GOODNEWSLETTER
Number 398 December 7, 2011
THE ABRAHAMIC BLESSING
"Pursue peace with all men...without which no one will see the LORD...lest anyone fall short of the grace of God...lest there be any fornicator...like Esau,
who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the BLESSING, he was rejected, for he found no
place for repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears," Hebrews 12:14, 15, 16, 17. (New King James Version)
The serious student of God's Word learns that blessings come from the promise that was made to Abraham. And, the promise is a package. It comes all at once; but, it can be misapplied and even sold. The promise clearly reveals that God has more than escaping Hell for those who trust in Jesus. With the promise comes fellowship. It's liken to that of Abraham who looked for a city, just as Hebrews 11 points out, vividly. Being saved as a sinner occurs at faith in Christ; but, there is a city to enter, too. This is the fellowship that God had in mind with Abraham. It is the same fellowship as with His Son, Jesus. However, what God promised Abraham was not confirmed until Jesus gave His life for man's sin. Salvation is in the death and resurrection of Jesus; the promise had to be worked out before it became an actual working blessing.
'BLESSED' or 'BLESSING' means to be happy or, to be well spoken of. Thus, God 'DECLARED' men to be happy. He blesses when they trust in Jesus; in any sense. And, since only God can save us, He is the only One to declare our position of happiness. And again, His blessings are consistent. God calls men through the promise that he made to Abraham. Galatians 3:16 tells us, "Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ," (NKJV).
Just to have life is wonderful. To walk, talk and do many things, is in itself, is a wonderful blessing. And, we see many blessings from the Lord all through His creation. However, notice that after only eleven verses of the Word, God 'BLESSES' Abraham in the special calling. Before, the LORD did bless Adam and Eve; the seventh day; as well as, Noah and his sons. But, it isn't until Abram comes on the scene in Genesis 12 (so early in God's plan), that the blessing continues on down to men, individually. That's what Galatians 3:16 is telling us. God intended to make the blessing He promised to Abraham available to all mankind. To do this, Jesus would enter man and fulfill God's requirements in order to validate promise.
What a beautiful Covenant that is laid out for mankind; a Covenant that ties man to God, Himself. It provides the same blessing as God told Abraham and, because it is fulfilled, we have more that a promise, we are as Christ is today, according to 1st John 4:17. "Love has been perfected among us in this: That we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." And, while His promises are sure and true, the fact that it was delayed, shows us that no man could receive any portion of the promise unless Jesus settled the score of sin. Then, at His resurrection, man can now view all spiritual truth through the finished work of Christ. Since Jesus rose, Abraham has the fulfilled promise.
As we view the promise that God made to Abraham, we must see it as a promise that remained unavailable to all. Although, God took that promise to and through Israel, it wasn't until the New Testament was established that a changed life would come about. God's words remained a promise to all men and, not an actual change for man, until Jesus came to earth.
When man receives the promise now, it becomes a working and active truth that takes over our life. But, faith is the key; just as the promise took over the life of Abraham through faith. Today, we no longer have a PROMISE of going to be, we are what Christ is. The workings of the Holy Spirit commune with our spirits. The Father DECLARES us BLESSES, based upon Christ's life and never upon what we do.
When man receives the promise now, it becomes a working and active truth that takes over our life. But, faith is the key; just as the promise took over the life of Abraham through faith. Today, we no longer have a PROMISE of going to be, we are what Christ is. The workings of the Holy Spirit commune with our spirits. The Father DECLARES us BLESSES, based upon Christ's life and never upon what we do.
It is the good news that the promise is active in Christ, now that we are in the New Testament. Today, the Father will grant to all men what He had promised to Abraham in Genesis 12. And, we must understand that all promises come through trusting what Jesus did. We must believe in Him and His work before God grants His everlasting GRACE.
Many wonderful miracles were performed to men while Jesus walk the earth. But, eternal life came because Jesus died for man's sin. At His death, Jesus took away the curtain that blocked mankind. It was torn from top to bottom in the Temple. Further, what took place spiritually in the death of Christ and His ascension, was to remove the physical and allow all man to see the Spiritual. What God would do was, up to now, hidden through types and shadows. Now, in the New Covenant, every man can go to the Father through Jesus, the Christ. Truly, we are blessed in the Son.
The work of Christ changes our lives, today. We see His blessing today because we look at things from the Spiritual side of life. While, on earth, the miracles that Jesus did were amazing; but, only temporal. Christ healed a man (Mt. 9) to reveal to us a healthy and WHOLE body that is coming. As He came out of the grave, we have the hope of being glorified one day.
Other miracles also provided spiritual truth; such as, when Jesus touched man and gave the blind physical sight. Here, it means that our spiritual vision has been opened up. We can now see God on the throne. As so it goes, Jesus fed 5000, calmed the sea and healed the lepers. What Jesus did was BLESSED both in the physical life and, the coming glory of the new life.
With the veil removed through the death of Jesus, we understand that the fleshly veil is removed and allows us to see God from a spiritual position. We go to the Father through the Son since He took away the veil. We are blessed in our spirits. It is therefore, very important that we understand the PROMISE; and, what is involved in the promise, as well. Again, look at the TITLE VERSE, Esau sold his birthright. We cannot undo what Christ did for us but, our fellowship with God and the Son will be broken unless the PROMISE is taken as life, itself.