God's Big Picture: Genesis 28

CIT: For someone to truly follow God they must truly know God.

Jacob’s family followed God, but he followed his own way

God breaks into Jacob’s story

Jacob learns who God truly is

We must learn who God truly is and believe him

Jacob’s family followed God, but he followed his own way

Jacob’s grandparents, Abraham and Sarah, followed God Hebrews 11:17-19

Jacob’s parents, Isaac and Rebekah, followed God Hebrews 11:20

Jacob wanted his own success Genesis 27:36

God breaks into Jacob’s story

While Jacob is going his own way God breaks into his story to reveal himself to Jacob

Jacob has a vision in the middle of the night (Gen. 28:12-15) similar to his father in Gen. 15

God gives Jacob the same covenant promise he had given to Abraham and Isaac

This is not because Jacob had earned the promise, it is solely because of God’s grace

This is similar to Paul’s story

Acts 9:1-6

His conversion was not because he had done enough good to earn redemption, it was because God broke into his story by his grace

Jacob learns who God truly is

Jacob learns that God intends to bless him

Gen. 28:13-15

Jacob learns that God intends to dwell with humanity

Gen. 28:12

We must learn who God truly is and believe him

It is my fear that many of you sitting here tonight think that you are Christians when in reality you are not. You think that since you’ve gone to church your whole life, have been a good kid, and may have even prayed a specific prayer when you young you are definitely a Christian, but the sad reality is that you are far from God.

In order to be a Christian you must believe in the true God of the Bible.

We learn who God truly is in the gospel

John 1:14

John 3:16-18

You must ask yourself a tough question tonight...

Is my understanding of the gospel correct?

Creation - Genesis 1:27

Rebellion - Romans 3:10, 23

Redemption - John 3:16

New Creation - Revelation 21:1-4

Ultimately this all comes down to...

Is my belief in God or myself?

Matthew 7:24-27