Introduction

God, in His infinite wisdom, grace, and love, has seen fit to provide His creatures with His very words. Although God's eternal power and divine nature are clearly perceived in all creation, He has spoken to us concerning Himself and His plan in Scripture. And His Word points us to His glory, our sinfulness, and salvation in Christ Jesus.


One of the most beneficial things that we can do as Christians is to learn to read the Bible well. Understanding and application of God's Word to our lives is commanded, but it is done so of necessity. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. All Scripture is God-breathed, and vital to our well-being.

This Fall, the Men's Ministry will undertake two studies, the first of which is The Bible Overview: How to Understand the Bible as a Whole, that will provide a better understanding of the whole counsel of God. The second study, Six Steps to Reading Your BIble, consists of sessions that will promote better reading, understanding, and application of God's Word.

Please plan to join us at the church beginning September 17th at 7am, as we seek to better understand what God has spoken, and in doing so, praise Him all the more.

Chapter 2 - Why Did Christ Die?

Why did Christ die? What are the reasons Scripture gives for his crucifixion?

This week we look at these reasons, and we find that they are both human and divine. He was given up, and he gave himself up; he died at the hands of sinful men, and he died according to the perfect plan and foreknowledge of his Father.

At bottom, as Stott states in the chapter, we must say, "I did it--my sins put him there." Thanks be to God, we can also say, "He did it--his love took him there."

Chapter 1 - The Centrality of the Cross

[In contemplating Christ's cross]...Our sins put him there. We can stand before it only with a bowed head and a broken spirit. And there we remain until the Lord Jesus speaks to our hearts his word of pardon and acceptance, and we, gripped by his love and full of thanksgiving, go out into the world to live our lives in his service. (pg. 18)

The central message of the Christian Faith is the crucifixion of Christ. We are all, without exception, sinners in need of forgiveness. There is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. And there is no name under heaven by which we must be saved other than the name of Christ Jesus.

Only God incarnate could provide the means for guilty sinners to be reconciled to himself. At the cross, we marvel at the wonderful and horrible, the wrathful and merciful, the free and the costly beyond price. And we will marvel into eternity, as we praise God for Christ and the cross.

Chapter 12 - Honest Self-Confrontation: Reaching into Bucket Four

In Genesis chapter 3, we read of Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden after having sinned by disobeying God's word. When God confronted Adam about his sin, he pointed the finger at Eve. When Eve is confronted, she pointed the finger at the serpent. Thus began man's propensity to compound sin upon sin.

Sin is not rational. The wisest course of action after recognizing our sin would be to immediately confess the sin to God and ask forgiveness. But the very nature of sin is such that our inclination is to cover it up or deflect the guilt from ourselves to another, as Adam and Eve did.

But for the grace of God, we would be left in this cycle of piling up sins. We would deservedly perish and bear the wrath of God for our rebellion. However, the good news is that in spite of our rebellion and enmity towards God, Christ was made to be sin so that through our union with him we might be forgiven and even considered righteous.

Reaching into bucket four requires honest self-confrontation. And this is possible because we are new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). We are enabled by word and Spirit to see our sin for what it is, and to address it in a manner that is God-honoring. Even when we sin and respond to that sin with further transgression, we are able to look back and see the oftentimes devastating effects that our actions had on ourselves and others, and seek forgiveness and reconciliation. We can learn and grow from our past failures, and we can know that there is hope, [f]or we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

(Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV)

Chapter 11 - The Person of Our Joy

Over the past several weeks, we have been learning how to reach into the first 3 'buckets' in order to deal with our past in a biblical and God-honoring fashion. But what's the point? Are we merely learning tips and techniques on how to live our best life now? Or are we engaging in some sort of formalistic therapy that uses Scripture rather than a psychological text when addressing issues in our past?

We've talked about union with Christ at various points in many of our previous groups. Our being united to Christ by faith is what makes us Christians, and enables us to deal with our past in accordance with Scripture. But we are not united to a principle; we are united to a person. Given this, consider that Scripture speaks of Christians as members of one body, with Christ as the head:

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

(Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV)

As we better understand that our only true source of joy is the person of Christ to the exclusion of everything (and everyone) else, we will be motivated and enabled to deal with our past as we "grow up in every way into him who is the head."

Chapter 10 - Joyful Remembrance: Reaching into Bucket Three

This week, we begin looking at our guilty past when we responded well. As Rev. Viars states in the chapter, it may initially seem that we do not need to reach back into this 'bucket', given that we have already responded in a manner according to God's word.

However, we may not always feel forgiven, and we may continually revisit our past sins and failures. In doing so, we fail to truly understand what God has done in Christ on our behalf.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

(2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

(Ephesians 1:7 ESV)

In the chapter, we are also presented with four reasons we may be (or become) stuck in our past:

-Lack of genuine repentance

-Fear of man

-Unwillingness to forsake our sin

-Losing our awe of God's forgiving grace

In considering our guilty past, let us prayerfully seek to understand where we may be letting our feelings to take precedence over the promises in God's word; specifically, that he has granted us forgiveness in Christ. And where we may be continually revisiting our past and replaying our failures, let us hold fast to what Scripture says about the all-sufficient work of Christ and our standing in him as children of the Living God:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

(Romans 8:1-4 ESV)

Chapter 9 - The Joy of Forgiveness

"Please forgive me."

Not only is this the humble request of a person seeking reconciliation, it is a biblical imperative that, as Christians, we must regularly practice. As Paul states in Colossians,

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

(Colossians 3:12-13 ESV)

Give thought to some of the reasons we avoid admitting that we may have responded sinfully when sinned against in the past:

Pride

Stubbornness

Fear

Foolishness

Misplaced Desires

Seeking forgiveness is not easy. It is not a pleasant thing to acknowledge your faults and failures. It is harder still to go to someone and humbly ask that they forgive you for your sin. But consider what our Heavenly Father has done. He has put forth his only Son to bear the punishment for our sin, so that we might be forgiven and walk in newness of life. There is true freedom in Christ, and no other. There is freedom from the guilt and shame of sin because Jesus Christ was made to be sin on our behalf.

As Rev. Viars states, "often this simple act of humble obedience [seeking forgiveness] leads to the beginning of a restored relationship." It's not easy, but the results can be magnificent.

Chapter 8 - Humble Analysis: Reaching into Bucket Two

This week, we begin to look at those times in our innocent past when we responded sinfully. While it is certainly important for us to understand how to respond to these events in a biblical manner, it is also important for us to understand why we tend to act sinfully when we are wronged.

Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, so death spread to all men because all sinned (Rom 5:12). It is our nature to sin, because we are born sinners. But for us as Christians, there is a flip-side: Although one trespass led to condemnation, one act of righteousness leads to justification and life. Because of Christ and his work, we are no longer slaves to sin, but we are free to live in a manner pleasing to God. And this includes handling our innocent past in a way that accords with Scripture.

Rev. Viars asks 6 questions on pp. 147-148 to help us humbly analyze times in our innocent past when we may have responded in ways that were sinful. May we consider these questions as we seek to better understand how to deal with this aspect of our past and move forward in freedom and forgiveness.

Chapter 7 - Authentic Suffering and the Sustaining Gospel

Have you ever forgotten to breathe? If you are reading this, then I would dare say you have not forgotten for any extended length of time. As Christians, the gospel is--in a sense--like the spiritual air we breathe. Christ's sacrifice on our behalf has made it possible for us to be made spiritually alive.

But do we too often treat the good news as we do breathing? Breathing is involuntary; we can stop and think about it, but we don't have to do so in order to continue taking in air. The fact that we take in oxygen makes it possible for us to do everything else in life. The gospel has made it possible for us to live our lives in a manner pleasing to God, even in the midst of suffering.

I won't push the analogy too far, because it's only a fair analogy at best; the point is that we are blessed to have the word of God which tells us what he has done through Christ on our behalf. We can and should appropriate that truth, especially when faced with suffering. We who were dead have been made alive. We who were orphans have been adopted as sons of the living God. We who were without hope now have assurance of eternal life.

As we seek to keep "Bucket One" empty, let us remember our Savior and the sufferings he endured on our behalf, and by the word and the Spirit, let us be transformed into his likeness so that he may be seen by others in our own lives.

Chapter 6 - Authentic Suffering: Reaching Into Bucket One

What does it mean for us to suffer authentically? In this week's chapter, we look at what God's word says about dealing with events of our past from "bucket one" (our innocent past when we responded well).

Rev. Viars outlines four ways to view this part of our past through the lens of Scripture, and deal with specific events in a manner that puts them in their proper place and honors God:

1. Face it honestly--rather than ignoring the event or isolating ourselves, we should cry out to God and let other Christians help bear our burdens.

2. Face it biblically--how we understand God as he has revealed himself in his word, and how we understand our relationship to him is of utmost importance when dealing with the hurts of our past. As we genuinely acknowledge the sufferings of our past, God's word will properly frame our experience and enable us to suffer well.

3. Face it hopefully--we need not despair in the midst of our suffering. We serve a God who works all things together for good, who is for us, and who has justified us through Christ. In Romans 8:39 we are told that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. "Nothing in all creation" is pretty comprehensive; surely it includes our sufferings.

4. Face it missionally--God's purpose in our past is not to provide us with material for extended periods of personal introspection; rather, he is equipping us to be able to reach out and comfort others who are suffering with the truths of Scripture. We are to be part of the body of Christ, rejoicing with those who rejoice, and weeping with those who weep.

Keeping these points in mind, let us think of how we can begin reaching into bucket one as we rely on God's word to guide us, and as we allow our sufferings to bring us closer to God and to prepare to serve others.

Chapter 5 - Bad Things Happen to Good People: Another Look

In this week's chapter, we read of Rabbi Harold Kushner and his book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Rabbi Kushner's view of God and his sovereignty changed due to the events of his past; specifically, the news that his son had a disease that would likely lead to his death in his teen years. In wrestling with the implications of this news and his view of God, Rabbi Kushner concluded that he must 'sacrifice' God's sovereignty over all things in order to reconcile God's justice and his (Kushner's) own goodness.

While certainly not diminishing Kushner's suffering over the news of his son's disease and prognosis, we must call into serious question his conclusions about God, and we must do so based upon God's own words about himself.

In John chp. 9, we read of Jesus and the disciples coming upon a man who had been blind from birth. The disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Christ's answer is profound and instructive: “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." Jesus then proceeded to heal the man of his physical blindness and--most importantly--his spiritual blindness. From Scripture, we see that not only has God planned all things from before the creation of the world, but also that he providentially directs the specific events that occur throughout time. This man born blind was precisely so because God had determined to show his power and display his mighty works in him.

It is indeed dangerous ground we tread if we put ourselves in the place of judging the nature of God. Instead, we must humbly, carefully, and prayerfully search and hold firm to the whole counsel of God as revealed in Scripture, especially when dealing with suffering and difficulties in our past. While Kushner may not recognize the New Testament as God's word, let us not forget what God declares about himself in Isaiah 46:

Remember this and stand firm,

recall it to mind, you transgressors,

remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me,

declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

calling a bird of prey from the east,

the man of my counsel from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

I have purposed, and I will do it.

(Isaiah 46:8-11 ESV)

God is sovereign over all things. God is just. God works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Our view of his word will profoundly effect our approach to the past. There is no other source of truth outside of God's word to which we can turn and find true comfort and peace in the midst (and aftermath) of our struggles.

Rabbi Kushner let his own experiences shape who he considers God to be. Consider your view of God's word, and let his word shape your experiences.

Chapter 4 - You Can Learn to Put the Past in Its Place

In this week's chapter, we read that categorization of the events of our past can help us view them in a way that better enables us to apply Scripture to our lives.

Category ("Bucket") 1: An event occurred; you were innocent and responded well to the situation.

Category ("Bucket") 2: An event occurred; you were innocent but responded poorly to the situation.

Category ("Bucket") 3: An event occurred; you were guilty but responded well to the situation.

Category ("Bucket") 4: An event occurred; you were guilty and responded poorly to the situation.

There are likely various events in our lives where we can identify with each one of these categories. Think through your past and begin to identify events that you could place into each of these. As we progress through our study, we will unpack each of these "buckets" in order to further understand how we can use this categorization to put our past in its place, and respond to the events of our past in light of God's word.

Chapter 3 - Your Past Can Be One of Your Best Friends

Our past, when viewed from God's perspective in Scripture, can be something upon which we can draw in time of need. The cumulative events of our lives are not necessarily something to be discarded because we consider them painful, shameful, or difficult to reckon with.

A biblical view of the past takes into account the fact that God is sovereign, that he foreordains whatsoever comes to pass, and that--because of our union with Christ--he works all things together for good, according to his perfect plan.

Do you regularly think back to how God has saved you in Christ?

Can you recall specific things that God has delivered you from?

As Christians, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are to grow into the likeness of Christ our Savior and Lord; however, we are still human--we falter and fail. But consider this:

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

(1 John 4:9-10 ESV)

The eternally-firm foundation of Christ is the place from which we begin to see our past as a resource that God uses to enable us to walk in a manner pleasing to him.

Chapter 2 - Your Past Can Be One of Your Worst Enemies

Unaddressed issues in our past can have detrimental and devastating effects on us, and on others in our lives. How should we approach these issues from a biblical perspective? Do we hesitate to bring our concerns to God? Do we recoil at the thought of questioning the Lord of Heaven and Earth? Let's take a look at how this might play out:

"God, how long are you going to let this situation go on? Have you forgotten that I am here in the midst of all this mess? Are you deliberately avoiding me?"

"Do I have to work this thing out on my own? It's tearing me up inside--and others are kicking me now that I am down!"

"God remember me and help me--restore me before all this kills me--those around me will laugh it up the further down I go!"

Does that seem a bit brash and irreverent?

If you answered in the affirmative, consider that the 'conversation' above is a (very loose) paraphrase of a text written by "a man after God's own heart." Here is the original:

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I take counsel in my soul

and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;

light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”

lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

(Psalm 13:1-4 ESV)

But note how David ends his lament. After having poured out his heart to God, he then acknowledges his complete and utter reliance upon the unshakable foundation of God's love and salvation, and praises God for his generosity and abundant provision.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;

my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD,

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

(Psalm 13:5-6 ESV)

It is appropriate to bring our concerns and troubles to God. But we must also not forget that our God is faithful, and although we often cannot see his plan, we can trust that he will work all things for our good and his glory. Because of Christ, we can boldly approach the throne of grace and find help in time of trouble.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

(Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV)

Chapter 1 - Can You Hear the Wheels Spinning?

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
(Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV)

God is the God of History.  He did not choose to bring about all of His purposes at once, but instead chose to unfold His eternal plan throughout time.  Consider what a tremendous blessing (understatement) we as Christians have today in the completed revelation of God!  By God's grace, we can see the fullness of God's plan of redemption in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus!  


The past matters to God. Many of us can look back upon our past and see how God in His providence brought us to Himself.  While we often hope and pray that God will immediately intervene in a given situation, whether illness, personal struggle or relational difficulties, He more frequently works over periods of time in our lives, and in such a way that we can look back with astonishment at how His sovereign plan has unfolded for our good and for His glory.

Does our past matter?  If so, how should we view our past in way that honors God and enables us to grow as Christians?  

How we approach these and other questions will have a profound impact on not only our own lives, but the lives of those around us.  As Christians our aim should be to glorify God and make Christ known, and the handling of our own lives (which necessarily includes our past) can have a tremendous impact on these ends, for ill or good.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
(1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV)

Chapter 14 / 15 - God Helps Those Who Help Themselves? / The End of the Road (Genesis 24 and 25:1-18)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

(Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV)

We see in this week's lesson that Abraham sends his servant to the land of his father to find a wife for Isaac. From the text, we do not see that he had any revelation from God in this matter, but notice that Abraham nevertheless trusts that God will provide:

"The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me and swore to me, ‘To your offspring I will give this land,’ he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there."

(Genesis 24:7 ESV)

Abraham's faith had grown from the self-reliance we saw in his attempt to fulfill the promise of God through Ishmael in Genesis 16 and 17, to unflinching obedience towards God in his willingness to offer Isaac upon the altar in Genesis 22. In this chapter, notice from the passage above--and from the servant's responses throughout the remainder of the chapter--the dependency upon God's providence and acknowledgement of God's faithfulness:

"And he said, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.""

(Genesis 24:12 ESV)

"The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD and said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me in the way to the house of my master's kinsmen.”"

(Genesis 24:26-27 ESV)

When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the earth before the LORD.

(Genesis 24:52 ESV)

And in Genesis 25:1-18 we see the end of Abraham's life. God had been faithful to keep the promise he made to Abraham of providing him a son through whom God would bless the nations. Abraham would not live to see the complete outworking of that promise, but he died at "a good old age" and was buried in the land of the promise with his wife, Sarah.

In Christ, we are the offspring of Abraham, heirs of the promise. (Galatians 3:29) But like Abraham, we are living in the gap between what God has promised to ultimately bring about and the realization of that promise. Note what the author of Hebrews says regarding the Old Testament saints:

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

(Hebrews 11:13-15; Hebrews 11:16 ESV)

The road to the better country and to our Lord is not without toll. Christ paid the inestimable price on our behalf. But neither are we free to live our lives as we choose, according to our own plan and purpose. Having been declared citizens of Heaven, we must travel the straight path that comes only from acknowledging God, denying ourselves and following Christ, who will one day close the gap as history ends and eternity begins:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

(Revelation 22:1-5 ESV)

Chapter 13-Funeral for a Friend (Genesis 23)

...[S]hare in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel...

(2 Timothy 1:8-10 ESV)

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:54-58 ESV)

In our text for this lesson, we see Abraham burying his beloved wife, Sarah. She who was with him from the beginning of his journey out of Ur was laid to rest in a cave in the land of promise. In verse 2, Abraham mourns and weeps for the loss of Sarah. And this is as it should be. Our Lord wept upon arriving at the tomb of Lazarus, even though he was about to raise him from the dead. As Dr. Duguid alludes to in our chapter, death is a result of sin; there is a sense in which death is not "how things are supposed to be." Death is profoundly saddening, on many levels, and it is right for us to grieve.

But consider the texts above. Christ has won the victory over sin and death. Therefore, we do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13). This is not the end. As Christians, we have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ (1 Peter 1:3), and we know that not only will we see those whom we love that die in the Lord again, but that we will one day be with them in the presence of Him who set His love upon us from before the foundation of the world.

Chapter 12-Faith Put to the Test (Genesis 22)

"...through Isaac shall your offspring be named."

This is the last time Isaac is mentioned in the text prior to chapter 22, where God then tells Abraham to sacrifice him on Mount Moriah. How do we then see Abraham respond to God's command? Do we see hesitancy on Abraham's part, as we saw Lot lingering in Sodom prior to its destruction? If we were not privy to the entire story from our perspective, we might not be surprised to see Abraham delay the journey to Moriah, or even intercede on behalf of Isaac, much like he did when he asked God to spare Sodom if ten righteous men could be found there; however, we see no trace of hesitancy or reluctance on Abraham's part in carrying out God's command.

He rose early. He cut wood for the burnt offering. He built the altar. He bound Isaac. He took the knife to slaughter his son.

Genesis 22 does not tell us what was going on in Abraham's mind during this time, but in Hebrews 11, we see that it was by faith that he offered up Isaac:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

(Hebrews 11:17-19 ESV)

Abraham did not rely primarily on the promise, but on the God of the promise. He did not focus on his current circumstances in a manner that caused him to be rapt with doubt about the outcome. Only because Abraham understood Who it was that was asking him to sacrifice the son through whom the promise was to be fulfilled, did he unflinchingly set out to do so.

As Christians, we have been promised eternal life through our union with Christ. What things come our way that might make us shift our focus from the God of the promises to the "promises in jeopardy"? Illness? Job loss? Death? Consider what Paul states in Romans 8 regarding the God of the promise, our circumstances, and the assurance of our relationship with him through Christ:

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:32-39 ESV)

God has provided a sacrifice in our place. We who deserve wrath and fury have received mercy and grace. And by faith in Christ, we can know that God will never leave us or forsake us, and we can do whatever we have been called to do, not focusing on the present circumstances, but upon Christ and his finished work.

Chapter 11-Crossing the Rubicon (Genesis 21)

Gentlemen,

My apologies, but there will be no formal entry this week. Please read the lesson and the text in preparation for your meetings.

Blessings

Richie

Chapter 10-Two Steps Forward, One Step Back (Genesis 20)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

(2 Corinthians 3:18)

In our text this week, we see Abraham once again lying to protect himself from danger. To be sure, the danger was certainly real, for it was not uncommon for those in a position of power to take from others in a weaker position. However, had not Abraham just served a meal to the Creator of the Universe? And hadn't God just shared with Abraham his plans for Sodom? How could Abraham have acted in this manner after all that God had said and done?

I have posed the same question to myself more times than I wish to recall. Do we, despite God's faithfulness and goodness to us, falter and fail at times?

Keep in mind, in Romans 4:19-21 Paul states that Abraham did not "weaken in faith" and that "[n]o distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God." How do we reconcile this with what we read in Genesis 20? It is important to remember that while Abraham was chosen by God, and was considered righteous, he was not perfect. However, the attitude of his heart was not that spoken of in James 1:6-8, the "double-minded man" who is "unstable in all his ways." While Abraham had his moments of weakness as a sinful human, he "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." By God's grace, the trajectory of his heart followed the path of the promise that ultimately led to the cross.

What we see here should be both sobering and comforting. Despite God's promises to us in his word, we sin. But because of God's faithfulness and our union with Christ, we can be assured that not only is God working in and through our failures for our good and his glory, but he is also working in us by the Holy Spirit to accomplish our transformation into the likeness of his Son.

Concerning our progressive sanctification and ultimate glorification, know this: "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24)