“Christ REDEEMED US from the curse of the law by BECOMING A CURSE FOR US, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that THE BLESSING GIVEN TO ABRAHAM MIGHT COME TO THE GENTILES through Christ Jesus, so that by faith WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:13-14)
This is the blessing God pronounced on Abraham, “God had told Abram (Abraham), “Leave your own country behind you, and your own people, and go to the land I will guide you to. If you do, I will cause you to become THE FATHER OF A GREAT NATION; I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be A BLESSING TO MANY OTHERS. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and the entire world will be blessed BECAUSE OF YOU.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
Why did God bless Abraham in this manner? Well God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac, Abraham obeyed God because he knew that if he killed his son God would RAISE HIM UP! “When they (Abraham and Isaac) arrived at the place where God had told Abraham to go, he built an altar and placed the wood in order, ready for the fire, and then TIED ISAAC AND LAID HIM ON THE ALTAR over the wood. And Abraham TOOK THE KNIFE AND LIFTED IT UP TO PLUNGE IT INTO HIS SON, to slay him. At that moment the Angel of God SHOUTED TO HIM from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes, Lord!” he answered. “LAY DOWN THE KNIFE; DON’T HURT THE LAD in any way,” the Angel said, “for I KNOW THAT GOD IS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE—you have not withheld even your beloved son from me.” (Genesis 22:9-12)
“I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses…These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did… SO BE CAREFUL. If you are thinking, “Oh, I would never behave like that”—let this be a warning to you. For YOU TOO MAY FALL INTO SIN.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 12)
This is why Jesus taught us how to avoid FALLING INTO SIN, “…do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that YOU NEED ALL THESE THINGS. But SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and all these things SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham