Birth of a Nation—the Forerunner for Church
- Sermon By: William Subash
- Categories: Birth of a Nation—the Forerunner for Church
Sermon: Birth of a Nation—the Forerunner for Church
Bible Passage: Genesis 12:1-9
I. The Good News from our previous sessions:
1. God came in search of man when he failed God miserably by listening to Satan (Gen 3:9)
2. God would crush the head of Satan who constantly work against God— (Gen 3:15)
3. God clothed man with animal skin when he could not stand before God (Gen 3:21)
4. God provided Seth when Cain killed Abel so that there would be a line for the Seed to arrive (Gen 4:25, cf. Luke 3:36-38)
5. God showed favor to Noah (Gen 6:8)
6. After the flood, God blessed Noah and his generations to “be fruitful, multiply, and have stewardship over the earth” (Gen 9:1, 7)
7. But those who left Noah’s Ark wanted to build their own name thereby interrupted God’s plan (Gen 11:1-9)
8. People wanted to make a name for themselves by defying God’s plan, but in this passage, we see that God will make a name for Abram and thereby bless the world (Gen 11:4 & 12:2)
II. Today’s Text: Gen 12:1-9
2. God would crush the head of Satan who constantly work against God— (Gen 3:15)
3. God clothed man with animal skin when he could not stand before God (Gen 3:21)
4. God provided Seth when Cain killed Abel so that there would be a line for the Seed to arrive (Gen 4:25, cf. Luke 3:36-38)
5. God showed favor to Noah (Gen 6:8)
6. After the flood, God blessed Noah and his generations to “be fruitful, multiply, and have stewardship over the earth” (Gen 9:1, 7)
7. But those who left Noah’s Ark wanted to build their own name thereby interrupted God’s plan (Gen 11:1-9)
8. People wanted to make a name for themselves by defying God’s plan, but in this passage, we see that God will make a name for Abram and thereby bless the world (Gen 11:4 & 12:2)
II. Today’s Text: Gen 12:1-9
1. God speaks to Abram under three “not good circumstances”
a. Terah died (Gen 11:32)
b. Interrupted journey (Gen 11:31)
c. Barrenness of Sarah, Abram’s wife
2. God chooses Abram
b. Interrupted journey (Gen 11:31)
c. Barrenness of Sarah, Abram’s wife
2. God chooses Abram
a. Abram was an idolator from Ur
b. God’s choice of Abram was a sovereign election, not out of Abram’s merit
c. This choice may be called “God’s unconditional election of Abram”
d. In other words, nothing in the side of Abram that necessitated God to choose Abram
e. Abram was as lost as others who were in Ur that he deserved condemnation and death, but God chose him
f. Election of Abram becomes a model for the NT understanding of the election of the followers of Jesus Christ
g. That is, nothing in a believer necessitates his/her election in Jesus by God—it’s a sovereign choice
h. Gen 12:1-3 is God’s unconditional covenant
b. God’s choice of Abram was a sovereign election, not out of Abram’s merit
c. This choice may be called “God’s unconditional election of Abram”
d. In other words, nothing in the side of Abram that necessitated God to choose Abram
e. Abram was as lost as others who were in Ur that he deserved condemnation and death, but God chose him
f. Election of Abram becomes a model for the NT understanding of the election of the followers of Jesus Christ
g. That is, nothing in a believer necessitates his/her election in Jesus by God—it’s a sovereign choice
h. Gen 12:1-3 is God’s unconditional covenant
i. The fulfillment of the covenant is purely based on God’s faithfulness and His reliability
j. In this covenant there are two components: (1) promise and (2) blessing
k. Promise is purely from God
l. But the enjoyment of the blessing is dependent on human response in obedience
m. In this unconditional covenant, there are two further components: “already” (present) and “not yet” (future)
n. The “already” component of Gen 12:1-3:
j. In this covenant there are two components: (1) promise and (2) blessing
k. Promise is purely from God
l. But the enjoyment of the blessing is dependent on human response in obedience
m. In this unconditional covenant, there are two further components: “already” (present) and “not yet” (future)
n. The “already” component of Gen 12:1-3:
3. The formation of nation Israel, Abram’s son Isaac, etc.
4. The “not yet” part of Gen 12:1-3 is the arrival of the ultimate seed “Jesus”
4. The “not yet” part of Gen 12:1-3 is the arrival of the ultimate seed “Jesus”
a. The unconditional covenant runs from the Old Testament to the New Testament—it does not expire as in the case of Mosaic Covenant
5. God’s unilateral command to Abram (verse 1)
5. God’s unilateral command to Abram (verse 1)
a. There is no “if” in God’s command
b. “Go out from your land and from your relatives, and from the house of your father, to the land that I will show you”
c. That is, Abram had to resume the interrupted journey
6. God’s promise to Abram has four sections:
b. “Go out from your land and from your relatives, and from the house of your father, to the land that I will show you”
c. That is, Abram had to resume the interrupted journey
6. God’s promise to Abram has four sections:
a. “I will make you a great nation” (verse 2a)—land and children when his wife was still barren
b. “I will bless you, and I will make your name great”—name and reputation
c. “You will be a blessing” (verse 2b)—missional global influence
d. “I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse. And all families of the earth will be blessed in you” (verse 3)—divine protection
b. “I will bless you, and I will make your name great”—name and reputation
c. “You will be a blessing” (verse 2b)—missional global influence
d. “I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse. And all families of the earth will be blessed in you” (verse 3)—divine protection
i. God’s promise to Abraham was not purely for the benefit of his family
ii. Isa 49:6 I will make you a light to the nations, so you can bring my deliverance to the remote regions of the earth
iii. Gal 3:8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you (NIV)
III. Abram responds God’s promises with “obedience” which is the platform to enjoy the blessings
ii. Isa 49:6 I will make you a light to the nations, so you can bring my deliverance to the remote regions of the earth
iii. Gal 3:8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you (NIV)
III. Abram responds God’s promises with “obedience” which is the platform to enjoy the blessings
1. Abram went out as God had told him (verse 4a)—to Canaan (the larger territory)—Moreh, Shechem, Bethel, and Negev
2. Abram was seventy-five years old when he went out from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife (verses 4b-5a)
3. God appeared to Abram in Canaan and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” And he built an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared to him (verse 7)
4. Abram built altars in Moreh, Shechem, Bethel, and Negev
5.Abram’s response to God’s covenant was an expensive one
2. Abram was seventy-five years old when he went out from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife (verses 4b-5a)
3. God appeared to Abram in Canaan and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” And he built an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared to him (verse 7)
4. Abram built altars in Moreh, Shechem, Bethel, and Negev
5.Abram’s response to God’s covenant was an expensive one
a. “Go out from your land and from your relatives, and from the house of your father, to the land that I will show you” (verse 1)
b. “Abram went out as God told him” (verse 4)
b. “Abram went out as God told him” (verse 4)
6. Abram’s response of obedience became the channel through which God’s promises of land, name, missional presence, and protection began to be realized
a. Obedience was lacking in the Garden of Eden
b. Now, obedience is the ingredient to access God’s blessings
c. In other words, Abram’s obedience to God’s command unleashes God’s blessings
b. Now, obedience is the ingredient to access God’s blessings
c. In other words, Abram’s obedience to God’s command unleashes God’s blessings
7. The formation and existence of the nation Israel is God’s work, and this nation has a missional function
8. It all began with a man’s obedience, fruit of his faith
IV. God used the nation Israel to give birth to the Seed of the woman (Gal 4:4)
8. It all began with a man’s obedience, fruit of his faith
IV. God used the nation Israel to give birth to the Seed of the woman (Gal 4:4)
1. Jesus preached and inaugurated the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14)
2. At Jesus’ ministry, the Kingdom of God started spreading (cf. Luke 11:20)
V. Birth of nation Israel mirrors (type) of the birth of the Church
2. At Jesus’ ministry, the Kingdom of God started spreading (cf. Luke 11:20)
V. Birth of nation Israel mirrors (type) of the birth of the Church
1. Abram’s obedience is a type of Jesus’ obedience—Jesus the New Abram
2. Those who receive God’s offer through Jesus by faith become constituent members of the Church
3. Each member responds to the divine call through obedience
4. The divine call in Jesus has both promises and blessings—the obedience to God’s promises unleashes the enjoyment of blessings
5. The children of the New Abraham, the Church, the assembly of those who responded to God in obedience is in a true sense live out Gen 12:1-3—just as the nation Israel the Church has a missional presence in the world
6. The followers of Jesus access Gen 12:1-3 through Jesus, the New Abraham
7. The Church didn’t replace nation Israel, but it contains the “already” (present) aspects of Abrahamic blessings
2. Those who receive God’s offer through Jesus by faith become constituent members of the Church
3. Each member responds to the divine call through obedience
4. The divine call in Jesus has both promises and blessings—the obedience to God’s promises unleashes the enjoyment of blessings
5. The children of the New Abraham, the Church, the assembly of those who responded to God in obedience is in a true sense live out Gen 12:1-3—just as the nation Israel the Church has a missional presence in the world
6. The followers of Jesus access Gen 12:1-3 through Jesus, the New Abraham
7. The Church didn’t replace nation Israel, but it contains the “already” (present) aspects of Abrahamic blessings
a. The Holy Spirit, messianic forgiveness (justification), life in the church, etc., is a blessing through the obedience of the New Abraham (cf. Gen 12:1-3)
b. The “not yet” (future) aspect of Gen 12:1-3 will see the Messiah establishing the Kingdom
b. The “not yet” (future) aspect of Gen 12:1-3 will see the Messiah establishing the Kingdom
8. God has a special relationship with both the nation Israel and the Church
9. Both carry God’s promises and have missional responsibility
Takeaway:
9. Both carry God’s promises and have missional responsibility
Takeaway:
Fulfill God’s missional responsibility towards the world through your obedience