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Archive for the ‘Explanations’ Category

How Abraham Became the Father of Faith

Posted in Abraham, Bible Characters, Explanations, Faith, tagged , on May 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The biblical story of Abraham’s sacrificing Isaac disturbs a lot of people. God finally gives him the promised child to make his descendants as numerous as the stars, then asks Abraham to sacrifice that child before he is old enough to have descendants.

Now, Abraham’s a rational guy! If Isaac dies before having children then God’s promise is toast! But scripture tells us about Abraham’s thought process on this.

Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son… Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. – Hebrews 11:17a,19a (MESSAGE)

Abraham’s obedience was more than an act of devotion, it was an act of faith – confident God would still follow through on his word even if it required Isaac to be raised from death.

So Abraham wasn’t lying to his servants when he told them on the way out that he AND Isaac would return from the sacrifice (Genesis 22:5) – he believed it and became the father of faith!

– fritz@langgang.com
Related Post: Swallowing Frogs – March 24, 2011

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Expunged

Posted in Explanations, Forgiveness, God, Guilt, tagged on April 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. – Hebrews 10:22-23

The Bible’s Letter to the Hebrews uses the rich imagery of the Old Testament to present the central benefit of Christ’s sacrifice for sin — a cleared conscience!

Clear, not from having done nothing wrong or sinful, but cleared by having our wrong deeds expunged by Christ’s actions. How do I know? God said so and I have no reason to doubt him. If the Judge, himself, says “Not Guilty!” who am I to argue?

Sound Bite: My criminal record with God has been expunged. In Christ I can walk with God as if I had never sinned.

-fritz

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Abraham’s Blessing – Goes Around, Comes Around

Posted in Explanations, tagged , , , on November 20, 2010| Leave a Comment »

“Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house … And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee – Genesis 12:1-3

Perhaps most controversial of “Abraham’s Blessing” is God’s promise to actually bless and curse others according to their actions towards his people.

I have, actually, witnessed this. When people are kind to the followers of Christ their own lives go better.1 Those who make one of God’s children, the poor, or widows cry don’t last long.2

When even fellow believers hurt each other, they only end up hurting themselves. I don’t respond well to those who hurt my children or when my children hurt each other; I don’t think God does, either.

Our response, even when hurt, is not to be vengeful but to offer a blessing3 and get out of the way – it is God who takes care of us.4

– fritz@langgang.com

1 – Matthew 10:42 – Even a cup of cold water
2 – Proverbs 23:10-11
3 – Luke 6:28 – Bless those that curse you
4 – Romans 12:19 – God repays, not us

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