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Grounded-In-Biblical-Truth | |
Sovereign Grace Doctrines
Concerning 'THE GOSPEL' - JESUS CHRIST
CHRIST THE SEED OF ABRAHAM (1)
GENESIS 12:3
GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
DANIEL E. PARKS, PASTOR
MARCH 20, 1999 - RADIO MESSAGE #259
Genesis 11:27-12:4 is one of most important passages in the Bible. We cite the following reasons.
This passage introduces Abraham, the foremost patriarch. God changed his name from Abram, "Exalted Father," to Abraham, "Father of a Multitude," on the occasion of declaring "I have made you a father of many nations" (Genesis 17:5). Abraham is the father of many physical nations: the Jews, or Israelites, through Isaac and Jacob (1 Chronicles 1:34 & 2:1f); the Arabs, through Ishmael (Genesis 25:12-16); the Edomites, through his grandson Esau (1 Chronicles 1:34-37; cp. Genesis 36:1-19); the Midianite-kindred tribes, through his second wife Keturah (Genesis 25:1-4). And Abraham is the father of a spiritual nation: believers in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:7,29), who comprise the "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:16).
This passage commences the Patriarchal Era, the second great era in the history of mankind. The first was the Primeval Era (Genesis 1-11), c.4000 BC (?) - c.2000 BC, in which were four main events: the creation of the world, the fall of Adam, the deluge of Noah, and the rebellion at Babel. In this Patriarchal Era (Genesis 12-50), c.2000 BC - c.1600 BC, were four main persons: Abraham and his successive progeny, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. From the time of Abraham, the blessings of God upon the race are through the seed and family of this patriarch, and according to their proper relationship to him. This is in fulfillment of God's promise to him (Genesis 12:2f; more on this later).
This passage cites the first stated appearance of the preincarnate Christ. We here read what "the LORD had said to Abram" (12:1). He did so through a Theophany, an "appearance of God," according to Stephen the New Testament martyr (Acts 7:2): "The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham." The "God of glory" is of course Jehovah. However, "No one has seen God at any time" (John 1:18) because "God is Spirit" (John 4:24), incorporeal. Nevertheless, God has been pleased to manifest Himself in various manners, even in bodily form. The foremost of these is the incarnation of the divine Word (John 1:1-3,14), Jesus Christ (John 14:9), "God ... manifested in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). Jesus Christ is indeed the "God of glory" (John 1:14b), being identified also as the "Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:8; James 2:1). Therefore, the Theophany witnessed by Abraham was also a Christophany, an "appearance of Christ" prior to His incarnation.
This passage records the Abrahamic Covenant, one of the most important covenants in Holy Scriptures. A covenant is an agreement between two or more parties. This is a conditional covenant, God's promises being conditioned upon Abraham's obedience. God gave to Abraham a seven-fold promise (12:2f): "[1] I will make you a great nation; [2] I will bless you [3] and make your name great; [4] and you shall be a blessing. [5] I will bless those who bless you, [6] and I will curse him who curses you; [7] and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." The condition was Abraham's forsaking homeland and family in order to follow God (12:1): "Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you." Abraham obeyed (12:4): "So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him." God is keeping His promise (Hebrews 11:8-16).
This passage contains a foremost example of paying the cost of Christian discipleship. Christ cited the cost of discipleship to Himself in Matthew 16:24 and 10:37: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me"; "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." Abraham paid the cost of discipleship to the preincarnate Christ who called him. He first forsook his homeland and its idols, and later his family, in order to follow the Lord to the promised land. Christ calls upon us to do the same. Have you?
(To be continued.)
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
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