We must depend on God for our salvation.
We should rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. II Corinthians 1:9
We wait on God for him to strengthen us.
Those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, for He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Isaiah 40:29, 31
We trust in the Lord and don’t take matters into our own hands.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. Psalm 37:5-6
We trust in the Lord to fulfill all his promises.
Show diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12
We cannot depend on anything or anyone else who might want to take God’s place.
Do not put your trust in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, Psalm 146:3-5
If we rely on God and not on our own thinking, he will bless us.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Those who rely on God call out to him to help them.
And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Luke 18:7-8
We focus on God’s kingdom and righteousness and rely on God to meet our needs.
Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31,33.
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Monday, January 19, 2009
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Slavery To Sin
Without Jesus, we are enslaved to sin.
Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” John 8:34
Whatever we focus on, that is what we are enslaved to.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
Even the Commands of the Bible encourages our enslavement by telling us what sin is.
I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died, and the very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. Romans 7:7-8
Without the Spirit, we cannot control ourselves.
I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:14-15
Anything we worship or serve outside of God is fundamentally controlled by demons.
I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. I Corinthians 10:20
Satan is the god and master of those outside of Christ.
If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. II Corinthians 4:3-4
We cannot have both God and another master.
No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24
God will judge anyone who is rebellious to him.
And they shall go out and look at the dead bodies of the people who have rebelled against me; for their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh. Isaiah 66:24
Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” John 8:34
Whatever we focus on, that is what we are enslaved to.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21
Even the Commands of the Bible encourages our enslavement by telling us what sin is.
I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died, and the very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. Romans 7:7-8
Without the Spirit, we cannot control ourselves.
I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Romans 7:14-15
Anything we worship or serve outside of God is fundamentally controlled by demons.
I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. I Corinthians 10:20
Satan is the god and master of those outside of Christ.
If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. II Corinthians 4:3-4
We cannot have both God and another master.
No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24
God will judge anyone who is rebellious to him.
And they shall go out and look at the dead bodies of the people who have rebelled against me; for their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh. Isaiah 66:24
Receiving Forgiveness
God is forgiving, but he punishes those who rebel against him.
The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty. Exodus 34:6-7
We have sinned against God, and so owe him a debt.
Father, forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12
Unless we reconcile with God, we will be thrown into prison for our debt and punished eternally.
Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:25-26
Because of our debt, Satan has a contract out on us to kill us.
The wages of sin is death… Romans 6:23
Through his death, Jesus delivered us from the satanic contract of death.
You were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of flesh. He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14
We gain forgiveness by becoming unified with Christ.
You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:11
We maintain forgiveness by confessing our sins.
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
We show that we have received forgiveness by loving God Greatly.
I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little. Luke 7:47
The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty. Exodus 34:6-7
We have sinned against God, and so owe him a debt.
Father, forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12
Unless we reconcile with God, we will be thrown into prison for our debt and punished eternally.
Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:25-26
Because of our debt, Satan has a contract out on us to kill us.
The wages of sin is death… Romans 6:23
Through his death, Jesus delivered us from the satanic contract of death.
You were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of flesh. He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14
We gain forgiveness by becoming unified with Christ.
You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:11
We maintain forgiveness by confessing our sins.
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
We show that we have received forgiveness by loving God Greatly.
I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little. Luke 7:47
Friday, December 05, 2008
Questions about Abraham and Isaac
Why was Isaac called “laughter”?
Isaac’s birth was something of a cosmic joke. Humor is often seeing something one might expect in one context in a context that you wouldn’t expect it. So the birth of a baby is wonderful and expected, but a birth to a ninety year old is unexpected and, frankly, funny. So everyone, when they heard of it, laughed at the absurdity of it. So they named him “laughter”—which is what Isaac means—so everyone could enjoy God’s cosmic joke.
Why did God tell Abraham to be rid of Hagar and Ishmael?
To send his slave and son into the desert with only a little food and water was against everything that Abraham stood for. But he did so because God himself said that He would protect them. If it weren’t for that promise, Abraham wouldn’t have done it. God told Abraham to do this, because He didn’t want there to be any question as to who would be in the inheritor of Abraham’s promise—it was only Isaac, no one else. Because only Isaac was the one whom God provided, so he could be the only real choice.
Why did God tell Abraham to kill his own son?
It says in the text that God was testing Abraham—he was seeing if Abraham truly loved God as much as he used to. God already knew the answer, but he was proving it to others, even as God proved to Satan that Job was truly righteous (see Job 1 and 2). It was important, for God was placing the entire salvation of the human race into Abraham’s hands. So God was occasionally testing his people to see where they stood with Him.
Why did God repeat Isaac’s name so often?
God repeated Isaac’s name for clarity, and also because what he was saying was so difficult. It is almost as if God was having a hard time making this request. God was expressing his own love for Isaac, even as he was talking about Abraham’s love for his son.
Does God approve of human sacrifice?
Absolutely not. God rejects human sacrifice again and again in the Scriptures, and condemns those who do it (Leviticus 18:21; Jeremiah 32:35; Exodus 13:13-15). Never has God approved of murder, and he has destroyed many civilizations who approve of it.
Isn’t it wrong for God to tempt Abraham to do evil?
This is kind of complicated. Even though it is wrong before God, there are occasions that God commands his people to do what is wrong before Him. And there are times that people do what is evil before God, but they are approved of despite it (See Judges 11). This is because people are so confused about what is right and wrong—even Abraham—that God often has to focus on people’s motivations rather than their actions. In other words, Abraham was willing to kill Isaac, because of his love of God. Others were willing to do other evil things, because of their care. In the same way, people today are willing to kill others in war, even though it is evil, but their motivations are pure. Does this make the action right? Not exactly. It means their motives are pure. But Jesus leads us not only to right motives, but right actions. He tells us exactly what God wants of us, while the rest of the Bible or humanity might be fuzzy or difficult to understand.
Did God tempt Abraham to evil? Not according to Abraham. And God didn’t allow him to do it anyway—he couldn’t allow his servant to do such evil. God knew that if Abraham loved him enough to obey him in this difficult thing, then he would obey in not doing the difficult thing. Morally, this is difficult to understand. But we must accept that God is pure and holy in all his ways, even if we don’t understand.
Why did Abraham agree to give up on what he was promised?
The book of Hebrews said that Abraham was willing because he believed that God would raise Isaac up from the dead (Heb. 11:19, above). Whatever the case, Abraham had waited 25 years for a son and he knew that God wouldn’t forsake his promise, no matter how difficult the circumstance looked. Abraham’s sacrifice is true, ultimate faith in God.
Isaac’s birth was something of a cosmic joke. Humor is often seeing something one might expect in one context in a context that you wouldn’t expect it. So the birth of a baby is wonderful and expected, but a birth to a ninety year old is unexpected and, frankly, funny. So everyone, when they heard of it, laughed at the absurdity of it. So they named him “laughter”—which is what Isaac means—so everyone could enjoy God’s cosmic joke.
Why did God tell Abraham to be rid of Hagar and Ishmael?
To send his slave and son into the desert with only a little food and water was against everything that Abraham stood for. But he did so because God himself said that He would protect them. If it weren’t for that promise, Abraham wouldn’t have done it. God told Abraham to do this, because He didn’t want there to be any question as to who would be in the inheritor of Abraham’s promise—it was only Isaac, no one else. Because only Isaac was the one whom God provided, so he could be the only real choice.
Why did God tell Abraham to kill his own son?
It says in the text that God was testing Abraham—he was seeing if Abraham truly loved God as much as he used to. God already knew the answer, but he was proving it to others, even as God proved to Satan that Job was truly righteous (see Job 1 and 2). It was important, for God was placing the entire salvation of the human race into Abraham’s hands. So God was occasionally testing his people to see where they stood with Him.
Why did God repeat Isaac’s name so often?
God repeated Isaac’s name for clarity, and also because what he was saying was so difficult. It is almost as if God was having a hard time making this request. God was expressing his own love for Isaac, even as he was talking about Abraham’s love for his son.
Does God approve of human sacrifice?
Absolutely not. God rejects human sacrifice again and again in the Scriptures, and condemns those who do it (Leviticus 18:21; Jeremiah 32:35; Exodus 13:13-15). Never has God approved of murder, and he has destroyed many civilizations who approve of it.
Isn’t it wrong for God to tempt Abraham to do evil?
This is kind of complicated. Even though it is wrong before God, there are occasions that God commands his people to do what is wrong before Him. And there are times that people do what is evil before God, but they are approved of despite it (See Judges 11). This is because people are so confused about what is right and wrong—even Abraham—that God often has to focus on people’s motivations rather than their actions. In other words, Abraham was willing to kill Isaac, because of his love of God. Others were willing to do other evil things, because of their care. In the same way, people today are willing to kill others in war, even though it is evil, but their motivations are pure. Does this make the action right? Not exactly. It means their motives are pure. But Jesus leads us not only to right motives, but right actions. He tells us exactly what God wants of us, while the rest of the Bible or humanity might be fuzzy or difficult to understand.
Did God tempt Abraham to evil? Not according to Abraham. And God didn’t allow him to do it anyway—he couldn’t allow his servant to do such evil. God knew that if Abraham loved him enough to obey him in this difficult thing, then he would obey in not doing the difficult thing. Morally, this is difficult to understand. But we must accept that God is pure and holy in all his ways, even if we don’t understand.
Why did Abraham agree to give up on what he was promised?
The book of Hebrews said that Abraham was willing because he believed that God would raise Isaac up from the dead (Heb. 11:19, above). Whatever the case, Abraham had waited 25 years for a son and he knew that God wouldn’t forsake his promise, no matter how difficult the circumstance looked. Abraham’s sacrifice is true, ultimate faith in God.
Abraham and Isaac
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back. Hebrews 11:17-19
I tell you that many will come from east and west and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:11
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. Galatians 4:22-23
Abraham was 100 years old and his wife was 91. Twenty-five years ago, Yahweh promised them that Sarah would be pregnant and she would have a baby boy. They had both laughed when they heard it—they thought it was foolish for them to have a child. But Yahweh reminded them: “Is anything too hard for God?” And now the impossible had happened—Sarah gave birth to a baby boy. When it finally happened, she laughed with joy, saying, “Who could have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children. Yet now, at ninety years old, I have given him a son. God has made laughter for me. Now everyone who hears my news will laugh with me.” And so they called the child “laughter”—Isaac.
Isaac grew and was cared for by his parents. They protected him and watched carefully as he grew in love and understanding. He watched Abraham’s flocks and learned about the care of animals. He was a good child and Abraham loved him with all of his heart.
Soon the day came that Isaac was weaned—he was about three at the time. A party was held for all of Abraham’s household, and Ishmael, Abraham’s thirteen year old son by a slave woman, Hagar, was also attending. In the midst of the party, Ishmael mocked Isaac, knowing that he was the oldest and so legally he had the right to inherit all of Abraham’s household. While Isaac didn’t understand, Sarah did. “I will not have that slave woman and her brat in my household anymore,” Sarah yelled at Abraham. She proclaimed that she wanted Hagar and Ishmael thrown out to the wilderness.
Abraham hesitated, for he did not want to put Hagar in a life-threatening situation. But God told Abraham, “I will care for them. Go ahead and tell them to go.” So Abraham gave them water and food and sent them on their way. It wasn’t long until the water ran out and Hagar was faced with their death in the desert. “Please, don’t let me see my son die!” Hagar cried. Then God spoke to her, “I will not allow either of you to die. Your son will be the father of many nations and they will rule over great and wild lands.” Water was provided for them, they settled into a community of the wilderness, and Ishmael became a great man among the wandering tribes.
Years after this, Yahweh spoke to Abraham, “Abraham!” Abraham replied, “Yes, here I am.” Yahweh said, “I will say this carefully. Take your son—your only son—take your son whom you love so dearly and go to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain there.” Abraham’s face turned dark, but he said nothing. He thought within himself, “How can God do this to me? He promised me Isaac, and he gave me this son at the end of my life. Now is Yahweh going to take him away from me? Why is he forcing me to give Isaac to him as a gift? The boy is Yahweh’s gift to me! Ah, I know—I will offer Isaac up to Yahweh, and Yahweh will return him to me! I will sacrifice him and Yahweh will resurrect him. Of course, it is all clear to me!”
The next morning, before anyone else was up, Abraham prepared for the trip. He got his son Isaac up and left before anyone could ask him what he was doing. After three days, they had reached the mountain. Abraham took the wood and placed it on Isaac’s back and they left the donkeys behind. The two walked up together. Isaac noticed that they were preparing to offer a sacrifice, but was curious. “Father?” “Yes, here I am.” Abraham answered. “I see that we have wood for a fire. But if we are going to offer a sacrifice, where is the lamb?” Abraham replied, “God will provide the lamb for the sacrifice, my son.”
At the top of the mountain, Abraham built an altar and took the wood off of his son’s back and arranged it there. At that point, Abraham turned to his son with rope and tied the boy up tightly, so he couldn’t move. Isaac looked at Abraham with wide eyes as Abraham laid him on top of the wood. Then Abraham pulled out the knife he had hidden and raised it above his son, ready to strike.
“Abraham, stop!” Abraham replied, “Yes, here I am.” An angel revealed himself to Abraham and said, “Do not kill your son. Do nothing to him. You have proven yourself well. You truly fear God and will not hold anything back from Yahweh—not even your son whom you love more than anything else in the world. Now look, and Yahweh will provide a sacrifice for you.” Abraham looked over at some bushes and noticed a ram there, caught in the thicket. Abraham’s shaking hands untied his son, caught the ram and placed it on the altar. And Abraham called that place Yahweh Yaireh—Yahweh will provide.
Yahweh spoke to Abraham again and said, “Your son, your only son you did not keep from me. Because you have demonstrated your love for me, I will bless you greater than any man in the world. Your children will be counted as more than the stars in the sky—like the sand on the seashore. No enemy will overcome them. And in your child all the nations of the earth will be blessed—because you have obeyed my voice. And everyone who loves me as you have, Abraham, will be called a child of Abraham and will inherit the kingdom which I will give to you.”
I tell you that many will come from east and west and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:11
For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. Galatians 4:22-23
Abraham was 100 years old and his wife was 91. Twenty-five years ago, Yahweh promised them that Sarah would be pregnant and she would have a baby boy. They had both laughed when they heard it—they thought it was foolish for them to have a child. But Yahweh reminded them: “Is anything too hard for God?” And now the impossible had happened—Sarah gave birth to a baby boy. When it finally happened, she laughed with joy, saying, “Who could have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children. Yet now, at ninety years old, I have given him a son. God has made laughter for me. Now everyone who hears my news will laugh with me.” And so they called the child “laughter”—Isaac.
Isaac grew and was cared for by his parents. They protected him and watched carefully as he grew in love and understanding. He watched Abraham’s flocks and learned about the care of animals. He was a good child and Abraham loved him with all of his heart.
Soon the day came that Isaac was weaned—he was about three at the time. A party was held for all of Abraham’s household, and Ishmael, Abraham’s thirteen year old son by a slave woman, Hagar, was also attending. In the midst of the party, Ishmael mocked Isaac, knowing that he was the oldest and so legally he had the right to inherit all of Abraham’s household. While Isaac didn’t understand, Sarah did. “I will not have that slave woman and her brat in my household anymore,” Sarah yelled at Abraham. She proclaimed that she wanted Hagar and Ishmael thrown out to the wilderness.
Abraham hesitated, for he did not want to put Hagar in a life-threatening situation. But God told Abraham, “I will care for them. Go ahead and tell them to go.” So Abraham gave them water and food and sent them on their way. It wasn’t long until the water ran out and Hagar was faced with their death in the desert. “Please, don’t let me see my son die!” Hagar cried. Then God spoke to her, “I will not allow either of you to die. Your son will be the father of many nations and they will rule over great and wild lands.” Water was provided for them, they settled into a community of the wilderness, and Ishmael became a great man among the wandering tribes.
Years after this, Yahweh spoke to Abraham, “Abraham!” Abraham replied, “Yes, here I am.” Yahweh said, “I will say this carefully. Take your son—your only son—take your son whom you love so dearly and go to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain there.” Abraham’s face turned dark, but he said nothing. He thought within himself, “How can God do this to me? He promised me Isaac, and he gave me this son at the end of my life. Now is Yahweh going to take him away from me? Why is he forcing me to give Isaac to him as a gift? The boy is Yahweh’s gift to me! Ah, I know—I will offer Isaac up to Yahweh, and Yahweh will return him to me! I will sacrifice him and Yahweh will resurrect him. Of course, it is all clear to me!”
The next morning, before anyone else was up, Abraham prepared for the trip. He got his son Isaac up and left before anyone could ask him what he was doing. After three days, they had reached the mountain. Abraham took the wood and placed it on Isaac’s back and they left the donkeys behind. The two walked up together. Isaac noticed that they were preparing to offer a sacrifice, but was curious. “Father?” “Yes, here I am.” Abraham answered. “I see that we have wood for a fire. But if we are going to offer a sacrifice, where is the lamb?” Abraham replied, “God will provide the lamb for the sacrifice, my son.”
At the top of the mountain, Abraham built an altar and took the wood off of his son’s back and arranged it there. At that point, Abraham turned to his son with rope and tied the boy up tightly, so he couldn’t move. Isaac looked at Abraham with wide eyes as Abraham laid him on top of the wood. Then Abraham pulled out the knife he had hidden and raised it above his son, ready to strike.
“Abraham, stop!” Abraham replied, “Yes, here I am.” An angel revealed himself to Abraham and said, “Do not kill your son. Do nothing to him. You have proven yourself well. You truly fear God and will not hold anything back from Yahweh—not even your son whom you love more than anything else in the world. Now look, and Yahweh will provide a sacrifice for you.” Abraham looked over at some bushes and noticed a ram there, caught in the thicket. Abraham’s shaking hands untied his son, caught the ram and placed it on the altar. And Abraham called that place Yahweh Yaireh—Yahweh will provide.
Yahweh spoke to Abraham again and said, “Your son, your only son you did not keep from me. Because you have demonstrated your love for me, I will bless you greater than any man in the world. Your children will be counted as more than the stars in the sky—like the sand on the seashore. No enemy will overcome them. And in your child all the nations of the earth will be blessed—because you have obeyed my voice. And everyone who loves me as you have, Abraham, will be called a child of Abraham and will inherit the kingdom which I will give to you.”
Abraham, Lot and Sodom
Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it. Ezekiel 36:49-50
It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Luke 17:28-33
Abram and his wife Sarai had waited 24 years to have a son, which is what God promised them. Now Abram was 99 and Sarah was 90. It was not possible for them to have children. But God promised, and so Abram believed, year after year. But sometimes he doubted in his heart that he would truly have a son.
One day Abram sat in front of his tent, as he often did, in order to solve problems that came up, as they often did. Far off, in the distance, Abram saw strangers travelling down the road. They had few provisions, Abram could see—almost no food and water. They must be hungry and tired from their travels, Abram thought. They need some help. So Abram ran to the three strangers and bowed to the ground in front of them. “Sirs” Abram said, his face almost touching the ground, “please would you come to my little place over here and could I offer you some bread and water.” The travelers were impressed by this humble display of hospitality, so they accepted. Abram got up, walked with them to his tent and then told Sarai, “Sarai, please make up a steak dinner for these gentlemen—as much as they please, holding nothing back!”
When this feast was presented, the men were very impressed with Abram’s gracious hospitality, and determined to reward him. The center man looked at Abram and said, “This time next year your wife will give birth to a son.” At this Sarai laughed within herself, thinking, “How can a ninety year old woman give birth to a child?” Abram, though looked at the man and said, “Who are you?” The man replied, “I am Yahweh, your God. So, why did Sarai laugh? Is anything too hard for God?” Sarah replied, “I did not laugh.” And Yahweh said back to Sarai, “Yes, you did. But know this: Sarai will have a child next year, according to my word. And you, Abram, are not to be called ‘father’, but Abraham, ‘father of multitudes.’ And Sarai shall not be called ‘little princess’, but Sarah, ‘princess’ for she shall be the mother of kings.”
Then Yahweh sent the two angels who had traveled with him away to Sodom, to destroy it. Yahweh spoke before Abraham, “Shall I tell Abraham what I am about to do? He is the teacher of my people, to lead them into doing right—should I tell him?” Abraham waited patiently until Yahweh spoke again, “Abraham, I have heard the cry of the poor against Sodom. It is prayed to me that Sodom is wicked and oppresses the poor and the stranger. I have sent my servants to Sodom. If it is true, I will destroy that city and no one will survive.”
Abraham was nervous, but spoke before Yahweh. “Lord, but what of the righteous that live there in Sodom? Should they be destroyed with the wicked? You are just, surely you will not do such a thing. What if fifty righteous people lived in Sodom—would you destroy it then?” Yahweh replied, “No, I will not destroy it then.” Abraham spoke again, “Forgive me Lord, but I must speak. What if there were only ten righteous people in Sodom? Would you destroy it then?” Yahweh replied, “No, I will not destroy it then.” And Yahweh left Abraham.
The messengers of Yahweh walked into Sodom later that evening. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, was waiting by the gate of the city and saw the angels. Thinking they were men, Lot hurriedly invited them to his house. “No,” said the messengers of Yahweh, “we will sleep in the middle of the town. That should be fine, shouldn’t it?” Lot implored them, “Please, sirs. Please stay at my house. It is safer, much safer. Who knows who will attack you at night?” The messengers allowed themselves to be persuaded by Lot. Lot brought them home and offered them dinner.
Just as they were beginning to eat, a knock came on the door. Lot opened the door and saw all of the men of Sodom outside the door with weapons. “Lot,” they said, “we know that you have those two strangers in your house. Be a good man, Lot and let us have them.” Lot replied, “What would you do with them?” The men smiled. “Nothing much. We will just have sex with them all night. They might die, they might not. But they’ll never come back, that’s for sure.” Lot said, “These men are under my protection—I will not allow you to have them.” “All right” said the men, “then we’ll come in and get them. And you will feel yourself, Lot, how we treat strangers here.”
At this time, one of the angels held his hand out the door and a great flash of light blinded all the men. The angels turned to Lot at this time and said, “You need to get out of this town right now. Yahweh has marked this place for destruction. Get out and take all of your family.” Lot went to his family—two daughters, two sons-in-law, and his wife—and told them that they needed to leave immediately. His sons-in-law thought he was joking and went back to sleep. Lot hesitated, saying “Aren’t there others I should take? Shouldn’t I pack? I’m not ready…” The angels grabbed Lot with his wife and daughters and forced them out of the city. “Get out!” they cried. “Don’t stop! And whatever you do, don’t go back, don’t even look back—Sodom will be destroyed in a moment!”
So Lot left Sodom and didn’t look back. Lot’s wife, however, did look back, for she didn’t want to leave her friends and the good life in Sodom. As she turned back, she was turned to a pillar of salt. Lot, however, lived in the wilderness with his daughters for many years. Immediately after the disaster, Lot and his daughters thought the whole world was destroyed. So Lot’s daughters got their father drunk and had sex with him. They each had children who became nations—Ammon and Moab— in later years.
It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Luke 17:28-33
Abram and his wife Sarai had waited 24 years to have a son, which is what God promised them. Now Abram was 99 and Sarah was 90. It was not possible for them to have children. But God promised, and so Abram believed, year after year. But sometimes he doubted in his heart that he would truly have a son.
One day Abram sat in front of his tent, as he often did, in order to solve problems that came up, as they often did. Far off, in the distance, Abram saw strangers travelling down the road. They had few provisions, Abram could see—almost no food and water. They must be hungry and tired from their travels, Abram thought. They need some help. So Abram ran to the three strangers and bowed to the ground in front of them. “Sirs” Abram said, his face almost touching the ground, “please would you come to my little place over here and could I offer you some bread and water.” The travelers were impressed by this humble display of hospitality, so they accepted. Abram got up, walked with them to his tent and then told Sarai, “Sarai, please make up a steak dinner for these gentlemen—as much as they please, holding nothing back!”
When this feast was presented, the men were very impressed with Abram’s gracious hospitality, and determined to reward him. The center man looked at Abram and said, “This time next year your wife will give birth to a son.” At this Sarai laughed within herself, thinking, “How can a ninety year old woman give birth to a child?” Abram, though looked at the man and said, “Who are you?” The man replied, “I am Yahweh, your God. So, why did Sarai laugh? Is anything too hard for God?” Sarah replied, “I did not laugh.” And Yahweh said back to Sarai, “Yes, you did. But know this: Sarai will have a child next year, according to my word. And you, Abram, are not to be called ‘father’, but Abraham, ‘father of multitudes.’ And Sarai shall not be called ‘little princess’, but Sarah, ‘princess’ for she shall be the mother of kings.”
Then Yahweh sent the two angels who had traveled with him away to Sodom, to destroy it. Yahweh spoke before Abraham, “Shall I tell Abraham what I am about to do? He is the teacher of my people, to lead them into doing right—should I tell him?” Abraham waited patiently until Yahweh spoke again, “Abraham, I have heard the cry of the poor against Sodom. It is prayed to me that Sodom is wicked and oppresses the poor and the stranger. I have sent my servants to Sodom. If it is true, I will destroy that city and no one will survive.”
Abraham was nervous, but spoke before Yahweh. “Lord, but what of the righteous that live there in Sodom? Should they be destroyed with the wicked? You are just, surely you will not do such a thing. What if fifty righteous people lived in Sodom—would you destroy it then?” Yahweh replied, “No, I will not destroy it then.” Abraham spoke again, “Forgive me Lord, but I must speak. What if there were only ten righteous people in Sodom? Would you destroy it then?” Yahweh replied, “No, I will not destroy it then.” And Yahweh left Abraham.
The messengers of Yahweh walked into Sodom later that evening. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, was waiting by the gate of the city and saw the angels. Thinking they were men, Lot hurriedly invited them to his house. “No,” said the messengers of Yahweh, “we will sleep in the middle of the town. That should be fine, shouldn’t it?” Lot implored them, “Please, sirs. Please stay at my house. It is safer, much safer. Who knows who will attack you at night?” The messengers allowed themselves to be persuaded by Lot. Lot brought them home and offered them dinner.
Just as they were beginning to eat, a knock came on the door. Lot opened the door and saw all of the men of Sodom outside the door with weapons. “Lot,” they said, “we know that you have those two strangers in your house. Be a good man, Lot and let us have them.” Lot replied, “What would you do with them?” The men smiled. “Nothing much. We will just have sex with them all night. They might die, they might not. But they’ll never come back, that’s for sure.” Lot said, “These men are under my protection—I will not allow you to have them.” “All right” said the men, “then we’ll come in and get them. And you will feel yourself, Lot, how we treat strangers here.”
At this time, one of the angels held his hand out the door and a great flash of light blinded all the men. The angels turned to Lot at this time and said, “You need to get out of this town right now. Yahweh has marked this place for destruction. Get out and take all of your family.” Lot went to his family—two daughters, two sons-in-law, and his wife—and told them that they needed to leave immediately. His sons-in-law thought he was joking and went back to sleep. Lot hesitated, saying “Aren’t there others I should take? Shouldn’t I pack? I’m not ready…” The angels grabbed Lot with his wife and daughters and forced them out of the city. “Get out!” they cried. “Don’t stop! And whatever you do, don’t go back, don’t even look back—Sodom will be destroyed in a moment!”
So Lot left Sodom and didn’t look back. Lot’s wife, however, did look back, for she didn’t want to leave her friends and the good life in Sodom. As she turned back, she was turned to a pillar of salt. Lot, however, lived in the wilderness with his daughters for many years. Immediately after the disaster, Lot and his daughters thought the whole world was destroyed. So Lot’s daughters got their father drunk and had sex with him. They each had children who became nations—Ammon and Moab— in later years.
Expectant Hope
God promised those who follow Jesus a future of wholeness.
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:8
God promised those who follow Jesus to be raised from the dead.
Christ the first fruits was raised, then at his coming those who belong to Christ will be raised. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. I Corinthians 15:23, 26
We live in expectation that God will give this to us.
We hope for what we do not see—the redemption of our bodies—and we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:23,25
We know that we will receive this because God has given us the Holy Spirit.
When you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
If we suffer for Christ, we rejoice, for we know that we will receive God’s good in the end.
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven. Luke 6:22-23
Like the saints of old, we expect this promise to be fulfilled, even if we do not experience it in our lives.
All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Hebrews 11:12, 15-16
Those who mock our hope will be judged on the last day.
In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!" The present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless. II Peter 3:3,4,7
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:8
God promised those who follow Jesus to be raised from the dead.
Christ the first fruits was raised, then at his coming those who belong to Christ will be raised. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. I Corinthians 15:23, 26
We live in expectation that God will give this to us.
We hope for what we do not see—the redemption of our bodies—and we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:23,25
We know that we will receive this because God has given us the Holy Spirit.
When you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
If we suffer for Christ, we rejoice, for we know that we will receive God’s good in the end.
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven. Luke 6:22-23
Like the saints of old, we expect this promise to be fulfilled, even if we do not experience it in our lives.
All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Hebrews 11:12, 15-16
Those who mock our hope will be judged on the last day.
In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!" The present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless. II Peter 3:3,4,7
God's Kingship
God gives blessings and promises to his creation.
God saw that his creation was good. God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." Genesis 1:21-22
God will remain faithful to his promises.
Even if we are faithless, God remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself. II Timothy 2:13
God will continue to provide for his creation.
Matthew 6
God will provide even for those who are unrighteous to him.
Luke 6
God is righteous and demands righteousness of his creation.
For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.
Psalm 11:7
God will judge and destroy whatever of his work rebels against him.
if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 1:20
God will forgive the sins of those who remain in him.
Psalm 103
God saw that his creation was good. God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." Genesis 1:21-22
God will remain faithful to his promises.
Even if we are faithless, God remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself. II Timothy 2:13
God will continue to provide for his creation.
Matthew 6
God will provide even for those who are unrighteous to him.
Luke 6
God is righteous and demands righteousness of his creation.
For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.
Psalm 11:7
God will judge and destroy whatever of his work rebels against him.
if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Isaiah 1:20
God will forgive the sins of those who remain in him.
Psalm 103
God the Creator
God is the creator of heaven and earth.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
Because he created, we know that God is the most powerful being.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Isaiah 40:28-29
Because he is the Creator, God is the rightful king of all creation
O LORD the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. II Kings 19:15
Because he created we know that God is wiser than we can ever understand.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. His understanding is unsearchable. Isaiah 40:28
God is the creator of order, not chaos.
Thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited— "I am the LORD, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:18
Whoever does not acknowledge God as maker of heaven and earth or thank him for his works will be punished.
Though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity. Rom 1:21, 24
Because God created us, we should not question God’s wisdom or judgment or rebel against him.
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands? I made the earth, and created humankind upon it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded their entire host. Isaiah 45:11-12
We should glorify him because he created us.
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
Because he created, we know that God is the most powerful being.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Isaiah 40:28-29
Because he is the Creator, God is the rightful king of all creation
O LORD the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. II Kings 19:15
Because he created we know that God is wiser than we can ever understand.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. His understanding is unsearchable. Isaiah 40:28
God is the creator of order, not chaos.
Thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited— "I am the LORD, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:18
Whoever does not acknowledge God as maker of heaven and earth or thank him for his works will be punished.
Though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity. Rom 1:21, 24
Because God created us, we should not question God’s wisdom or judgment or rebel against him.
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands? I made the earth, and created humankind upon it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded their entire host. Isaiah 45:11-12
We should glorify him because he created us.
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11
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