Genesis 12:1-3

The Gospel According to Abraham

Introduction

Today back to basics. The Gospel. The Gospel according to Abraham. God’s method has always been to call His people to Himself, and for them to respond with obedience and faith. See that in Abraham.

Historical moment of the continuation of the seed promise through Abraham

The reality of the Gospel as it has always been, always required: Obedience and faith.

Overview, story so far…

Last week: God at work through death and barrenness to bring us to Abram

The seed promise continued

Sin came into the world, got worse and worse

The flood was the great reset

Even in God’s faithful servant Noah sin was found

Rebelion at the tower of Babel.

Not God’s way man’s way

Not God’’s name, man’s name

But God’s promise continues - line fro Shem to Abraham

Adam to Shem …and he died…and he died…

But from Shem to Abraham no emphasis on death, hope.

Though confronted with barreness. Waiting for a child. How?

-tension. Don’t break that tension yet. It is built. Awesome promise to an old man.

Important milestone in the history of redemption. Covenant with Noah —> Covenant with Abraham.

Also simplicity of the gospel. Gospel according to Abraham.

Sermon Outline:

As we look at Genesis 12:1-3 we consider 2 questions that show the grace of the Gospel, the Gospel according to Abram:

What Is Required of Abram?

What Is Promised by God?

What Is Required of Abram?

Genesis 12:1 ESV

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

Explanation

Now the LORD said

This is YHWH speaking to Abram. Insignificant?

When did the LORD last speak? Genesis 9

Tower of Babel, and then it was to himself.

Last spoke to man Genesis 9 in His covenant with Noah. Only 3 chapters ago, but so much time has passed! Looking at the genealogy of Genesis 11 - 100s of years.

Suddenly God speaks. He speaks to Abram.

Who you gonna call?!

Abram - seed promise in mind - described his wife as barren.

Ur of the Chaldeans.

In Shinar. Near Babylon.

What good can come from there?!

Nimrod rebelled. Babel built.

Joshua 24:2 “And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.”

God speaks to Abram?! An idol worshipping old man without children and with a barren wife.

What does He say to Abram? What does God require of Abram?

1 imperative, 1 command: Go

Emphasised - you! go!

from

your country

your people

your father’s household

Country = earth, land. place you live. Surroundings.

People = kindred, relatives, family

Father’s house = not just the building, but household

Authority, possessions, inheritance, security

Give up - everything you hold dear, that might bring you safety and comfort. Go.

Danger in this. Unsure future.

To

the land I will show you

Go! Not just to a land but the land

= something special in mind.

God, who hasn’t spoken to man for hundreds of years picks some nobody amongst a land of idol worshippers. with a barren wife. Give up everything that brings you security. Everything you hope in. Go!

What is required of Abram?

Obedience and faith are required

(Obedience that comes from faith

genuine faith is accompanied by obedience.

God’s people do God’s will - characteristic of them.

God sovereignly calls on Abram and requires everything from Him.

Note though it is an obedience that doesn’t know the end result. He doesn’t know what land. Where, what it’s like. Who already lives there.

This is a call to ongoing faith. To Keep going. To keep trusting = relationship.

Is this is? Is this it? Are we there yet?

Application

1 the historical significance of this:

God brings his promise to bear through Abram. He is nothing special, and in fact with a barren wife it seems impossible that the seed promise would continue. But God sets himself up for glory by showing that He can do all things.

Rejoice at what God can do through nobodies like us!

Rejoice that God does fulfil His promises

Worship God in the call of Abram

2 the practical significance of this:

What is required of us when God reveals himself to us?

Obedience. Faith.

Weighing up am I Christian - are their signs of faith. Good.

Simple obedience. If God has revealed himself to you. You know that God exists. You know you are a sinner and Jesus died for you. The right response is obedience and faith. Believing, follow. Wherever it leads.

You might not have to give up your country and your family and go to far off lands. But you will have to give up other things that give you security. Idols that you might be trusting in. things you might be hanging on to.

How does God call you to go today?

Go to church? Hebrews 10:25 “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Go to your brother Matthew 18:15 ““If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”

We are all called to obedience. What does that look like in your life? All have different barriers to obedience.

Ongoing obedience. Never arrive until we get to heaven or Christ returns. Not simply a decision to affirm we need a Saviour. Saving faith is characterised by obedience to Scripture.

Obedience when I’m not sure what the outcome will be.

Summary

In the Gospel according to Abram, What Is Required of Abraham? Obedience. Faith.

This is required of all of us when God is revealed to us.

What Is Promised by God?

Genesis 12:2–3 “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

Explanation

God makes 7 promises to Abraham

Great nation

Irony. Babel didn’t want to scatter, wanted to be together - form a great nation.

God is providing that to Abraham by commanding him to go. Tied to the land promise - a nation needs land.

God could have said people- a nomadic people, but he specifies land - go to the land I will show you - to make a nation.

Bless you

General statement - wealth, possessions, status. Favoured by God. We see that play out. He is looked after by God. He has right standing with God.

Great name

Again irony. At the Tower of Babel they wanted to make a name for themselves. By being obedient to God Abram will receive that which men sought by themselves.

The point is not: you can get what you want by obeying God.

The point is our purpose is to glorify God - to make His name great. Reward does come with that, but our purpose is not in the reward.

Just as we may do things for our parents - is it only for reward, avoidance of punishment? Sometimes there is that. But I would hope, on the whole, it is for the joy of knowing we have pleased our parents. We have put a smile on their face.

So too with serving God, glorifying God, making a name for God - to bring His smile upon us.

But then marvel that reward comes too!

Make you a blessing

Gods calling on His people, Gods promises have a bigger impact than on just those involved.

Daniel’s wisdom benefitted the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar.

Joseph’s faithfulness to God meant Egypt and wider world saved through 7 years of famine.

Where there is biblical morality things generally go well - there is justice, social cohesion.

Where God’s people are, there God is —> ultimate blessing of knowing and being right with God Psalm 133:3 “…For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”

Bless those who bless you

Curse those who curse you

Protection and vengeance. God looks after His people.

He calls for their obedience, and He protects them.

Even in their disobedience He doesn’t obliterate them.

Exile, restoration. Even now - they have a country

In the future they will be restored Romans 11:25–26 “… a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved…

Through history —> blesses those who bless His people, and curses those who curse. Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70AD - where are they now?

Revelation presents the nations coming against Israel. God fights for them - its in the name: Isra-el.

Bless all people through you

Israel has blessed the nations in so many ways - In king David and Solomon’s time there was great prosperity, over the centuries the Jews have provided great scientific breakthroughs and certainly they are known for their financial skill - which has benefits to the communities around them.

The blessing for Israel was always not to end with them but to go through them to the world. Not just for His people. As you read the NT it does seem they missed the point and became quite isolationist and proud as a nation.

There is a warning to us in that - we are God’s people, it shouldn’t make us proud.

The main way

The world is blessed through Gods people:

Through them reveals himself

Through them fulfil the seed promise to reverse the curse.

Application

What a promise to Abram. A promise of salvation!

I’m guessing he didn’t know the significance to start with.

God’s kingdom would come through Abraham, God’s seed promise - plan of redemption for all mankind would come through Abraham. What a privilege. What a blessing to Him and through Him to everyone who would believe.

A promise to be blessed and be a blessing

How do we respond to this? Marvel at the Lord’s grace and mercy to call Abram.

To provide such blessings to him.

Understand the flow of history - it is not for anything special in Israel that Israel were used to bring glory to God. It is merely His sovereign choice and good pleasure

Deuteronomy 7:7–8 “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers…”

Gospel according to Abraham - when God reveals himself obedience and faith are required of us. And in return He blesses His people. He provides for his people. Not because of anything we do, but because He first loved us, and He keeps His promises.

Summary

In the Gospel according to Abram, Promised by God? Everything. He does the work of blessing.

What we give up, He replaces.

What we lack, He provides.

Where we are attacked, He defends.

What we need, He gives.

First and foremost that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, saving us from our sins.

Conclusion:

Application

As we look at Genesis 12:1-3 we ask 2 questions that show the grace of the Gospel, the Gospel according to Abraham:

What Is Required of Abram? Obedience, faith

What Is Promised by God? Everything. Provision.

This is always God’s way.

Whether we are looking at the continuation of his plan of redemption through Abraham, or our initial salvation, or our ongoing calling as Christians.

God provides. Our response to His call is obedience and faith.

Initial faith. He has revealed himself to you.

You are a sinner. you need a saviour. He is Christ the Lord.

Your obedient response is faith:

He paid for your sin so you are free.

Free to serve him

Your ongoing walk of faith is obedience to Him.

How is God calling you to Go? What obedience is needed from you?

Initial call of faith? To give up things that comfort you that get in the way of faith?

Or perhaps you know Him as saviour already. But do you know Him as Lord? They can’t be separated, actually.

Are you calling Him Lord but in practice ignoring His commands?

The blessing of God comes through obedience.

Lockdown song “The Blessing” based on Numbers 6:24–26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Great words. Biblical words. They sang these words of blessing in order to bless the people of the channel islands.

Nice sentiment, but there was no gospel. Blessing comes through obedience to God.

People have asked me to bless their houses. My prayers would be along the lines of “Lord may this house be a place where your will is done, where people obey your commands, first to repent and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, then to serve you obediently, receiving the blessing of obedience.”

People want the blessing but not the obedience.

People treat the blessing of God like some magic spell.

As we look at the Gospel according to Abraham:

What does obedience and faith look like?

How does a promise-keeping God affect you?

Marvel at the way God kept His promises to provide the seed promise. To save His people

Observe the way the Gospel works:

Obedience and faith are required of us

Bountiful blessings are provided by God

God keeps His promises