Isaac, sin can not stay in the presence of God. If we are going to have a relationship with God, we have to go through Christ Jesus, standing fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free. For what the law could not do in that it was weak the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)
So if we are free from the law of sin and death, why would we become entangled again with a yoke of bondage? That's what Paul was trying to make clear to the church in the region of Galatia. They were not to listen to the Judaizers, who were trying to convince them “You must be circumcised and keep the law”. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:2-6)
You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. (Galatians 5:7-9) The Truth is that faith working through love leads to actions. Our faith through love should lead to actions, but actions alone don't prove faith. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14-17)
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10)
The leaven of lies leavens the whole lump. Paul was stressing repeatedly to the church in the region Galatia, and to all of us, not to believe anyone that comes teaching "salvation through works"! Salvation is through faith in Christ Jesus, and not by works! I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! (Galatians 5:10-12)
Paul was alluding to what Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:42) "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" (Matthew 18:7; Luke 17:1) God does not play with those who mis-teach others! Therefore, My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. (James 3:1)
In the previous lesson, Paul used the example of Abraham's ...two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. (Galatians 4:22) Sin is our bondage, but through faith in Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are made free. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say?“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. (Galatians 4:28-31)
We reiterated that ...as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I [the Lord your God] am holy.” (I Peter 1:15-16) Just as Ishmael could not stay with Isaac, sin can not stay in the presence of God. If we are going to have a relationship with God, we have to go through Christ Jesus, standing fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free. For what the law could not do in that it was weak the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)
So if we are free from the law of sin and death, why would we become entangled again with a yoke of bondage? That's what Paul was trying to make clear to the church in the region of Galatia. They were not to listen to the Judaizers, who were trying to convince them “You must be circumcised and keep the law”. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:2-6)
You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. (Galatians 5:7-9) The Truth is that faith working through love leads to actions. Our faith through love should lead to actions, but actions alone don't prove faith. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14-17)
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10)
The leaven of lies leavens the whole lump. Paul was stressing repeatedly to the church in the region Galatia, and to all of us, not to believe anyone that comes teaching "salvation through works"! Salvation is through faith in Christ Jesus, and not by works! I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! (Galatians 5:10-12)
Paul was alluding to what Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:42) "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" (Matthew 18:7; Luke 17:1) God does not play with those who mis-teach others! Therefore, My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. (James 3:1)
Paul went on to explain that this liberty we who are Christians have comes with responsibility. For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! (Galatians 5:13-15) Just because we are free from the law doesn't mean we're free from obeying God's Word.
The freedom that we have through faith in Christ Jesus, we no longer walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. And the Holy Spirit of God in us would never approve of us behaving contrary to God's will, just because we know we're saved. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) The best demonstration of freedom and liberty we now have through Christ is how we treat one another. Love is always the gauge by which we measure how closely we're living compared to God's standard. God gives us specific examples of what being led by the Spirit vs. being led by the flesh looks like...
The freedom that we have through faith in Christ Jesus, we no longer walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. And the Holy Spirit of God in us would never approve of us behaving contrary to God's will, just because we know we're saved. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) The best demonstration of freedom and liberty we now have through Christ is how we treat one another. Love is always the gauge by which we measure how closely we're living compared to God's standard. God gives us specific examples of what being led by the Spirit vs. being led by the flesh looks like...
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
God's Christmas Gift (cont.) - Love, Light, Liberty and Life!
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,... (John 3:16) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36) ...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
We love GOD because He first loved us. (I John 4:19) But why wasn't love enough? Why did God send His Only Begotten Son into the world, knowing that He would have to die? We just studied that God's love for us would not allow Him to let us stay in our sinful condition. The word of the Lord came..., saying,... "The soul who sins shall die." (Ezekiel 18:1, 20) For the wages of sin is death,... (Romans 3:23) The problem mankind has is that we don't realize how sinful we are.
From the time Adam and Eve believed the lies of the devil, and fell into transgression, up to the time of Noah, the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (Genesis 6:5-6) However, after God destroyed all life from the earth during the flood, except for Noah and his family and the animals with them on the ark, God promised, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done." (Genesis 8:21)
Even though God's punishment for sin is death, He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:4) He won't again destroy every living thing as He had done, but when the Day of the Lord finally comes, we all will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (I Peter 4:5) But God is so gracious and merciful, that He wouldn't judge us without first giving us the opportunity to hear and believe the Truth, For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (I Peter 4:5-6) "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) This leads us to the other reasons God sent His Only Begotten Son, His Beloved Son into the world.
LIGHT: Christ Jesus had to come so that the gospel would be preached and we could see the Truth. Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (John 12:44-48)
Sin keeps us in darkness, but Christ Jesus came to bring us into the light. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:5-9)
LIBERTY: Christ Jesus had to come so that after hearing the gospel and believing in Him, we would be free from the penalty of sin. He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” [Isaiah 61:1-2] Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21)
Sin keeps us in bondage, but Christ Jesus came to set us free from sin and the penalty of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)
LIFE: Christ Jesus had to come so that we could have life, not just eternal existence apart from God, but eternal life, with Him and God forever. So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer." ... “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 13:31-33, 14:1-6)
Sin keeps us separated from God, but Christ Jesus has covered our sins, and through faith in Him as our Savior and Lord, we will have eternal life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:5-11)
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:22-23) And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:10-11) Then Jesus answered and said to them,... “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, (John 5:19, 24-26)
This Christmas, let us not just remember a baby named Jesus, but let us thank God for giving us love, light, liberty and life. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) AMEN!
We love GOD because He first loved us. (I John 4:19) But why wasn't love enough? Why did God send His Only Begotten Son into the world, knowing that He would have to die? We just studied that God's love for us would not allow Him to let us stay in our sinful condition. The word of the Lord came..., saying,... "The soul who sins shall die." (Ezekiel 18:1, 20) For the wages of sin is death,... (Romans 3:23) The problem mankind has is that we don't realize how sinful we are.
From the time Adam and Eve believed the lies of the devil, and fell into transgression, up to the time of Noah, the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. (Genesis 6:5-6) However, after God destroyed all life from the earth during the flood, except for Noah and his family and the animals with them on the ark, God promised, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done." (Genesis 8:21)
Even though God's punishment for sin is death, He desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:4) He won't again destroy every living thing as He had done, but when the Day of the Lord finally comes, we all will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (I Peter 4:5) But God is so gracious and merciful, that He wouldn't judge us without first giving us the opportunity to hear and believe the Truth, For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (I Peter 4:5-6) "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14) This leads us to the other reasons God sent His Only Begotten Son, His Beloved Son into the world.
LIGHT: Christ Jesus had to come so that the gospel would be preached and we could see the Truth. Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (John 12:44-48)
Sin keeps us in darkness, but Christ Jesus came to bring us into the light. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:5-9)
LIBERTY: Christ Jesus had to come so that after hearing the gospel and believing in Him, we would be free from the penalty of sin. He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” [Isaiah 61:1-2] Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21)
Sin keeps us in bondage, but Christ Jesus came to set us free from sin and the penalty of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)
LIFE: Christ Jesus had to come so that we could have life, not just eternal existence apart from God, but eternal life, with Him and God forever. So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer." ... “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 13:31-33, 14:1-6)
Sin keeps us separated from God, but Christ Jesus has covered our sins, and through faith in Him as our Savior and Lord, we will have eternal life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:5-11)
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:22-23) And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (Romans 8:10-11) Then Jesus answered and said to them,... “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, (John 5:19, 24-26)
This Christmas, let us not just remember a baby named Jesus, but let us thank God for giving us love, light, liberty and life. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) AMEN!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
God's Christmas Gift - Love, Light, Liberty and Life!
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,... (John 3:16) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36) ...that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
God's Christmas Gift to us will only mean something to us if we first believe in and have faith in Him, as the One True Living God; But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Once we are sure that we believe there is a God and believe in the One True Living God, then we have to accept that the Bible is The Word of God; And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:19-21)
How was the Word of God confirmed? For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. (II Peter 1:16-18) We believe the Word of God because it was confirmed by eye witnesses, and they themselves heard God confirm it by saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
LOVE: God's gift of love to us was more than just feelings, it was actions. For He so loved us that He gave us His only begotten Son, his beloved Son. But why did God deem it necessary to give us anything? When God created everything, including mankind, ...God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Genesis 1:31) But He also created us with freewill, and when Adam and Eve chose to believe the lies of the devil, they fell into transgression (I Timothy 2:14), which is sin.
We can not continue in sin and hope to have a relationship with God, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I [the Lord your God] am holy.” (I Peter 1:15-16) God so loved mankind that He wouldn't allow us to stay in our sinful condition without any hope of overcoming it, For the wages of sin is death,... (Romans 6:23); Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...” (Genesis 3:22)
Adam and Eve "ate" from "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil", in other words they believed the lies of the devil. God refused to allow them to then "eat" from "the tree of life", because afterwards mankind would remain in a state of being separated from God and live forever in that condition. God even promised the one who caused Adam and Eve to sin, the devil, "...I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
Who was this Seed God promised to send? Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam [Christ] became a life-giving spirit. (I Corinthians 15:45) "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) Jesus answered and said to him, ... "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 14:23, 15:11-13)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God IS LOVE. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. We love Him because He first loved us. (I John 4:7-11, 19)
But God didn't stop with just loving us! He also gave us light, liberty and life...
God's Christmas Gift to us will only mean something to us if we first believe in and have faith in Him, as the One True Living God; But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Once we are sure that we believe there is a God and believe in the One True Living God, then we have to accept that the Bible is The Word of God; And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:19-21)
How was the Word of God confirmed? For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. (II Peter 1:16-18) We believe the Word of God because it was confirmed by eye witnesses, and they themselves heard God confirm it by saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
LOVE: God's gift of love to us was more than just feelings, it was actions. For He so loved us that He gave us His only begotten Son, his beloved Son. But why did God deem it necessary to give us anything? When God created everything, including mankind, ...God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. (Genesis 1:31) But He also created us with freewill, and when Adam and Eve chose to believe the lies of the devil, they fell into transgression (I Timothy 2:14), which is sin.
We can not continue in sin and hope to have a relationship with God, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I [the Lord your God] am holy.” (I Peter 1:15-16) God so loved mankind that He wouldn't allow us to stay in our sinful condition without any hope of overcoming it, For the wages of sin is death,... (Romans 6:23); Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...” (Genesis 3:22)
Adam and Eve "ate" from "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil", in other words they believed the lies of the devil. God refused to allow them to then "eat" from "the tree of life", because afterwards mankind would remain in a state of being separated from God and live forever in that condition. God even promised the one who caused Adam and Eve to sin, the devil, "...I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
Who was this Seed God promised to send? Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam [Christ] became a life-giving spirit. (I Corinthians 15:45) "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) Jesus answered and said to him, ... "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 14:23, 15:11-13)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God IS LOVE. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. We love Him because He first loved us. (I John 4:7-11, 19)
But God didn't stop with just loving us! He also gave us light, liberty and life...
Monday, December 23, 2013
GALATIANS: We are Heirs of God, According to the Free Promise, not the Bondage of the Law!
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the free woman through promise, which things are symbolic. (Galatians 4:21-24)
In the previous lessons, we studied ...we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:3-5) The sons born to Abraham were symbolic of this Truth.
Abraham (formerly known as Abram) was married to Sarah (formerly known as Sarai). A little background, prior to the flood, ...the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:5-8)
This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 6:9-10) After God delivered Noah and his family and the animals with them on the ark from the flood, ...God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. (Geneis 9:1) Many nations of people descended from Noah's three sons. (Genesis 10) One of the descendants of Shem was Terah. Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. (Genesis 11:26)
And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there. So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran. (Genesis 11:31-32) Just like during Noah's time, there were many people on the earth, But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, the same was true with Abraham.
Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family
and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4)
God promised Abraham that he and his wife, Sarah would have a child, but they were old, and many years had passed, and they still did not have any children. One day, the Lord came to Abram in a vision, ... But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless,... And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “...one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:1-6)
We must remember God's commandment, that ...a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) Well, Abraham was married to Sarah, so when God said, “...one who will come from your own body shall be your heir,” He meant the child would be conceived by him and Sarah. Unfortunately, Abraham believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness, but Sarah's faith wasn't as strong.
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. (Genesis 16:1-4)
Abraham believed God so he should not have heeded the voice of Sarah. More often than not, women make emotional choices, and then we ALL have to live with the consequences of those choices. Many don't like to hear this, but that's why Paul instructed the churches, Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (I Timothy 2:11-14)
Just like Eve with Adam, Sarah lead Abraham into transgression, by committing adultery with her maidservant, which lead to a child being conceived out of wedlock. As we can imagine, things did not go well, ...and when Sarai dealt harshly with her [Hagar], she fled from her presence. (Genesis 16:6) And the Angel of the Lord said to her: “Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” (Genesis 16:11-12)
The symbolic truth is that when we make decisions and choices according to the flesh, God will allow us to do whatever we want, but things won't turn out the way we hope, because with sin come bondage. God made Abraham an awesome promise, but Abraham didn't wait for the promise, and ended up with a son who was a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And what was even worse is when the promised descendants come, he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you." ... Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” (Genesis 17:1-6, 15-16)
Abraham loved his son Ishmael, And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” (Genesis 17:19-21)
This leads us to the next symbolic truth, that we can't do whatever we want to do, and then expect God to bless our disobedience. He will forgive us our sins, and He may still bless us after we repent, but we will still have to live and deal with the consequences. Unfortunately the consequences for Abraham were heartbreaking. After Isaac was born, ...the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.” (Genesis 21:9-13)
This is our final symbolic truth, that when we wait on the promise of God, it is free, having no guilt or penalty for sin attached. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) But you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? The law keeps us in bondage according to the flesh, and sin can not remain in the presence of God. Just like Ishmael had to leave, we have to get sin out of our lives. But we can't do it on our own. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ... And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:24-26, 29)
For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia [Genesis 21:8-21], and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.”[Isaiah 54:1] (Galatians 4:24-27) Yes, through Ishmael, Abraham has many more children, or descendants, but they were not a blessing to the world, and is in bondage with her children, in the presence of all his brethren. But through Isaac, Abraham descendants and the whole world was blessed and can be free by his Seed who is Christ!
In the previous lessons, we studied ...we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:3-5) The sons born to Abraham were symbolic of this Truth.
Abraham (formerly known as Abram) was married to Sarah (formerly known as Sarai). A little background, prior to the flood, ...the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (Genesis 6:5-8)
This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Genesis 6:9-10) After God delivered Noah and his family and the animals with them on the ark from the flood, ...God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. (Geneis 9:1) Many nations of people descended from Noah's three sons. (Genesis 10) One of the descendants of Shem was Terah. Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. (Genesis 11:26)
And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there. So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran. (Genesis 11:31-32) Just like during Noah's time, there were many people on the earth, But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, the same was true with Abraham.
Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family
and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. (Genesis 12:1-4)
God promised Abraham that he and his wife, Sarah would have a child, but they were old, and many years had passed, and they still did not have any children. One day, the Lord came to Abram in a vision, ... But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless,... And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “...one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:1-6)
We must remember God's commandment, that ...a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) Well, Abraham was married to Sarah, so when God said, “...one who will come from your own body shall be your heir,” He meant the child would be conceived by him and Sarah. Unfortunately, Abraham believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness, but Sarah's faith wasn't as strong.
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. (Genesis 16:1-4)
Abraham believed God so he should not have heeded the voice of Sarah. More often than not, women make emotional choices, and then we ALL have to live with the consequences of those choices. Many don't like to hear this, but that's why Paul instructed the churches, Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. (I Timothy 2:11-14)
Just like Eve with Adam, Sarah lead Abraham into transgression, by committing adultery with her maidservant, which lead to a child being conceived out of wedlock. As we can imagine, things did not go well, ...and when Sarai dealt harshly with her [Hagar], she fled from her presence. (Genesis 16:6) And the Angel of the Lord said to her: “Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” (Genesis 16:11-12)
The symbolic truth is that when we make decisions and choices according to the flesh, God will allow us to do whatever we want, but things won't turn out the way we hope, because with sin come bondage. God made Abraham an awesome promise, but Abraham didn't wait for the promise, and ended up with a son who was a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And what was even worse is when the promised descendants come, he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you." ... Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” (Genesis 17:1-6, 15-16)
Abraham loved his son Ishmael, And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” (Genesis 17:19-21)
This leads us to the next symbolic truth, that we can't do whatever we want to do, and then expect God to bless our disobedience. He will forgive us our sins, and He may still bless us after we repent, but we will still have to live and deal with the consequences. Unfortunately the consequences for Abraham were heartbreaking. After Isaac was born, ...the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.” (Genesis 21:9-13)
This is our final symbolic truth, that when we wait on the promise of God, it is free, having no guilt or penalty for sin attached. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) But you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? The law keeps us in bondage according to the flesh, and sin can not remain in the presence of God. Just like Ishmael had to leave, we have to get sin out of our lives. But we can't do it on our own. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ... And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:24-26, 29)
For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia [Genesis 21:8-21], and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.”[Isaiah 54:1] (Galatians 4:24-27) Yes, through Ishmael, Abraham has many more children, or descendants, but they were not a blessing to the world, and is in bondage with her children, in the presence of all his brethren. But through Isaac, Abraham descendants and the whole world was blessed and can be free by his Seed who is Christ!
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say?“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” [Geneis 21:10] So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. (Galatians 4:28-31) "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:26) AMEN!
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