Does God Work the Same Today as He Did in the Old Testament? (Hebrews 6:13–20)
1 God, or many gods?
1 way to Heaven, or many ways?
Things changed today?
Hebrews 6:13–20 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek High Priest – Next week’s “Who the heck is Melchizedek?” w/Abr Gen 14
Abraham (Genesis 11-25)
- Short list most impactful people in history
- Name around 300 X in Bible, 11 NT books including each 4 gospels
- Heroes faith Hebrews 11 generally 1 verse each person, Moses 6, Abraham 12
Abraham started in a godless culture
Genesis 11:27-32 Terah fathered Abram…The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai…Now Sarai was barren; she had no child. Terah took Abram his son and…Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there….
- Chaldeans (people); Babylon (key city) – moved 300 mi Iraq-Turkey/Syria border
Abraham started in a godless family
Joshua 24:2Joshua said…, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago…Terah, the father of Abraham…served other gods.
- “Terah” (Abraham’s dad) “served other gods” (demons)
= ABRAHAM NOT JEWISH PAGAN GENTILE (75 saved, 99 circumcised)
God found Abraham, Abraham did not find God
Genesis 12:1-4 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. 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.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him…
- Roughly 2000 B.C.; 4000 years ago
- Abraham around 75, Sarah around 65 = waited 25 yrs for Isaac
- Faith – Internal & External (faith acts)
- Faith – obedience walk God’s will trusting future to God
=They have far less knowledge, but more obedience
Abraham religions 4000 years later
| Cults | 16 million Mormons | 8 million Jehovah’s Witness |
| Religions | 2.4 billion Christian | 5+ million Bahais |
| 4 million religious Jews (2 million Orthodox, 2 million Reformed) |
WHICH RELIGION IS THE RIGHT ONE???
Abraham was saved by grace through faith
Romans 4:1-5 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture [Genesis 15:6] say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness…
Abraham GRACE OR WORKS? = Prototype
Protestant Reformation
Justification – 1. God is judge, 2. Scripture is laws, 3. our life is on trial for eternal sentence
Option #1. Justification by works (all religions above but Christianity)
- Problem – God perfect, Heaven perfect – “good” ain’t good enough “Be perfect” Jesus said
Option #2. Justification by faith.
- By grace alone – work – done by Jesus, NOT you “it is finished”
- Through faith alone – trust Jesus, not yourself. He is your righteousness.
- In Jesus Christ alone = Jesus + anything ruins everything!
Abraham’s faith was in Jesus Christ who would die for his sin 2000 years later
Genesis 12:1-3,7 the Lord said to Abram…“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great…you will be a blessing…all the families of the earth shall be blessed…To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord…
Matthew 1:1 the genealogy of Jesus Christ…the son of Abraham.
Galatians 3:16 the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one [Genesis 12:7], “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
Jesus Christ “offspring” or “seed” = Not Plural – Israel/Church/Arabs
Galatians 3:29 if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Matthew 22:32 [Jesus] “‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’”
Abraham could not have been saved by his woks, because he was a sinner.
1. Nearly gave away the Promised Land (Genesis 13).
2. Tried to give away his wife Sarah twice before Isaac was born (Genesis 12, 20).
3. Got Hagar pregnant which, causing 4000 years of geopolitical conflict and war (Genesis 16)
4. Abraham had a total of three wives, plus concubines (Genesis 25).
1. God told Abraham to leave his Father & home as a picture of Jesus the Son of God leaving God the Father and His home in Heaven to come to earth.
2. God promised Abraham a son who would lead to the coming of Jesus the Son of God.
3. God promised Abraham his descendant would bless the nations, & Jesus is that blessing.
4. God chose animals to shed their blood & give their life for the Abrahamic covenant. God chose Jesus Christ the Lamb of God to shed His blood & give His life for New Covenant.
5. God promise to Abraham about numerous spiritual descendants, includes us!
6. Abraham waited in faith Jesus’ 1st Coming. We waiting in faith Jesus’ 2ndComing.
Hebrews 6:
1). “it is impossible for God to lie”
2). “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul”
