Genesis (Part 19)
Bible Study Time 10-19-08
(From James Roberts 12-22-96)
Bible Study Time 10-19-08
(From James Roberts 12-22-96)
The past several Sundays we have been on a Journey Through the Scripture, and we’ve been looking at Genesis, Chapter 12, where we see Abraham, the great patriarch of the nation of Israel. We saw that God gave to Abraham great and precious promises while he was still in UR of the Chaldeans. It was at that time that God told Abram to get out of his country and leave his family and his father’s house. God told Abram that He would show him the land into which he should go. Then, God gave this promise to Abraham:
Genesis 12:2-3 NKJV
2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
3 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."
As we go on into the seventh verse, we see that the Lord promised to Abraham and to his descendants the land of Palestine. In Genesis, Chapter 15, we see this covenant confirmed once again, that all of the land of Palestine was to be given to Abraham.
Now keep in mind that the promise God gave to Abraham was that God was going to bless Abraham and that through Abraham all the nations of the earth would be blessed. All through the Old Testament we find the promise that great blessings would come to the nations of the world through Abraham’s multiplied seed.
From the time that God called the nation of Israel out of the land of Egypt and made a covenant with them at Mt. Sinai, it was His plan for them to be a light to the nations of the world. It was God’s plan to make of them a holy nation and a royal priesthood and that they would be a blessing to the nations of the earth.
Keep in mind that Abraham had two sons. Ishmael was born of a bondwoman, while Isaac was born of Sarah, the free woman. God specifically told Abraham that the promised seed would come through Isaac. God made it clear that it would be Isaac’s descendants who would inherit the land of Palestine and become a blessing to the nations of the earth.
This covenant between God and Abraham promised to Abraham and the descendants of Isaac the whole land of Palestine, and so it is called the Palestinian Covenant. This is one of the great sticking points in all of the negotiations in the Middle East today. The big question is, who’s going to occupy the land of Palestine?
Well, one day when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back and sets up His kingdom on the earth, the nations of the earth will be blessed through the nation of Israel. At that time, the nation of Israel will occupy the land of Palestine in a greater way than ever before. The part of Abraham’s seed through Isaac that will inherit the land of Palestine, the land of promise.
When we come to the book of Hebrews, Chapter 11, we find something rather strange. We find that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not possess the land that had been promised to them. In Hebrews, Chapter 11 and verse 12, we read:
Hebrews 11:12-16 NKJV
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude — innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Notice that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were strangers and pilgrims in the land of Canaan while they were alive. They did not possess the land even though it was promised to them. But now God has prepared a heavenly city for them, and it is the country of this city that they now desire.
When the Lord Jesus Christ came to the earth, He came preaching the gospel of the kingdom. This gospel proclaimed that Jesus Christ had come to establish the kingdom of God on the earth. The angel made this announcement to Mary:
Luke 1:31-33 NKJV
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
The great promise to David was that one of His descendants would sit upon His throne and rule and reign over the earth in an everlasting kingdom. That promise looked forward to the day when the Lord Jesus Christ would come and sit upon the throne of David in an earthly kingdom.
Someday, this promise will be fulfilled. At that time, the nation of Israel will not only occupy the land of Palestine, but they will inherit all of the earth. This is when all of the promises that were given to Abraham will be fulfilled.
However, according to the book of Hebrews, it seems that there was a part of Abraham’s seed that was not looking for an earthly inheritance. Rather, they were looking for a heavenly inheritance, a heavenly city that God had prepared for them.
When we come to Chapter 21 in the book of the Revelation, we see a city that comes down from God out of heaven. That city is called the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife. It is referred to as the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city.
When we read those verses in Revelation, Chapter 21, we see that God is not talking about heaven, as many people seem to think. This is a description of the city that is going to come down out of heaven, and this is the heavenly city that God has prepared for Abraham and his seed. It is the descendants of Abraham who were said to be looking for this heavenly city.
As we read the description of that city in Revelation 21, we see its Jewish character. We see that the names of the 12 apostles will be in the 12 foundations. There will be 12 gates that lead into the city. These are all things that relate to the nation of Israel, the multiplied seed of Abraham. All of the promises that God has given to Israel will flow to them through Abraham.
Notice then that among those who are Abraham’s seed there are two different groups with different hopes. One group has a heavenly hope while the other has an earthly hope. Those with an earthly hope will be the ministers of God on the earth during the earthly kingdom, and they will bring great blessings to the nations of the earth. This is the time when the meek shall inherit the earth and there will be peace on earth and good will toward men. This is the time when the Prince of Peace will rule from the throne of His father David.
But the other group within Abraham’s seed will be looking for that city that is going to come down out of heaven. This group will be a part of the Bride the Lamb’s Wife.
I believe that this distinction between the two different groups within the seed of Abraham is alluded to in Hebrews, Chapter 11, where we read that the seed of Abraham will be in number as the stars of the heaven and as the sand the seashore. This seems to me to be an interesting way for God to show the two different groups.
The one group, which will be as numerous as the stars of the heavens, will have a heavenly hope. The other group, which will be as numerous as the sands of the seashore, will have an earthly hope. All of this will come about as God works out his plan and purpose for the nation of Israel, the multiplied seed of Abraham.
But in the book of Galatians, Chapter 3, the Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement. He says:
Galatians 3:10-14 NKJV
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Here we see that the blessings of Abraham were to come upon the Gentiles, those were not descendants of Abraham. Obviously, Paul understood the ramifications of the promise that was given to Abraham, that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. This is referring to the Gentile nations of the world. Now notice in verse 16, we read:
Galatians 3:16 NKJV
16 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.
We have seen that Abraham’s seed may be divided into two different groups of people with two different hopes, one earthly and one heavenly. But now we see two completely different aspects of the seed of Abraham. One is the multiplied seed, which would include all of the descendants of Abraham who have the faith of Abraham, while the other is the singular Seed, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This singular Seed of Abraham was to be made under the Law so that He could redeem those who were under the Law. Through this one man, the Lord Jesus Christ, blessing was to come to the nation of Israel. He was to make it possible for them to receive the Holy Spirit of God and become a new nation. As such, they would be empowered to bring blessing to the nations of the earth.
Today, those of us who are members of the Church which is the Body of Christ have all of our blessings in this same person, the Lord Jesus Christ. He did not come to the earth just to fulfill the promises that were made to Abraham, but He came to seek and to save all those who are lost.
In the book of Ephesians, Chapter 1, the Apostle Paul tells us that all believers today are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Our hope is that one day, as members of the Church which is the Body of Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ will appear in the glory of heaven and take us up to be with Him in heaven, where we will forever be with the Lord.
There will be a part of Abraham’s seed that will look for the kingdom of Jesus Christ here on this earth where the meek shall inherit the earth. Then there will be a part of Abraham’s seed that will look for a city that comes down out of heaven, and they will become the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife. But the Church which is the Body of Christ will be united in the heavens with Christ before either of these groups see the realization of their hope.
Regardless of the various programs of God through the ages, it is a profound truth that all believers from all ages gain access to the Father through the shed blood of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He came as the Seed of Abraham to fulfill the promises that were made to Abraham, but when He shed His blood on the cross, He provided the means of salvation for all those who believe.
Well, I see that our time is gone. The Lord willing we will take up again next week with our Journey Through the Scripture. Until that time, we bid you goodbye.
Church links:
Genesis 12:2-3 NKJV
2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
3 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."
As we go on into the seventh verse, we see that the Lord promised to Abraham and to his descendants the land of Palestine. In Genesis, Chapter 15, we see this covenant confirmed once again, that all of the land of Palestine was to be given to Abraham.
Now keep in mind that the promise God gave to Abraham was that God was going to bless Abraham and that through Abraham all the nations of the earth would be blessed. All through the Old Testament we find the promise that great blessings would come to the nations of the world through Abraham’s multiplied seed.
From the time that God called the nation of Israel out of the land of Egypt and made a covenant with them at Mt. Sinai, it was His plan for them to be a light to the nations of the world. It was God’s plan to make of them a holy nation and a royal priesthood and that they would be a blessing to the nations of the earth.
Keep in mind that Abraham had two sons. Ishmael was born of a bondwoman, while Isaac was born of Sarah, the free woman. God specifically told Abraham that the promised seed would come through Isaac. God made it clear that it would be Isaac’s descendants who would inherit the land of Palestine and become a blessing to the nations of the earth.
This covenant between God and Abraham promised to Abraham and the descendants of Isaac the whole land of Palestine, and so it is called the Palestinian Covenant. This is one of the great sticking points in all of the negotiations in the Middle East today. The big question is, who’s going to occupy the land of Palestine?
Well, one day when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back and sets up His kingdom on the earth, the nations of the earth will be blessed through the nation of Israel. At that time, the nation of Israel will occupy the land of Palestine in a greater way than ever before. The part of Abraham’s seed through Isaac that will inherit the land of Palestine, the land of promise.
When we come to the book of Hebrews, Chapter 11, we find something rather strange. We find that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not possess the land that had been promised to them. In Hebrews, Chapter 11 and verse 12, we read:
Hebrews 11:12-16 NKJV
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude — innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Notice that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were strangers and pilgrims in the land of Canaan while they were alive. They did not possess the land even though it was promised to them. But now God has prepared a heavenly city for them, and it is the country of this city that they now desire.
When the Lord Jesus Christ came to the earth, He came preaching the gospel of the kingdom. This gospel proclaimed that Jesus Christ had come to establish the kingdom of God on the earth. The angel made this announcement to Mary:
Luke 1:31-33 NKJV
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
The great promise to David was that one of His descendants would sit upon His throne and rule and reign over the earth in an everlasting kingdom. That promise looked forward to the day when the Lord Jesus Christ would come and sit upon the throne of David in an earthly kingdom.
Someday, this promise will be fulfilled. At that time, the nation of Israel will not only occupy the land of Palestine, but they will inherit all of the earth. This is when all of the promises that were given to Abraham will be fulfilled.
However, according to the book of Hebrews, it seems that there was a part of Abraham’s seed that was not looking for an earthly inheritance. Rather, they were looking for a heavenly inheritance, a heavenly city that God had prepared for them.
When we come to Chapter 21 in the book of the Revelation, we see a city that comes down from God out of heaven. That city is called the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife. It is referred to as the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city.
When we read those verses in Revelation, Chapter 21, we see that God is not talking about heaven, as many people seem to think. This is a description of the city that is going to come down out of heaven, and this is the heavenly city that God has prepared for Abraham and his seed. It is the descendants of Abraham who were said to be looking for this heavenly city.
As we read the description of that city in Revelation 21, we see its Jewish character. We see that the names of the 12 apostles will be in the 12 foundations. There will be 12 gates that lead into the city. These are all things that relate to the nation of Israel, the multiplied seed of Abraham. All of the promises that God has given to Israel will flow to them through Abraham.
Notice then that among those who are Abraham’s seed there are two different groups with different hopes. One group has a heavenly hope while the other has an earthly hope. Those with an earthly hope will be the ministers of God on the earth during the earthly kingdom, and they will bring great blessings to the nations of the earth. This is the time when the meek shall inherit the earth and there will be peace on earth and good will toward men. This is the time when the Prince of Peace will rule from the throne of His father David.
But the other group within Abraham’s seed will be looking for that city that is going to come down out of heaven. This group will be a part of the Bride the Lamb’s Wife.
I believe that this distinction between the two different groups within the seed of Abraham is alluded to in Hebrews, Chapter 11, where we read that the seed of Abraham will be in number as the stars of the heaven and as the sand the seashore. This seems to me to be an interesting way for God to show the two different groups.
The one group, which will be as numerous as the stars of the heavens, will have a heavenly hope. The other group, which will be as numerous as the sands of the seashore, will have an earthly hope. All of this will come about as God works out his plan and purpose for the nation of Israel, the multiplied seed of Abraham.
But in the book of Galatians, Chapter 3, the Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement. He says:
Galatians 3:10-14 NKJV
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them."
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),
14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Here we see that the blessings of Abraham were to come upon the Gentiles, those were not descendants of Abraham. Obviously, Paul understood the ramifications of the promise that was given to Abraham, that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. This is referring to the Gentile nations of the world. Now notice in verse 16, we read:
Galatians 3:16 NKJV
16 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.
We have seen that Abraham’s seed may be divided into two different groups of people with two different hopes, one earthly and one heavenly. But now we see two completely different aspects of the seed of Abraham. One is the multiplied seed, which would include all of the descendants of Abraham who have the faith of Abraham, while the other is the singular Seed, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This singular Seed of Abraham was to be made under the Law so that He could redeem those who were under the Law. Through this one man, the Lord Jesus Christ, blessing was to come to the nation of Israel. He was to make it possible for them to receive the Holy Spirit of God and become a new nation. As such, they would be empowered to bring blessing to the nations of the earth.
Today, those of us who are members of the Church which is the Body of Christ have all of our blessings in this same person, the Lord Jesus Christ. He did not come to the earth just to fulfill the promises that were made to Abraham, but He came to seek and to save all those who are lost.
In the book of Ephesians, Chapter 1, the Apostle Paul tells us that all believers today are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Our hope is that one day, as members of the Church which is the Body of Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ will appear in the glory of heaven and take us up to be with Him in heaven, where we will forever be with the Lord.
There will be a part of Abraham’s seed that will look for the kingdom of Jesus Christ here on this earth where the meek shall inherit the earth. Then there will be a part of Abraham’s seed that will look for a city that comes down out of heaven, and they will become the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife. But the Church which is the Body of Christ will be united in the heavens with Christ before either of these groups see the realization of their hope.
Regardless of the various programs of God through the ages, it is a profound truth that all believers from all ages gain access to the Father through the shed blood of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He came as the Seed of Abraham to fulfill the promises that were made to Abraham, but when He shed His blood on the cross, He provided the means of salvation for all those who believe.
Well, I see that our time is gone. The Lord willing we will take up again next week with our Journey Through the Scripture. Until that time, we bid you goodbye.
Church links:
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