God Made Promise to Abraham

 

 God Made Promise to Abraham

 

Hebrews 6:13

 

For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

 

God’s promise to Abraham was actually to Abraham and his seed. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). There are two distinct families among the children of Abraham, that are of great significance in the spiritual history of the patriarch. Ishmael was Abraham’s son by Hagar the Egyptian. Hagar was Sarah’s bondwoman, whom Sarah gave to her husband because Sarah was barren. It is said of Ishmael that he was born “after the flesh” that is, in the strength of nature, and by natural generation (Galatians 4:23). Ishmael was the first born and was representative of man as he is born in this world under bondage of the law (Galatians 4:25).

 

Sarah also had a son; but this son was by miraculous birth. God had promised that Sarah would conceive and bear a son. But Sarah thought that time had robbed her of conception, for the time had been long since the promise had been made and Sarah was now of great age. Motivated by unbelief, Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham, but God was nonetheless faithful to His promise, for at the set time God visited Sarah and she conceived. Isaac the son of promise was born by strength given Sarah which exceeded natural strength (Hebrews 11:11). The scriptures do not give particulars concerning the changes in the body of Sarah which were necessary for this birth to occur. There may have been, and very likely were changes in Sarah’s outward appearance. In as much as Abimelech was attracted to Sarah, her youthful vitality and vigor of youth may have been apparent even though she was ninety years old (Genesis 20:1-6; compared with Genesis 12:11). After he had restored Sarah to Abraham, Abimelech reproved Sarah, saying, “Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved” (Genesis 20:16). Abimelech meant that Abraham, being the husband of Sarah was a covering of the eyes, to all who were around her. She being the wife of Abraham, would not be looked upon as though she were unmarried.

 

Sarah had ceased her reproductive cycle earlier (Genesis 18:11). Both Abraham and Sarah were well past reproductive years. But they were both brought again from the dead figuratively for it is written: “Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also”? (Genesis 18:12). And in the New Testament the Apostle Paul wrote: “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead (that is raise Isaac from the dead: writer); from whence also he received him in a figure” (Hebrews 11:19). “Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable” (Hebrews 11:12).

 

 

Isaac is the child of promise, (Galatians 4:28). And it is written, in Isaac shall thy seed (that is Abraham’s spiritual seed; writer) be called: “And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Genesis 21:12). And in the New Testament “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called (Romans 9:7). And again: “Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Hebrews 11:18). Believers are the spiritual seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:6-7; Romans 2:28-29), they are the true Israel of God (Galatians 6:16), and the children of promise as was Isaac (Galatians 4:28). Believers are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant, as it is written: “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, and in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed” (Acts 3:25).

 

The children of the covenant (believers), being children of Abraham are partakers of the spiritual blessings God promised to Abraham, when he said, blessing I will bless thee. As it is written: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:3-6). And it is written: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14).

 

The children of the covenant receive all the spiritual blessings of the covenant because they are and have always been children of the covenant. They are merely receivers of all spiritual blessedness, they contribute nothing to bring the blessings of the covenant to themselves. They are partakers of the blessings of the covenant according to the purpose and grace of God which was given them in Christ before the world was made (II Timothy 1:9). “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision” (Romans 4:6-10). The promise of God to Abraham was unconditional, for it is written: “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith” (Romans 4:13). And because faith is a covenant gift of God through grace, the promise is sure to all the seed. As it is written: “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:16; Hebrews 9:15).

 

Ishmael was a son of Abraham as was Isaac. But Ishmael was not of the children of promise, for Ishmael was born through the strength of the flesh, through natural generation. But Isaac was born of the strength of the promise. Ishmael’s birth was in and by the ordinary nature of men. Isaac’s birth was completely above nature, it was supernatural, and by the personal operation and power of the Holy Ghost, who gave Sarah conception because of the promise. The birth of Isaac was a miracle of Divine Grace, through the power and promise of God. And the spiritual birth of every child of God is a miracle of the same Divine proportions.

 

Ishmael was of “Israel after the flesh” (I Corinthians 10:18; John 10:26) who partake of the external privileges (that is, privileges that are not of a spiritual and eternal nature) as the natural children of Abraham. “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 9:4-5). But these children of the flesh are not the children of God, as it is written: “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed” (Romans 9:6-8). The promises of the Old Testament which were made to national Israel mentioned above (Romans 9:4-5) are natural and are conditioned on the obedience of Israel after the flesh, the natural children of Abraham (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). The promises of the everlasting covenant of grace are for the spiritual seed of Abraham. They are spiritual and eternal promises, and they are conditioned on the obedience of the Son of God.  (II Samuel 23:5; Isaiah 49:8; Hebrews 13:20; Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:15-23 in that order).

 

Ishmael was the son of Sarah’s Egyptian bondwoman, Hagar. God commanded Abraham to: “Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman” (Galatians 4:30). Isaac was the son of the freewoman and he was of the children of promise, for it is written: “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise (Galatians 4:28). These two sons represent the two covenants first, the Old Testament covenant of the law of Moses, which requires strict obedience to the precept of the law, that is, a perfect righteousness, which none of the sons of Adam are able to produce. And so as many as are of the law are under the curse, as it is written: “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10).

 

The new covenant involves those who are believers in Jesus Christ for all salvation, they are children of the promise, the elect of God, and they are born of the promise. They are born by a power not their own, the evidence of their birth of the Spirit is that they believe in Christ alone who finished the work of justification by His blood (Romans 5:9). They are born of the power of the Spirit of God, they are born from above (John 3:3). These children of promise trust the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ as their only solid ground of standing in the grace of God. They trust that their salvation in Jesus Christ is according to the will of God (Hebrews 10:10) and will endure to all eternity.     

AJ Ison

 

See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the true gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Full Assurance of Hope

 

 

The Full Assurance of Hope

 

Hebrews 6: 11-12

 

And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

There is full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:22); and full assurance of understanding (Colossians 2:2), which bring in full assurance of hope.  The Word of God, both incarnate and written, are faith’s foundation and source of full assurance wherein the promise of God is set before us as the covenant of God (Genesis 12:3; 17:7; Galatians 3:18; Ephesians 2:12). The effectual nature of the covenant is presented to the view of faith in that God says, “I will” and “they shall”. When God says “I will” He declares His own eternal and immutable determinations. He declares His own resolutions which are not contingent upon anything outside Himself. When God says “they shall” He declares what shall be effects, of which He is the cause, through the fulfillment of His determinate counsel (Jeremiah 31: 31-34; Jeremiah 32: 38-41; Ezekiel 36: 25-27; Hebrews 8: 10-12).

 

The full assurance of understanding comes to the believer through the power of Spirit of God. As said the Apostle Paul: “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,” (Ephesians 1: 15-18).

 

God visits His dear children of the covenant and gives them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ Jesus; thereby the eyes of their understanding are enlightened, and the children are given “full assurance of understanding”. They are made to know that the strength and infallibility of the covenant is established in the united love, purpose, and grace of the three persons of the Godhead: in the election of the Father, in redemption by the Son, and in the effectual call of the Spirit of God. Furthermore they are reminded that their works have no part in their justification, sanctification, redemption, or wisdom, for, Christ Jesus is all these things to His people. As said the Apostle Paul: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (I Corinthians 1:30). The full assurance of faith, and of understanding, lead to the full assurance of hope.

 

Full assurance of faith rests on the Word and promise of God. Full assurance of understanding rests on the doctrine of Christ. The doctrine of Christ  reveals the person and work of Jesus Christ, whereon is built the immutable stability of the kingdom of God, and the inheritance of the heirs of promise. Therefore the heirs of promise having a good hope through grace, that is, an assured hope, wait patiently for the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34). 

 

Both faith and understanding together bring in the full assurance of hope. Full assurance of hope patiently waits for that which faith has seen and understood. Full assurance of faith, and full assurance of understanding, are causes of full assurance of hope. The Apostle James said “I will show thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Works are proofs of the reality of saving faith, for “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Works of righteousness are not our righteousness, nor are they our redemption, nor our sanctification, for, Jesus Christ alone is: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:5; I Corinthians 1:30). Works of righteousness, do not justify our persons, but works of righteousness justify our faith, by showing that it is truly the gift of God; and is therefore justifying faith and saving faith wherein the persons of the children of God are justified.  

 

The Apostle Paul would have these Hebrew Christians show the same diligence in ministering to the necessities of the saints, “to the full assurance of hope”. By showing the same diligence in ministering to the necessities of the saints the Hebrew Christians did show (to themselves) the evidences of the presence of the gift of God in themselves. As the Apostle James said: “I will show you my faith by my works” likewise these Hebrew Christians had shown (given evidences of) true saving faith to themselves and others. The showing of the same diligence in ministering to the saints, brought to the Hebrew Christians, evidences of true faith unto the full assurance of hope. As faith and understanding are causes of full assurance of salvation, similarly, showing the same diligence in ministering to the necessities of the saints is an evidential cause of the full assurance of hope.

 

The Apostle Paul had charged the Hebrew believers with dullness in hearing (Hebrews 5:11), which had resulted in their being babes in understanding. For when for the length of time they had been exposed to the gospel, they should have been teachers; they needed that someone teach them again the first principles of the oracles of God. As babes the Hebrews had need of the milk of the word; and not of strong meat, that is, they had no ability to ingest, digest, and be nourished by those doctrines of Christ that result in great strength in the faith. Because of lack of use, they did not have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5: 11-14). Therefore the Apostle exhorts the Hebrew Christians “That ye be not slothful” because slothful hearers are apt to be more slothful doers. But rather be followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. It is through faith and patience that the ancients inherited the promises. Faith in the redeeming efficacy of the blood of Christ anchors the soul unto patience.

 

Christians know that the purpose of God cannot fail. The world does not know that, for it is of faith which is a spiritual substance of the kingdom of God, of which this world is ignorant (Hebrews 11:1). Christians have the promise of God: “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David (Christ Jesus: writer). His seed (believers: Galatians 3:7,16,29) shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. (Psalm 89: 34-37). It is written; “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8: 24-25). And again it is written: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:1-5).    

 

AJ Ison

 

 

See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com, hear the true gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.

      

 

 

The Fear of God

 

The Fear of God

 

Romans 3:18

 

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

 

Man was a most noble creature in his original created condition. Man was created in the image of God, he was upright; and regarded as and very good in the eyes of God (Genesis 1: 26-31; Ecclesiastes 7: 29). In Romans 3:18 the Holy Ghost declares the condition of men as they are born in this world after the fall of Adam. This is a lamentation of the woeful condition of the creature in his natural state being totally depraved through the introduction of sin into the human family. The introduction of sin, was the work of Satan, who deceived mother Eve; and brought the covenant head of the race of natural men under spiritual death. Adam in turn propagated the race of natural men, who were born in the image which Adam had contracted through the fall. Because of the fall, the race of natural men is a fallen and spiritually ruined race; and there is no fear of God before their eyes.

 

The fear of God is not innate in the natural man, it is something that was lost in the fall. The fear that God requires is the reverential awe and love of God in the soul of man. It includes the respect, affection, and heart obedience, of the creature for his creator. These are not possessed by man after the fall. Since the fall, the carnal mind (the mind of man at his natural birth) is ever and always hostile toward God. As it is written: “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

 

The fear of God, as God requires it, is a covenant gift of God through grace, by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The fear of God is not something that man is capable of generating, or acquiring separate from the gracious gift of God. At the time appointed of God in the everlasting covenant of grace, God the Holy Ghost puts His fear in the heart of the children of the covenant, as it is written: “And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me” (Jeremiah 32: 39-40).

 

A counterfeit fear of God is “taught by the precept of man” and is not acceptable to God. As it is written: “ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?” (Isaiah 29: 13-16).

 

The fear of God that is acceptable to God is given by God the Holy Ghost. It is not by the will of men, of his decision, or of anything that can be attributed to men. It is divine, not stemming from the nature of the natural man. It is completely out of his universe. It is intended for the children of the covenant of grace, and it is given because of the “purpose of God according to election” as it is written: “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)” (Romans 9: 11). This purpose, grace and love of God was manifested in election, as it is written: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:” (II Timothy 1: 7-10).

 

Moses manifested the fear of God as it is written: “And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Exodus 3: 5). Joshua also manifested this fear: “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5: 13-15). The Psalmists also call for this fear of God: “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” (Psalm 4: 4). And again: “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him” (Psalm 33: 8). In Psalm 89: “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him” (Psalm 89: 7). The prophet saith: “But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him” (Habakkuk 2: 20). Again the Psalmist: “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever” (Psalm 111: 9-10). And it is written: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9: 10).  

AJ Ison

 

See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com hear the true gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.