Sunday, December 19, 2010

January 11 (Genesis 12; Matthew 11; Nehemiah 1; Acts 11)


Genesis 12 is a major turning point in God’s unfolding plan of redemption. From this point on God begins dealing not with scattered individuals but a collective people, a race of people that will become the Jewish people and eventually lead to the people of the New Covenant. In other words, this is the starting point for every current day believer in Jesus Christ. We are included in this promise made to Abraham 4,000 or so years ago. This is seen in the words God says to Abraham, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (v.3) Lest we miss the importance of this the book of Genesis will repeat it (18:18; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14) and the rest of the Bible will pick up on its theme. Indeed, The first preachers of the gospel saw the promises made to Abraham fulfilled in what Jesus of Nazareth accomplished. (Acts 3:25; Rom.4; Gal.3:8, etc.) This is what Acts 11 is all about today. Peter is telling how God saved Cornelius and his buddies. Pure Gentiles saved and brought into the kingdom. It may have lost its wonder on us but for the first believers this was amazing. “So then, God has granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life as well.”(v.18) It should still be amazing that we can sing, “Father Abraham” and know that we are one of his sons because of Christ’s work on our behalf!

1 comment:

  1. What I thought was kinda different here is, in Genesis Abram was being sent out, go to the land of Canaan. I would say that this is a privilege. Nehemiah is looking to get sent back and the king grants his petition by having his favor, so thats a privilege. Matthew writes about Jesus telling how with privilege comes responsiblity and in Acts. Well in Acts its funny because it seems like things get turned around. Peter has a responsiblity first to his vision. Then the privilege of acknowledging the vision that God had called the Gentiles to repentance unto life.
    So to summarize, Abram had the privilege of Canaan and the responsiblity of being the father of many nations, Nehemiah had the privilege of going back to Jerusalem and the responsiblity of building the wall, then in the New Testament, Peter has the responsiblity to his vision then the privilege to accept Gentiles as a part of God's plan. It might be just how I read it but I thought it was worth mentioning. Sorry I've been away for so long. Bro Doug

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