Tag Archives: Abraham

God’s grace towards the sins of the patriarchs

Grace and Judgment Posted on by

God introduced himself to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These three names appear together throughout the books of Moses, later in the Old Testament, and nine times in the New Testament. Along with Jacob’s sons, they are the patriarchs who received the Abrahamic covenant. That covenant, more than the other Old Testament covenants, is a covenant of grace.

It is easy to regard major characters in the Bible as either heroes or villains. The patriarchs were neither. They were great men of faith in their own ways, but we see God’s grace most clearly when we look at it against the backdrop of their persistent sin.… Read the rest

How ungodly men started the world system: how God redeems it

Grace and Judgment Posted on by

Have you ever noticed that the Bible attributes all the building blocks of civilization to rebels against God? Ungodly men started the world system.

Cain founded the first city. His descendants invented agriculture, music, and metal work. After the flood, Nimrod invented architecture, government, war, and religion.

We like to talk about the rise of civilization, but it all began as a consequence of the fall. Surely unfallen humans would have eventually invented all the best parts of it. But given its ungodly start, civilization hasn’t needed to rise. It has needed to be redeemed. God’s redemption of civilization started with Abraham. … Read the rest

Real, strong hope, not as the world gives

Grace and Judgment Posted on by

We don’t pay as much attention to hope as to faith and love. I even heard a faith preacher disparage hope. He said it’s wrong to hope instead of believe. But Hebrews 11:1 says that faith is the substance of things hoped for. How can we believe without hoping? How can we have real faith without real hope?

Part of the problem is that the technical vocabulary of Christianity seems so simple. If you see “polyphosphazenes” and you’re not a chemist, you know only know it’s technical jargon. You won’t misuse that word, if you ever try to use it at all.… Read the rest

Becoming Abraham: the call of Abram to Abraham

Grace and Judgment Posted on by

Updated June 17, 2023

We know Abraham as the father of many nations. Jews, Christians, and Muslims claim him as their ancestor. His life story forms the very foundation of the basic Christian concept of justification by faith.

He did not start out that way. His name was Abram.  We first see him only as a name in the last line of Shem’s genealogy: Shem. Arphaxad. Shelah. Eber. Peleg. Reu. Serug. Nahor. Terah, who became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran (Genesis 11:26).

Boring!

How did this Abram grow to become the Abraham so many nations revere?

… Read the rest