The Blessing of Abraham

The Gospel Story
The Blessing Of Abraham
Genesis 12:1-9

It has been said that God is like a spiritual tornado. He never pulls you in without also hurling you out.  We are blessed to be a blessing.

God’s Call

1. It is a Powerful Call

“And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.” (Joshua 24:2, ESV)

• The call was Necessary
• The call was Gracious

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—” (John 6:44–45, ESV)

2. It was a Radical Call

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8, ESV)

• Personal
• Involves a Surrender of the will
• Purposeful/Missional

God’s Promise

“It may truly be said without exaggeration that not only the rest of the Old Testament but the whole of the New Testament are an outworking of these promises of God. In Old Testament days Israel was the promised seed and Canaan the promised land. But the covenant included a reference to “all the families of the earth” and their blessing. Only now in Christ have these promises begun to be fulfilled. For Jesus Christ and his people are the true seed of Abraham.” John Stott

1. Land

“And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:8, ESV)

2. People

“And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” (Genesis 17:7, ESV)

3. Blessing

• Personal (2)
• Global (3)

“No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.” (Genesis 17:5, ESV) 

God’s Purpose

“The promises to Abraham renew the vision for humanity set out in Genesis 1 and 2. He, like Noah before him, is a second Adam figure. Adam was given the garden of Eden: Abraham is promised the land of Canaan. God told Adam to be fruitful and multiply: Abraham is promised descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven. God walked with Adam in Eden: Abraham was told to walk before God. In this way the advent of Abraham is seen as the answer to the problems set out in Genesis 1–11: through him all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Gordon Wenham

It is only with Christ, the ultimate Seed of Abraham that the fulfillment of this promise came and the blessing went out to all people.

“just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” (Galatians 3:6–9, ESV)

“Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.” (Galatians 3:16, ESV)

God’s Call To You

God’s call to Salvation and God’s call to Missions is one and the same.

We are blessed to be a blessing!

Questions for Reflection:

• How have you responded to God’s call to turn from your sin and trust in the saving, transforming work of Jesus Christ on your behalf?
• How will you join Christ Jesus on mission across the street and around the world?
• Will you renew your focus on the B.L.E.S.S. practices?

Begin with prayer 
Listen with compassion 
Eat together 
Serve in love 
Share a story

• What is the next step of obedience that God is calling you to take right now?

Ready to take your Next Step?

• See Pastor Jeff after the service today
• Fill out a Connect Card and drop it in the offering box
• Text Next to 803-637-8484
• Go to FBCFM.COM and click “Next Steps”