God’s Covenant with Abraham

October 1, 2017 Background Scripture: Genesis 15 Lesson Passage: Genesis 15:1 – 6, 17 – 21 The lessons this month will examine some covenants that God established between Himself and others. Some of the covenant relationships established by God involved individuals and some involved groups. All of the covenants are of interest to us because they teach us something about God as well as the characteristics of holy living. Today’s lesson highlights the covenant God established with Abraham. This covenant is of particular interest because the Bible speaks of Abraham as the father of the faithful. That is to suggest that all who come to saving grace by faith are considered the spiritual children of Abraham. That means that we are joint-heirs with Abraham pertaining to spiritual things. This lesson details the third occasion of the Lord speaking to Abram about a covenant. After the first two occasions, Abram’s actions are recorded that indicate that he believed God’s statement concerning blessing him. In today’s lesson, God told Abram that He was going to do something that seemed physically impossible. It is here that we see Abram’s faith. The scriptures state that Abram believed in the Lord and the Lord reckoned Abram’s belief in Him as righteousness. Abram’s faith in the Lord’s ability and willingness to do the impossible for his sake brought him into right standing with the Lord. On that day, Abram’s right standing (righteousness) with the Lord was based solely on his belief and trust in the Lord and with that he became the spiritual father of all who are made right with God through faith. However, unlike the other occasions when God spoke to Abram, this time God went a step further. God instructed Abram to prepare the ground around him so that the covenant could be sealed or established in blood. Abram was instructed by God to bring five types of animals that God specified. Abram divided the large animals in half and arranged them so that the covenant partners could travel between the pieces and seal the covenant. Abram had to fight off the scavengers to keep them from the sacrifices. While Abram protected the sacrifices and waited, he fell asleep. Abram awoke to see a smoking pot and a flaming torch passing between the pieces of the sacrifices. The covenant had been sealed and God, alone, had passed between the pieces of the sacrifices indicating that He, alone, was the guarantor of the covenant. Abram and his heirs would be beneficiaries of the covenant but Abram did not have to do anything else to secure the agreement. Abram’s faith in the Lord was all he was required to have and that’s all he brought to this covenant. Everything else required to uphold this covenant was dependent on God and God had endorsed it by passing between the sacrifice pieces as a symbolic statement that He would be even as those sacrifices if He failed to uphold the covenant. What’s better than a covenant agreement with God? A one-sided agreement that God has pledged to uphold and He is the only one accountable for upholding is the ultimate covenant! Robert C. Hudson September 11, 2017

Spirit-Filled Heart

September 24, 2017 Background Scripture: Ezekiel 36, 37; Titus 3:1 – 11 Lesson Passage: Ezekiel 36:22 – 32 Today’s lesson is an abrupt change from the pass three lessons. The previous lessons focused on outward physical signs that were synonymous with three covenants God made with mankind. The rainbow is God’s reminder to Himself of His covenant to never again destroy all living flesh with a flood. Circumcision and the Sabbath observance were physical requirements God gave to Israel to practice/observe as an acknowledgement of the covenant between God and the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Our lesson today focuses on the sign of the new covenant God promised to make with Israel. This sign would not be a physical sign nor would it be based on physical practices Israel would be required to observe. The sign of the new covenant is the inward change of a person who is in right relationship with God. This inward change makes it clear that salvation is personal and not a corporate experience. Eternal salvation does not depend on group activity. All males in Israel could be circumcised from the age of eight days old and older and yet it is possible that none of them would be inclined to worship or have faith in God. In fact, the eight-day old boy has not yet developed a God-consciousness but he becomes part of the covenant when his parents have him circumcised. At that point in his life, it is not his decision but it is the decision of his parents based on the instructions God gave to Abraham and then encoded in the Law He gave through Moses. Likewise, every person in Israel could religiously observe the Sabbath day and yet still not be in right relationship with God. However, mere physical observances and activities would not matter with the new covenant. The new covenant would come with a changed heart because of the indwelling Spirit of God. This inward condition cannot be earned by a person but will be provided by the gracious act of God because of their faith in Him. God would not do this in exchange for anything from man. God would perform this for His name’s sake. Israel had tarnished the reputation of God among the nations because of their open rebellion against God and His ways. They preferred to be like the nations around them rather than become the peculiar people God had called them to be. Israel’s desire to be like the other nations led her further from God’s ways and His presence. God’s holiness was essentially despised by Israel as clearly shown by her actions. The other nations took note of this and soon found that God no longer protected His covenant people from their attacks. The other nations preyed on Israel and even took her into captivity because God’s covering was no longer protecting Israel. God had not left Israel but Israel had strayed from the covenant God made with her forefathers. They continued to go through the motions of physical activities and observances but their hearts were far from God. God’s new covenant would not be a repeat of the old covenants. The new covenant would include a new heart and a new spirit to bring Israel into right relationship with God. God would place in them both the desire and the ability to do His pleasure. And they would do it with Spirit-filled hearts. Robert C. Hudson September 6, 2017