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Grounded-In-Biblical-Truth | |
Sovereign Grace Doctrines
Concerning 'THE GOSPEL' - JESUS CHRIST
CHRIST THE WORD OF THE LORD
GENESIS 15:1
GOOD NEWS FROM THE REDEEMER
DANIEL E. PARKS, PASTOR
APRIL 17, 1999 - RADIO MESSAGE #263
The life of Abraham exemplified true faith in God and obedience to Him. (Abraham was formerly named Abram [Genesis 17:5].) We repeatedly read “Abraham believed God” (e.g. Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23). His faith in God resulted in obedience to Him (Hebrews 11:8): “By faith Abraham obeyed ....” When God commanded Abraham to desert his idols and family and home in order to follow Him, Abraham trusted in God and obeyed Him (Genesis 12:1-4).
God responded in a very marvelous manner to Abraham’s faith and obedience (Genesis 15:1): “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’” Because of Abraham’s faith, God became his shield. And because of Abraham’s obedience, God became his reward. Saving the subject of Abraham’s shield and reward for a later time (D.V.), we here focus our attention on the very pregnant phrase “the word of the LORD came to Abram.” What was this “word of the LORD.”
This “word of the LORD” was a speaking word. By this is meant that this word not only was heard, but did itself speak that which was heard: “the word of the LORD came ... saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram.’”
This “word of the LORD” was a visible word: “the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram’” Abraham saw this “word of the LORD.”
This “word of the LORD” was a divine word. Abraham was not mistaken when he identified this “word of the LORD” as being itself “Lord GOD” (vv.2,8). This “word of the LORD” identified itself in the same manner (v.7): “I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”
We here are reminded of the final message of Stephen, in which he declared: “The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia [i.e. Ur of the Chaldeans], before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you’” (Acts 7:2f).
But we here also have a problem. Stephen explicitly declares “The God of glory appeared.” How can God appear, be visible? “God is Spirit” (John 4:24), incorporeal, having no visible form. Therefore “No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12). How can this one who is here identified as the “God of glory” and the “word of the LORD,” and whom no one has ever seen, nevertheless have appeared to Abraham? The answer:
This “word of the LORD” was Christ! This point is made perfectly clear (at least to those who believe Holy Scriptures) when we compare what has thus far been taught with what is written in the first chapter of the Gospel of John. Jesus Christ is expressly identified as “the Word” (v.1a; see commentary in Hebrews 1:1-4). He is the divine word: “the Word was God” (v.1b). He is even expressly described as “the God of glory” (v.14): “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Father, full of grace and truth.” He is therefore expressly called “the Lord of glory” by both Paul (1 Corinthians 2:8) and James (James 2:1).
And He Himself declares that “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Christ is the divine “word of the LORD” who appeared to Abraham!
This “word of the LORD” -- Jesus Christ -- was Abraham’s shield and reward: “the word of the LORD came to Abram ... saying, ‘Do not be afraid. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.’” Abraham believed God; Christ therefore became his shield. And Abraham obeyed God; Christ therefore became his reward.
With Christ for shield and reward, who can be afraid? (More on this in the subsequent messages, D.V.)
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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