Slaying The Promise - [Hebrews 11:17-22]

No Compromise Radio

Subscribe

Download

Share

00

00:01

Welcome to No Compromise Radio, a ministry coming to you from Bethlehem Bible Church in West Boylston.

00:08

No Compromise Radio is a program dedicated to the ongoing proclamation of Jesus Christ, based on the theme in Galatians 2, verse 5, where the

00:16

Apostle Paul said, But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

00:24

In short, if you like smooth, watered -down words to make you simply feel good, this show isn't for you.

00:30

By purpose, we are first biblical, but we can also be controversial. Stay tuned for the next 25 minutes, as we're called by the divine trumpet to summon the troops for the honor and glory of her

00:41

King. Here's our host, Pastor Mike Abendroth. I don't know about you, but I love to read biographies,

00:49

Christian biographies especially. I don't know if you've ever asked the question, why do you like to read them? I mean, we love to read about maybe

00:57

Mary Slessor, and how she rescued 51 sets of twins in Calabar. Maybe you want to read about David Livingstone, or all kinds of great missionaries.

01:07

Well, I mainly like to read biographies for two reasons. One, I think to myself, these people are weak, these people are frail, these people are sinful, and yet God used them.

01:23

And this is the same God who could use someone like me, it motivates me, it gives me encouragement that God can use sinful people for his glory.

01:31

And it also motivates me because I think, these men and women were hard workers, they walked by faith, they were diligent, they were holy people, and Lord, I would like to be holy as well, it's possible.

01:44

And so today, if you take your Bibles and turn to Hebrews chapter 11, we're going to look at a biography, and it's going to be of Abraham and his slain of the son,

01:54

Isaac. And I hope it'll do two things for you, I hope you'll say to yourself, this motivates me that God is in control, he's faithful, he can be trusted, and also,

02:02

I'd like to be a man like Abraham, who walked by faith. I'd like to be a woman of faith, and say, you know what,

02:09

I'll trust in you Lord, no matter what. When it comes to preaching, I have a lot of purposes.

02:15

The main purpose is to exalt a triune God, to speak well of Him, to tell you things about Him that are true, about His character, about His person, what

02:23

He does, how He does things. And I think as you hear preaching like that, then you, the congregation, will be encouraged.

02:30

So I want to honor the Lord, but I also want to encourage you, I want you to hear sermons and think to yourself, like in 1

02:36

Samuel 30, that David strengthened himself in the God of Israel. I want you to grow and be strong in the

02:44

Lord. I love Psalm 43, it says, to God my exceeding joy. I want you to look at the high priest in Hebrews and say, you know,

02:53

I have lots of joys in my life, and I have a spouse, and I have children, and grandchildren, and friends, and taste buds, but my exceeding joy is

03:01

God. Who could take His place? No one. I want you to see when we proclaim the

03:07

Lord Jesus in this passage, that like Psalm 63, you might say, my soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness.

03:16

A good, healthy meal to extol the Lord Jesus. Well, in the book of Hebrews, as you know, it's a book that does that very thing.

03:25

I want my sermons to be Christ -centered, because I see the Lord Jesus' command, and I also see this example in the book of Hebrews, where this is a

03:34

Christ -centered sermon. You say, well, I don't ever preach, so what about me? When you're teaching your children, by the way, this is the template, right?

03:43

There's nothing wrong with telling children to obey, and to shake their hand firmly, to look people in the eye, to do all these other things.

03:51

There's nothing wrong with that at all. But if you only teach your children manners at the dinner table, dear parents, you're forgetting the template.

03:59

You're forgetting the privilege that you have to tell them about the Lord Jesus. And this book here just talks about him in all fashion, in every fashion.

04:10

Luke, my son, is in Wisconsin this weekend, teaching at a youth camp, a junior high camp. And it's interesting, his friend who's leading the camp is the pastor for the junior high students.

04:23

And I just thought this was just so great, it doesn't really fit in my sermon, but I'm just going to tell you now anyway, because it's so good.

04:30

Every time that this youth pastor, my son's friend, says something about law, all the kids in junior high shout out, do.

04:43

And every time this youth pastor says the word gospel, all the kids shout out, done.

04:52

So if I say law or gospel today, kids, you can do it during one sermon, but that's it.

04:57

This ain't no junior high camp. But what you'll see in this book is you're going to see gospel, gospel, gospel, gospel, the first ten chapters, a theological underpinning of it's all been done.

05:11

And then we'll get to the do. Of course, we can't just look at Jesus and trust in him and admire him and say, well, we'll live how we want.

05:19

But we look at him so that it'll determine how we do our, how we behave.

05:24

In other words, what motivates a Christian? And I think it's looking at the Lord Jesus is the greatest motivator.

05:31

It's not fear. It's not guilt. It's gratitude. And so this book here, the book of Hebrews, it's just great because while Matthew, Mark, Luke and John talk about Jesus's life on earth, this book specifically talks about Jesus's work in heaven now as intercessor, as the risen savior, as the substitute for all sinners.

05:50

It starts off in chapter one and just basically says Jesus is better. He's better than prophets.

05:55

Prophets were great, but Jesus is the son. He's actually better than angels. And it was demonstrated in chapter one from the

06:02

Old Testament that he's better than angels. And how could someone be better than an angel when he, he takes human, when he takes human nature, wouldn't he be weaker?

06:10

No, he could then suffer along with us and then be our representative. Well, what about Moses? Isn't he great?

06:16

Well, of course he's great, but he was a builder. No, he was just the building. The builder is the

06:22

Lord Jesus. What about Aaron? Wasn't he great? Wasn't the high priestly work of Aaron great?

06:28

Well, he certainly was great, but Jesus has a better covenant. He is a better sanctuary and a better sacrifice.

06:35

You don't have to keep slaying things over and over and over. It's a permanent sacrifice.

06:40

And when I think about Jesus's sacrifice confirmed by the resurrection, I think of these words, enough, ample, appropriate, plenty, satisfactory, and abundant.

06:52

If you look back even one chapter to chapter 10, kind of to summarize what the whole first 10 gospel done chapters are all about, it says in chapter 10 verse 5,

07:05

Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me.

07:13

In burnt offerings and sin offerings, you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, Behold, this is the son to the father.

07:20

I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.

07:26

While we were commanded to obey law, Jesus obeys for us.

07:31

And that includes his life of perfect obedience to the father, including the death on the cross.

07:37

And then he says in verse 37, do you see in chapter 10? Yet for a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay, but my righteous one shall live by faith.

07:45

And if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. So the Lord is going to come back.

07:51

He's promised to come back. We're looking forward to that. And these writers, and for all of us here as well, life isn't always peaches and cream.

07:59

It always isn't the best. And so how do we live in a difficult situation now? We walk by faith in this high priest.

08:07

And so we saw last week, chapter 11 verses 13 through 16.

08:12

Let me just reread verses 13 through 16, as the writer is putting us in this faith chapter, by faith in the

08:19

Messiah, how do people respond? Verse 13, these all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

08:33

For people who speak thus make it clear they're seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had an opportunity to return.

08:42

But remember how it ended in a bang last week? Verse 16, but as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

08:51

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.

08:58

Here, you can hear Paul say something similar. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.

09:06

Instead of having the focus on the tribulations and trials that are on the earth, he's saying you've got to think with a heavenly perspective.

09:13

It reminds me of Jesus when He said, Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, whether neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.

09:29

So funny, I don't know what to do with myself up here. Do I touch over here? Do I grab this? My normal machinations are all crazy, but I will not drink water today,

09:40

I guarantee you. There's no way I'm doing it ever again. Remember last week just that truth that it just was so heart -warming for Christians to hear?

09:52

What's the text say? God is not ashamed to be called their God. I mean, that's a figure of speech called the

09:58

Leviticus. What it's doing is saying something in the negative but really is trying to affirm something positively.

10:05

In other words, the negative side is He's not ashamed to be your God. Positively, He's not ashamed,

10:11

He takes delight in being your God. He's pleased to be your

10:16

God. How often have you heard this in the Old Testament? The God of Jacob.

10:24

And we heard a little bit today the shoes on the other foot with Jacob. He got deceived. But the God of Jacob?

10:30

How about when God calls Himself I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. That's that exact same thing here.

10:38

He's not ashamed to be called the God of Abraham. And He always didn't walk by faith. He sinned often.

10:44

Not ashamed. Not ashamed Jesus, chapter 2 to call us brothers.

10:50

He's not embarrassed. One writer said, Jesus will not blush when He calls you brother or sister.

10:57

That is great grace. That's amazing grace. I regularly say to myself, I should be more holy.

11:04

I should be more sanctified. I should be more patient and more loving. More evangelistic.

11:09

I should overcome complaining. Shouldn't I be more mature by now? Shouldn't I be less anxious by now? Shouldn't I be more gentle with people by now?

11:19

If you look in your mirror long enough, you're going to see what you see. But God is not ashamed to look at sinful people who have been redeemed by the blood of the

11:27

Lamb and to say, you know what? You're my child. Here you will never hear these words

11:33

Christian, no matter what you've done. If you're a Christian, you're in union with Christ, you'll never hear from God.

11:41

That's enough. I've had it with you. You are so unadopted. That's enough.

11:46

I can't love you anymore. My grace is great, but your sins have exhausted my grace.

11:52

I simply can't be merciful to you any longer. I never knew you. Can you imagine?

11:58

Those words will never be heard from God to a Christian. What a great

12:03

Savior. Jesus will bring those sons to glory. He's so great that the Father says, you know what?

12:09

Based on what you've done, son, I'm not ashamed to be called their God. I love that.

12:16

Fix your affections on things above. Well, now we move to this next biography, if you will, verses 17 through 19.

12:23

Our passage today is an example of faith in the Messiah who we know as Jesus.

12:30

Shorthand by faith. Let's read verses 17, 18, and 19 and dissect it a little bit.

12:36

By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son of whom it was said, through Isaac shall your offspring be named.

12:49

He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

12:59

Now, if you think of the Old Testament, there are some Mount Everest in the

13:05

Old Testament that people just need to know and they need to know well. Maybe it's Passover. You think, you know, if I understand

13:11

Passover, I get the New Testament. Jesus is our Passover lamb. If I understand the Exodus, I get it when it comes to Jesus' great

13:19

Exodus. When it comes to Genesis 22 and this account, you've got to get it so you can understand the

13:26

New Testament. So here's what we're going to do this morning. We're going to go to Genesis 22, work through the passage, come back and look at Hebrews 11, and I think it will mean more to you then.

13:36

In other words, these recipients, the Hebrews, they knew this story well. I think we know the story pretty well but it doesn't hurt to go back and look at Genesis 22.

13:46

To me, the most dramatic chapter maybe in all the Bible short of our Lord Jesus' time at Golgotha.

13:52

Genesis 22 and then we're going to work through that and then we'll have some practical questions at the very end.

14:02

I want you to know this passage like every one of these Jews knew the passage so you could understand what it was like to live by faith in the midst of every trial because there are tests in life and there are tests.

14:16

This is the latter. Some have called Genesis 22 the Old Testament's greatest scene.

14:23

It's the first time you'll see the word test in the Bible. It's the first time you'll see the word love in the Bible. And I think as we go through this you're going to say to yourself, you know, this reminds me of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John a book about a father's love for a son.

14:38

You're going to see faint echoes of a father and a son in Genesis 22. They're going to point to the ultimate father loving the son.

14:47

This is going to be really what true faith is. What true faith does. It responds with loving obedience.

14:55

This is Psalm, this is rather Proverbs 23. My son, give me your heart. And that's exactly what's going to happen.

15:03

Childlike faith. Matthew 10 says, anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.

15:10

Anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And boy, are we going to see it in this passage.

15:18

I think if you read this for the first time, you probably are going to get caught up into it emotionally.

15:25

It is full of emotion. Some people say they can't read it without tears.

15:31

The passage picks up in verse 1 of 22.

15:36

After these things, we don't know exactly when, but there was enough time for mutual love.

15:42

That's for certain. Enough time for father, son bonding. That's for certain. God tested

15:48

Abraham. So we know right away what's coming in the chapter. And said to him, Abraham.

15:54

And he said, here I am. Abraham has not heard from the

16:00

Lord for some time. Abraham recognizes the voice of God. And he is ready to respond with faithful obedience.

16:08

We know God's purpose right up front. The writer tells us he was going to test Abraham. You might say to yourself,

16:15

I don't know if it's good for God to test people. I don't know if it's right for God to test people. And of course, we would have to get those things out of our mind immediately because whatever the

16:24

Lord does, it is good. And you cannot say, James 1, God is tempting me for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.

16:34

But he does test people. And here's the test, the ultimate test.

16:40

He said, take your son, your only son

16:46

Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which

16:54

I shall tell you. I mean, out of nowhere, he's just walking and then

17:00

God shows up and talks to him and says, here's your severe trial. As young blood said, it probably went like this.

17:07

Take your son. Which one, Lord? After all, I have two, Ishmael and Isaac, your only son.

17:13

Could you be more specific? The one whom you love. I love both sons. Isaac.

17:19

Thank you, Lord. Now I know exactly who you mean and what shall I do after I go and get him? Is there something that will further your will and purpose in his life?

17:28

Go to the land of Moriah. Oh, a vacation for us? Offer him there as a burnt offering.

17:40

Side note, when people say God talks to them and really, it sounds a lot like them. This is not his conscience talking to him.

17:48

This is not his burning in the bosom talking to him. This is, I think, God externally talking to Abraham.

17:54

He knew it was Abraham and had, he knew it was God and he had to obey. And what did he say? Take, go and sacrifice.

18:00

Those were the three commands. Now just in chapter 21, had we not heard chapter 21 had talked about Isaac.

18:11

In Isaac, your seed shall be blessed. Isaac's going to have to be the one.

18:16

He's the young man of promise. And by the way, the Hebrew here in Genesis 22,

18:23

Isaac could have been around 15 to 25. I think Josephus said he was something like 30. He wasn't some little tiny, you know, five year old.

18:33

This is the test. Your only son verse 2. Only son verse 12.

18:38

Only son verse 16. Go to this region of Moriah. And of course we know that would be eventually

18:46

Jerusalem. And over time, thousands upon thousands upon ten thousands of sacrificial animals were offered to God there.

18:53

And here it says sacrifice him there as a burnt offering. What was a burnt offering? It meant complete surrender.

19:01

I'm offering everything to God. I'm burning it all up for God. Now there were people who offered their children to false gods.

19:13

And God had said do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech for you must not profane the name of your

19:19

God. I am the Lord. So people say was it right for God to do this? Is it right for God to do this?

19:28

Of course God does whatever is right. Could it be that Abraham needed to be willing to sacrifice

19:37

Isaac? If the pagans could sacrifice to their heathen gods, could he not sacrifice?

19:44

And of course God did not ask Abraham what he himself was not willing to do on Mount Calvary hundreds of years later.

19:52

This is how God showed his love among us 1 John 4. He sent his only son into the world that we might live through him.

20:02

Spurgeon said these three commands take, go and sacrifice are like knives cutting on Abraham's soul.

20:09

I mean I don't know about you but the first thing I'd be thinking about what is that what am I going to go home and tell Kim? Right, that's what

20:14

I'd be thinking. What do you mean God told you to go slay the promised son? Yet Abraham resigned to do his will by faith.

20:23

He's in this faith chapter. The only son the mediator has to come through Isaac.

20:31

By the way if God has Abraham kill Isaac and Isaac is not raised from the dead nobody here goes to heaven.

20:39

It's not just the son that's on trial here not just the father on trial but your salvation is at trial.

20:46

And it would be one thing if he said you know what he's going to die in an accident he's going to die and you'll grieve but something else will happen.

20:56

And it would be another thing if he said do it right now but the suspense is killing me three days to make his mind go over and over and over for the resolve will

21:05

I obey God or won't I? Every syllable it seems like but God is forcing the issue.

21:14

Verse 3 some people say well Abraham just as obedient he got up right away in the morning to go obey but most think he probably didn't sleep at all.

21:22

Verse 3 Abraham rose early in the morning saddled his donkey took two of his young men with him and his son

21:29

Isaac and he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

21:36

I mean the details. I wonder what

21:44

Abraham did when he was walking there 50 miles probably Abraham interceded with God for Sodom I'm sure he was interceding for the sake of his son unto the

21:55

Lord on the third day

22:01

Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar it had to be a heartbreaking trip maybe

22:09

God would change his mind maybe maybe something else would happen then Abraham said to his young men stay here insightful stay here with the donkey

22:18

I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you he's gonna return some people think oh he's just trying to deceive the servants cause they wouldn't let him go along with this go through with this some think he's just kinda propping up courage

22:34

I don't think that at all here's Abraham's logic Isaac son of promise true?

22:41

God says he commands me to slay my son true? what's the only conclusion?

22:48

through Isaac I have to kill him something's gotta happen by the way how many resurrections were in the Bible before Genesis 22?

22:57

dozens? zero he says Isaac is gonna be the promised son and there's gonna be numerous stars and descendants descendants and numerous stars and I have to slay him so what happens verse 6 talk more about this when we're back in Hebrews Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son

23:16

Isaac he's big enough to hold the wood and he took in his hand the fire and the knife so they both of them went together he could've subdued his father he was big enough he was strong enough

23:32

Isaac said to his father and here is the dagger of all daggers it could be translated father dearest daddy my special father he said here

23:48

I am my son behold the fire and the wood but where is the lamb for the burnt offering

23:56

Calvin said quote God produces here a new instrument of torture by which he may more and more torment the breast of Abraham already pierced him with so many wounds and it is not to be doubted that God designed both framed the tongue of Isaac to this tender appellation and directed it to this question in order that nothing might be wanting to the extreme severity of Abraham's grief yet the holy man sustains even this attack with invincible courage and it is so far from being disturbed in his purpose course that he shows himself to be entirely devoted to God end quote

24:33

I don't think he said anything to his son early on because I don't think he wanted his son to be afraid and worried verse 8

24:41

Abraham said God will provide for himself the lamb for burnt offering so they both of them went together

24:48

God will provide what a great statement what a great gospel law or gospel God will provide this is gospel he's going to do the work where's the lamb

24:59

God will provide verse 9 then they came to the place in which God had told him

25:04

Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar on top of the wood what don't we hear goodbye

25:18

I love you it will only hurt for a minute the farewells he binds

25:26

Isaac verse 10 then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son

25:36

I mean just the language but the angel of the

25:46

Lord called to him from heaven and said Abraham Abraham urgency here

25:53

I am do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him for now

25:59

I know that you fear God seeing you have not withheld your son your only son from me can you imagine what

26:07

Abraham would have thought friends the deed was done in his heart he was as good as dead in his heart

26:13

Abraham said I'm going to do it and slay his son and he was intercepted by the angel of the

26:19

Lord there was no question in God's mind there was no question in Abraham's mind that he was going to kill the son probably no question in Isaac's mind you say well what does it mean now

26:30

I know did God learn anything this is just language of accommodation how can we understand the infinite God and how he does things we understand this so now

26:38

I know we see the test verse 13 Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked and behold behind him was a ram caught in the thicket of his horns by his thorns

26:48

Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering substitutionary language instead of his son so Abraham called the name of that place

27:02

I don't know what would you have called that place hallelujah mountain or something I don't know

27:08

Ralph's run no something so much better the Lord will provide gospel it's done as it is said to this day on the mount of the

27:19

Lord it shall be provided you ever watch R .C.

27:24

Sproul preach I wish I could do it justice when he goes through this passage sometime pull it up on YouTube Genesis 22

27:33

R .C. with his great dramatic flare begins to talk about this passage and then he said it was hundreds of years later where another father took another son on Mount Moriah for an offering and this time when the knife went up nobody hollered stop you can see it it's all right there a great picture a great type we see the father's love for a son of the seed of the only son verse 15 and the angel of the

28:02

Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and he said by myself I have sworn this is

28:08

Hebrew six language declares the Lord because you have done this and have not withheld your son your only son

28:16

I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore and your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed because you have obeyed my voice and then you get a breath before he continues and goes to the next chapter so why don't you turn back to Hebrews chapter 11 because that scene in Genesis 22 is something that all these recipients of this letter

28:47

Hebrews would know intimately and so now knowing what we know let's go back here for the little summary because it proves to be enlightening

28:56

Hebrews chapter 11 Abraham by faith we had the little interlude from verses 13, 14, 15 and 16 and now we catch back up in by faith in the

29:08

Messiah by faith verse 17 of Hebrews 11 when he was tested began arguing with God by faith when he was tested he began bargaining arguing equivocating as some say no when he was tested he offered up Isaac by the way you're going to see the word offered again in verse 17 and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son boy this is fascinating you know how sometimes when you hear a pastor talk about Greek things he's trying to act cool

29:44

I'm not trying to act cool here the word tested is a present when you look at verse 17 when he was tested from the moment when

29:52

God said you take him to go offer to the time three days later when he actually put the knife up that was a test of course it was it's an extreme test and he offered and he was in the act of offering well how do we explain that well because he didn't actually kill him with the knife he was going to do it in his mind but from God's perspective from Abraham's perspective it was done he was offered and you notice a passage here in Hebrews 11 what's it say

30:30

Hebrews 11 verse 17 he offered up Isaac and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son you know what that word is only begotten only begotten the unique the one of a kind does it sound like anything to you any kind of echo of anything in the

30:54

New Testament of course the one and only son the unique son the only begotten son this is faith this is real faith verse 18 of whom it was said through Isaac shall your offspring be named physical descendants spiritual descendants everybody here who's trusting in the

31:14

Lord through Isaac verse 19 you say well because he didn't die how's that all work he considered that God was even able to raise him from the dead from which figuratively speaking he did receive him back there's our explanation just like we said earlier here's the logic by the way verse 19 he considered it's a math word it's where we get the word logic here's what he did so maybe some of you don't like math maybe some of you are accountants

31:47

I think math people and accountants are basically of the same ilk but God bless you we need all those kind of people who's an accountant here anybody willing to admit it who's a math person here some admit it some are proud proud bow tie proud this is language he just kept thinking about it he was calculating okay wait a second

32:16

A through Isaac B I'm supposed to kill him what would that mean thinking pondering reckoning that's the language here and of course probably in his mind he's thinking what

32:30

Jeremiah 32 would say nothing is too difficult for God he's considering he's thinking you know what something has to be done

32:40

God has promised God is faithful and I'm gonna have to reason this I have to add things up legitimize it's where we get the word in justification language to credit but it also just means to enter an item on a ledger so it's not going to be forgotten

32:57

I'm gonna have to take into account with facts true or false Abraham's faith was a blind leap of faith false it was calculated he figured all this out one person said his logic was audacious

33:14

God said Abraham would have children as numerous as the stars in the sand Abraham believed God he had faith in God and God said that through Isaac the great covenant and blessing would come yet God said to kill

33:27

Isaac so what had to be his conclusion God was even able to raise from the dead that's the only logical conclusion you add up the facts that's what you get don't you love it when the text says

33:42

God was able maybe that's one of my favorite phrases in all the New Testament God is able that's

33:50

Ephesians 3 now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond that we ask or think according to the power that works within us to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever

34:02

Amen here nothing else could happen except the resurrection and Abraham believed it and the text says in the

34:13

ESV figuratively speaking he did receive him back and the reason why it says that the

34:18

Greek word is where we get the word parable but really he's just trying to say you know what he didn't really kill him with a knife although he killed him in his heart and so he didn't really receive him back as a true resurrection so it's figuratively speaking it's an illustration the

34:35

CSB translates it substitution figuratively coming back from the dead well what can we learn from this let me have you answer a couple practical questions number one why is there so much emphasis in the entire

34:54

Bible both old and new on this account in Genesis 22 I found some interesting questions and answers one was because sometimes we make an idol out of things and God's gonna take away our idol do you think that's true that Isaac was

35:13

Abraham's idol and God said I've gotta take that idol away do you think that's why this is so often in the

35:18

Bible I don't think it has anything to do with that I think this has to do with a great picture of a father's love for a son when you hear things like only son only begotten son

35:29

Genesis 22 is a foreshadow it is a type of the death of the Lord Jesus where the father kills the son for the sake of his people turn to Romans chapter 8 for a moment please

35:42

Romans 8 .32 Romans 8 .32

35:53

you cannot read Genesis 22 without thinking of the ultimate father and the ultimate son

36:00

Romans 8 .32 he who did not spare his own son by the way that is the exact language from Genesis 22 spare the same

36:10

Greek word in Romans 8 .32 is used in the Greek version of the Old Testament called the

36:15

Septuagint for Genesis 22 not withheld he did not spare or withhold his own son we are talking here the father and the son members of the

36:25

Trinity but gave him up for us all how will he not also with him graciously give us all things

36:33

Abraham's most precious possession the child of promise he had to slay on the altar would

36:43

God not give his most precious possession his elect son in whom he is well pleased for the sake of sinners you say well who really delivered up Jesus Pilate Herod Jews it was the father what's the text say he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all he gave him freely out of grace the word means to bestow out of grace that is amazing and God does this for his children wrong

37:20

God did this for his enemies and turned them into children that's amazing

37:25

God did not ask Abraham what he was not willing to do you know the verse do you not for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that's that same language of Genesis that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life why is

37:39

Genesis 22 everywhere in the Old Testament and new answer because it's a foreshadow of the death of the

37:45

Lord Jesus you see in Abraham the father you see in Isaac the son the Lord Jesus he is the sacrifice for sinners people say is

37:54

Isaac a type of Christ of course he is is Abraham a type of the father of course he is question 2 how do you increase faith you ever ask yourself the question

38:05

I wish I could have greater faith I'm not talking about faithfulness I'd like more of that too but what about faith if I ask you the question would you like to have more faith what's the first thing you should do if you'd like more faith huh

38:20

I can't believe I just said huh what what did you say ask increase our faith what a great way to pray

38:27

Lord thank you for what you've done would you increase my faith additionally

38:32

I think you should study the attributes of God I talked about that last week the object of your faith you study you understand number 3

38:44

I've got another question for you how important is eschatology eschatology is the study of last things study of last things most people think you know study of last things is will this new virus in China kill everybody and how does that fit in the book of revelation and all these other things that's not what we're talking about when it comes to eschatology eschatology is what do you look for what are you hoping for that's the question of eschatology

39:14

I love it when I hear people have a common confession that goes like this we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come that's what this writer in Hebrews was trying to get people to do there's trouble in life but make sure you don't think terminally on this earth then my final question is how is your faith vindicated how do you know that you really have it and let's just turn to James chapter 2 and we're gonna have to just end there we're gonna end quickly

39:50

James chapter 2 how is faith vindicated James chapter 2 this is brought up with Genesis 22 in background

40:01

James 2 14 and following I don't know why

40:07

I'm sweating more seated on a stool than I do when I'm jumping up and down running around no not gonna do it

40:18

I'm drinking water in four minutes but not before this is over you're like what's the big picture if I just step back again and think about this whole passage there are people that are weak but still trusted in the sovereign the strong one and if they could do it you can too you don't have to go back to your old

40:43

Judaism you don't have to go back to whatever kind of your old religion God can be trusted no matter what even if you can't figure it all out and logic it to completion well

40:54

James chapter 2 one of the things that people have in life is they have a faith that doesn't save people can say they have a knowledge of God and a scent of God but they don't really trust in Him so Abraham is used to let us see the vindication of faith what good is it my brothers

41:12

James 2 14 if someone keeps on saying that they have faith I'm a believer but does not have any works that faith can't save him is the point if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food and one of you says to them go in peace be warm be filled without giving them things needed for the body what good is that in other words it isn't good faith by itself if it does not have works is dead that's not saving faith that's just knowledge that's just lip service that's not a trusting but someone will say you have faith

41:46

I have works show me I mean how do I know if somebody has faith I can't see their invisible heart their soul their conscience

41:54

God can but for me I just have to look at externals show me your faith apart from works and I'll show you my faith by my works you believe that God's one big deal you do well even the demons believe and farther than you they're emotional about it they shudder you don't want to be shown you foolish person that faith apart from works is useless now here we come was not our father

42:18

Abraham justified by works when he offered up his son

42:23

Isaac on the altar how do we get by that so you're saved by works is what you're telling me is that what you're telling me

42:31

I hope that's not what you're getting because already in Romans chapter 4 it says that Abraham wasn't saved by works because you can't be perfect enough in your works to be saved by works and why send

42:44

Jesus if you could be saved by your works but when God does save you and make you born again and make you a new creature in Christ Jesus and gives you saving faith it shows how did it show with Abraham he was justified by works the best way to look at exact same word vindicated how do we see how do we know when he offered up his son

43:06

Isaac on the altar dear friends when Abraham went to slay Isaac and if you were there and you were watching him would you say in fact

43:14

Abraham believed God how can you see his invisible heart though you can't but you could see this and you could see this we're saved by faith alone but as a reformer said that faith won't be what alone if you say you've got faith but you never have any works you're not a

43:36

Christian if you say you have faith and you're thinking that all your works have to be perfect in order to secure your salvation and to maintain it that's also a wrong thinking but this faith works do you see the passage again he offered up his son on the altar and then now from our personal perspective you see that faith how do you see faith

43:56

I don't see it but I see what faith does was active was active along with his work and faith was completed by his works and the scripture was fulfilled that says how do you know he was a believer here's his legal standing before God Abraham believed

44:11

God and it was counted to him as righteousness and he was called a friend of God you see not

44:17

God sees but you see the vindication of faith that a person is justified or vindicated by works and not by faith alone some people say well there's only one place in the

44:28

Bible where it says faith alone and it says you're not saved by faith alone how would you respond to that what's the point the point is everyone here could see that Abraham believed

44:40

God that he was walking by faith based on what he did you're not saved by works except Christ works but when you're saved guess what you'll do works and does

44:54

God accept you Christian yes so does God accept your less than perfect works yes because he accepts you so whenever you go to James chapter 2 you have to say you know what this is vindication language and this is us seeing things

45:10

God knew that Abraham believed him how do we know that Abraham believed him the knife went up and on its way it started to go down or maybe it didn't go down but in his heart it was done yes

45:24

I talk regularly to you Christians and I want to give you encouragement and I want you to say you know what

45:29

God doesn't look at you and say you're the biggest loser I've ever met because he sees you in Christ but I also want to make sure that there are people that are sitting here today saying you know what

45:40

I just give lip service to God and I just have this false faith and I just think you know what I throw

45:46

God a bone or two and I don't really trust him with knowledge assent and trust that's a false faith

45:53

J. Vernon McGee said the devil had a meeting with his demons to decide how to persuade men that God was not existent since the demons themselves believed in his existent they wondered how to do it one demon suggested they tell people

46:06

Jesus never really existent and that men should not believe such fiction another demon suggested that they persuade men that death ends all and they need not worry about their life after death finally the most intelligent demon suggested that they tell everyone there is a

46:20

God his name is Jesus and that believing in him saves and that you can simply get to heaven by professing faith and then go on living in sin as you used to interesting faith alone in the object of the

46:35

Lord Jesus saves but that faith dear friends like in Abraham's life will never be alone let's pray thank you

46:43

Father for our time in your word thankful that your word is powerful I'm sure

46:50

Abraham loved Isaac but that's just a faint echo of your love for the

46:56

Son thank you for loving us enough to send Jesus we're thankful that Jesus loved us and became that offering that burnt offering for us sacrificially and we're thankful that the

47:08

Holy Spirit has applied that great love that great substitutionary act to our lives

47:14

I pray for this dear church I pray for the people that are here that just have a false faith that could never be vindicated

47:21

I pray that you would grant them saving faith and you would have the the blinders go away and Father for the

47:28

Christians here we struggle we sin our works are far from perfect and we ask forgiveness for that but even that is a vindication because who talks that way besides Christians so thank you that you're not ashamed to be our

47:42

Father you're not ashamed to be Abraham's Father and that we look forward to that great day and so help us to set our minds on things that are above not on the things that are on earth in Jesus name