God's Promise: Grace, Faith, and Sacrifice

 

Summary

In our journey through the Bible, we find ourselves in Genesis 12, a pivotal chapter where God’s promise to Abraham marks the beginning of a new hope for humanity. The narrative of Genesis so far has shown us the introduction of sin into the world and its devastating effects. Yet, amidst this darkness, God’s promise of a deliverer shines brightly. This promise begins to unfold with Abraham, a man who initially worshipped idols, yet was chosen by God to be the father of a great nation. God’s promise to Abraham was not just for him but for all the families of the earth, indicating that through Abraham’s lineage, a blessing would come to all nations.

This promise is a profound act of grace. God sought Abraham, not because of Abraham’s righteousness or pursuit of God, but because of God’s own initiative and grace. This grace is mirrored in our own lives, as God seeks us long before we seek Him. The promise to Abraham also highlights the necessity of faith. Abraham believed God’s promise, and it was counted to him as righteousness. This faith was not in the mere promise of descendants but in the greater promise of a coming Savior, a promise that Abraham glimpsed and believed.

The story of Abraham also points to the unimaginable cost of God’s promise. In Genesis 22, God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. This story foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, for the salvation of the world. Just as Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice, Jesus carried the cross. The unity of Abraham and Isaac in this act reflects the unity of the Father and the Son in the plan of salvation. This narrative invites us to reflect on the depth of God’s love and the cost of our redemption.

Key Takeaways:

1. God’s Grace Initiates Our Journey: God’s call to Abraham was an act of grace, not based on Abraham’s merit but on God’s sovereign choice. This reminds us that God’s grace reaches us long before we ever seek Him, initiating a relationship that transforms our lives. [08:35]

2. Faith as the Path to Righteousness: Abraham’s belief in God’s promise was counted as righteousness. This teaches us that faith, not works, is the path to being right with God. Our faith, like Abraham’s, looks to Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God’s promise. [14:28]

3. The Unimaginable Cost of God’s Promise: The story of Abraham and Isaac foreshadows the sacrifice of Jesus. It illustrates the profound cost of God’s promise, where the Father and the Son were united in the plan of salvation, highlighting the depth of God’s love for us. [35:35]

4. The Unity of the Father and the Son: The narrative of Abraham and Isaac emphasizes the oneness of the Father and the Son in the act of salvation. This unity is a powerful testament to the divine love and purpose in bringing blessing to the world. [37:42]

5. The Call to Worship and Gratitude: Reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus should lead us to worship and gratitude. Recognizing the cost of our redemption compels us to respond with love and service, mirroring the self-giving love of God. [39:37]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Genesis 12
- [00:55] - The Knowledge of Evil
- [01:58] - God's Promise of Deliverance
- [04:15] - The Call of Abraham
- [05:54] - The Promise to Abraham
- [07:26] - Grace and Faith in Abraham's Story
- [09:24] - The Blessed People and Place
- [11:29] - The Challenges of God's Promise
- [14:28] - Faith Counted as Righteousness
- [17:03] - Abraham's Glimpse of Christ
- [20:30] - The Nature of Believing
- [25:02] - The Test of Sacrifice
- [29:54] - God Provides the Sacrifice
- [35:35] - The Cost of God's Promise

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 12:1-3
- Genesis 15:5-6
- Genesis 22:1-14

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the initial promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, and how does it extend beyond Abraham himself? [05:34]

2. In Genesis 15:5-6, what does God use to illustrate His promise to Abraham, and how does Abraham respond? [13:19]

3. Describe the test God gives Abraham in Genesis 22:1-14. What does this test reveal about Abraham's faith? [25:19]

4. How does the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 foreshadow the sacrifice of Jesus Christ? [35:35]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of grace in God's call to Abraham challenge the idea that we must earn God's favor? [08:35]

2. What does Abraham's faith in God's promise, despite the apparent impossibility, teach us about the nature of true faith? [14:28]

3. How does the unity of Abraham and Isaac in the act of sacrifice reflect the unity of the Father and the Son in the plan of salvation? [37:42]

4. In what ways does the story of Abraham and Isaac deepen our understanding of the cost of God's promise and the depth of His love? [35:35]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was seeking you before you sought Him. How did that experience shape your understanding of grace? [08:51]

2. Abraham believed God's promise even when circumstances seemed impossible. Is there a promise from God that you find difficult to believe right now? How can you strengthen your faith in this area? [14:28]

3. The story of Abraham and Isaac highlights the cost of God's promise. How does recognizing the cost of your redemption affect your daily life and decisions? [35:35]

4. Consider the unity of the Father and the Son in the plan of salvation. How can you reflect this unity in your relationships and community? [37:42]

5. The sermon emphasizes worship and gratitude in response to Jesus' sacrifice. What specific actions can you take this week to express gratitude for your salvation? [39:37]

6. Abraham's journey was initiated by God's grace. How can you be more aware of God's grace in your life, and how might this awareness change your interactions with others? [08:35]

7. The narrative of Abraham and Isaac invites us to reflect on the depth of God's love. How can you share this love with someone who may not yet understand it? [35:35]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Grace Seeks Us First
God's call to Abraham was a profound act of grace, demonstrating that God initiates relationships with humanity not based on human merit but on His sovereign choice. Abraham, who initially worshipped idols, was chosen by God to be the father of a great nation, illustrating that God's grace reaches us long before we seek Him. This grace is mirrored in our own lives, as God seeks us out, inviting us into a transformative relationship. The story of Abraham reminds us that our journey with God begins with His initiative, not our own efforts. [08:35]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God's grace initiating a change in your life before you even sought Him? How can you respond to this grace today?


Day 2: Faith Leads to Righteousness
Abraham's belief in God's promise was counted as righteousness, teaching us that faith, not works, is the path to being right with God. This faith was not just in the promise of descendants but in the greater promise of a coming Savior, which Abraham glimpsed and believed. Our faith, like Abraham's, looks to Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God's promise. This understanding calls us to trust in God's promises, knowing that our righteousness comes through faith in Christ. [14:28]

Hebrews 11:8-10 (ESV): "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God."

Reflection: What is one promise of God that you find difficult to trust fully? How can you take a step of faith today to trust in that promise?


Day 3: The Cost of God's Promise
The story of Abraham and Isaac foreshadows the sacrifice of Jesus, illustrating the profound cost of God's promise. In Genesis 22, God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac, a narrative that reflects the ultimate sacrifice of God's own Son, Jesus Christ, for the salvation of the world. This story invites us to reflect on the depth of God's love and the cost of our redemption, where the Father and the Son were united in the plan of salvation. [35:35]

Romans 8:32 (ESV): "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"

Reflection: How does understanding the cost of God's promise in Jesus Christ change the way you view your own sacrifices for God? What is one way you can respond to this love today?


Day 4: The Unity of the Father and the Son
The narrative of Abraham and Isaac emphasizes the oneness of the Father and the Son in the act of salvation. Just as Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice, Jesus carried the cross, reflecting the unity and purpose in the divine plan of salvation. This unity is a powerful testament to the divine love and purpose in bringing blessing to the world, inviting us to marvel at the depth of God's love and the intricacy of His plan for redemption. [37:42]

John 10:30 (ESV): "I and the Father are one."

Reflection: How does the unity of the Father and the Son in the plan of salvation inspire you to seek unity in your relationships? What is one step you can take today to foster unity with others?


Day 5: Worship and Gratitude in Response to Sacrifice
Reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus should lead us to worship and gratitude. Recognizing the cost of our redemption compels us to respond with love and service, mirroring the self-giving love of God. As we consider the depth of God's love and the sacrifice made for our salvation, we are called to live lives of worship and gratitude, responding to God's grace with a heart full of thankfulness and a life dedicated to His service. [39:37]

Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: In what ways can you express gratitude to God for His sacrifice today? How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine as a response to His love?

Quotes

"God introduces himself as the creator and therefore as our owner. He filled the lives of the first man and the first woman with good gifts: a happy home, fulfilling work, a loving marriage, and most of all, fellowship with God himself. Everything that the first man and the first woman knew was good, but they decided that what they wanted was the knowledge of evil, and we've been stuck with it ever since." [00:24:57]

"God had promised that evil, this knowledge of evil, would not have the final word, and so he intervened in a drastic judgment, cutting back the human race to just one family, the family of Noah. Noah emerged from the ark almost like a new Adam, as it were, one family to restart the world. But guess what? The one family that restarted the world, they had the seeds of the knowledge of evil in them, and it wasn't long before the whole thing was multiplying again." [00:116:24]

"God's promise to Abraham was not just for him but for all the families of the earth, indicating that through Abraham’s lineage, a blessing would come to all nations. This promise is a profound act of grace. God sought Abraham, not because of Abraham’s righteousness or pursuit of God, but because of God’s own initiative and grace." [00:336:88]

"God went looking for Abraham long before Abraham was ever looking for God, and you know what? God has been looking for you long before you ever thought about looking for God. That's grace. It's as if God says right here in Genesis in chapter 12, and this would be true in regards to all of us, 'If I'm going to wait for them to seek me, they'll never come, so I will seek them, I will find them, I will bless them.' That's grace." [00:517:83]

"Abraham believed the promise of God, and in chapter 15, we're told about how his faith was strengthened. Verse 1: 'The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Fear not, Abraham, I am your shield, and your reward will be very great.' And Abraham has a question. He said, 'Oh Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?'" [00:754:39]

"Abraham believed God, and God counted this believing to Abraham as righteousness. Now, three questions: First, I want you to notice very clearly why God counted Abraham righteous. Why did God count Abraham righteous? Was it because Abraham obeyed the command of God? No, it doesn't say Abraham obeyed and God counted it to him as righteousness." [00:886:48]

"Abraham was saved in exactly the same way as any of us are saved today, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Abram's faith looked forward to what Christ would accomplish in the same way as our faith looks back to what our Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished. It is by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ that we are made right with God." [00:1144:72]

"God's promise comes at unimaginable cost. At unimaginable cost. Genesis chapter 22: After these things, so Isaac, the promised son, is now born, and roll the story forward by some years, and we read after these things, God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham,' and he said, 'Here I am.' God said, 'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I shall tell you.'" [00:1513:76]

"Abraham seems to understand that if the blessing of God is to flow to the world, a sacrifice must be made. And maybe it was his own conscience that told him that. Back in chapter 17 in verse 1, God had said in making the covenant with Abraham, 'Walk before me and be blameless,' and Abraham knew he was nowhere near blameless." [00:1694:84]

"Abraham believed that God would provide the sacrifice. There's this poignant moment as Abraham and his son Isaac walk up the mountain, and in verse seven, Isaac says to his father Abraham, 'My father,' and Abram says, 'Here I am, my son.' And Isaac says, 'Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?' And Abram said, verse 8, 'God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.'" [00:1774:39]

"God steps in. The angel of the Lord calls out from heaven, verse 12, 'Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him,' and God himself provides the sacrifice. That's the whole point of the story, that a sacrifice must be made, but God is the one who provides it. Verse 13: Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him there was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns." [00:1929:84]

"God the Father gave up his son for us. God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, and God the Son freely and willingly laid down his life for us. Think of this as you read that Isaac carried the wood on his back. Here's Jesus, and he's carrying the wood on these shoulders. The weight of the cross was upon him. It's all pointing to Jesus." [00:2170:07]

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Transcript
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