Daily Bible Portion (Monday)
Daily Bible Portion - 2 of 7
"GET YOURSELF OUT"
(Weekly Reading>>Genesis 12:1-17:27, Isaiah 40:27-41:16, Romans 3:19-5:6)
To a Land That I Will Show You
When he was seventy-five years old, Abraham left his country, his family, and his father's house. Was Lot to go with him? The Scriptures did not say, ‘Get out of your country, from some of your family and from your father's house.’ We are to leave – in the physical and spiritual sense – wrong associations and that which is contrary to Yahweh’s instructions (Torah), otherwise we can be led astray from the destiny He has planned for our lives. At the time we may not fully understand, but Yahweh knows the hearts. We see later that Lot will prove to be a poor association for Abraham and Abraham’s future generations (Genesis 12:1; 2:24).
Our Father Abraham
When Abraham entered the land (the future Israel), he traveled as far as the Oak of Moreh in Shechem. It is there Yahweh appeared to Abraham and further blessed him, saying, “To your offspring I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7).
Shechem is called Nablus today and is in the area known as the West Bank
The Word that earlier spoke the blessings to Abraham now manifested in physical form before him, confirming again that Abraham and Sarah would have descendants and be given the land as a gift. Abraham humbly builds an altar for worship to the Holy One who appeared to him at Shechem. (Genesis 12:7; John 1:14)
The altar at Shechem is still a spiritual signpost within the land, even though we may not be able to see its physical remains today. Abraham’s altar is a memorial to the promises Yahweh spoke to Abraham and to his seed, this present generation included. That is why Shechem has been such a hotly contested area in Israel. As Abraham walked the land he literally confirmed Yahweh’s promises to him and to all his descendants after him. In doing this, he claimed the land and established it as an eternal inheritance for God’s people that no man can take away. This is an eternal word of truth established by Yahweh for His peoples and all nations that walk in His ways. Yahweh’s promise to Abraham stands firm and is for us today (Galatians 3:29).
The Gospel Given to Abraham
What do we notice in this Galatians 3:8 scripture? Firstly, the Covenant that was given to Abraham in the Old Testament is mentioned in the New Testament. Secondly, the word Scripture in this verse is capitalized and ‘spoke’ to Abraham. This is a reference to Yeshua who is called The Word or Scripture in the Bible. He [Jesus] is The Scripture made flesh (John 1:1,14), and thirdly what did the Scripture preach to Abraham? The Gospel.
If this is true, then this scripture flies in the face of denominational Christianity which teaches a "doctrine" that the gospel was not introduced by Jesus Christ until what is called ‘the gospels’ Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
This "doctrine" also states that the Jews rejected the Giver of this gospel thus are rejected themselves. Hebrews ch 11. gives testimony of the patriarchs which God has prepared a City for them and was not ashamed of them. These believers knew Jesus [The Word] personally and followed Jesus whom John gives testimony as being the Word of God [His Voice].
When we read Galatians 3:8 and others we find the flawed dogma or doctrine. Long before there were Jews on the earth, Abraham (the father of the Jews and the father of the Christians) was taught the gospel by Jesus himself. Do we honestly think Abraham was only taught part of the gospel or was he given the full understanding of the gospel? If Jesus gave it to Abraham originally in the Old Testament/Tanakh then it would have been the full complete gospel since Jesus [The Word] Himself declares in the New Testament that "He" (The Word) is the "same yesterday, today and forever". In addition to Abraham having been told the full Gospel the writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that the mixed multitude at Mt. Sinai also received the very "same" Gospel that has been preached to us, and that it profited them not because they refused to obey it!
The Gospel that was first preached to Abraham, then to the mixed multitude was also confirmed by Stephen in acts ch. 6-7 where he was falsely accused and stoned to death. Our pastors today will not address the accusations against Stephen because it is actually exactly what they are preaching from the pulpit today! Stephen was falsely accused of saying speaking against the Law and preaching that Messiah came to change the Law's of Moses. Stephen's rebuttle clearly reveals the Gospel has not changed even after the death of Messiah.
Abraham, in covenant with Jesus/Yeshua, was the carrier of the gospel as was his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob after him. The old testament is full of men and women who lived by the gospel and risked their lives for the sake of the gospel. All of Israel is the carrier of the true gospel and we, who have come to believe in Yeshua have been grafted into sonship in Him through Abraham. After thousands of centuries it is believers who are the new ones on the block learning to walk in the gospel not the other way around (Hebrews 11; Romans 11).
Who then received the gospel? Was it not to the Jew first and then to the Greek minded coming in from the nations?
We have digested a mixed theology. A fruit containing good and evil. We all have a lot of repenting to do. First the Jews for not carrying the gospel and teaching it to the nations and secondly the Christians for thinking they are better than their brothers and for the atrocities Christianity has done to the Jews over the years because of arrogant piousness. We need to heal from this abusive critical behavior and stop the persecution – and all Israel will be saved (Romans 11).
continues tomorrow...
"GET YOURSELF OUT"
(Weekly Reading>>Genesis 12:1-17:27, Isaiah 40:27-41:16, Romans 3:19-5:6)
To a Land That I Will Show You
“So Abram departed as Yahweh had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan” (Genesis 12:4-5).
When he was seventy-five years old, Abraham left his country, his family, and his father's house. Was Lot to go with him? The Scriptures did not say, ‘Get out of your country, from some of your family and from your father's house.’ We are to leave – in the physical and spiritual sense – wrong associations and that which is contrary to Yahweh’s instructions (Torah), otherwise we can be led astray from the destiny He has planned for our lives. At the time we may not fully understand, but Yahweh knows the hearts. We see later that Lot will prove to be a poor association for Abraham and Abraham’s future generations (Genesis 12:1; 2:24).
Our Father Abraham
When Abraham entered the land (the future Israel), he traveled as far as the Oak of Moreh in Shechem. It is there Yahweh appeared to Abraham and further blessed him, saying, “To your offspring I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7).
Shechem is called Nablus today and is in the area known as the West Bank
The Word that earlier spoke the blessings to Abraham now manifested in physical form before him, confirming again that Abraham and Sarah would have descendants and be given the land as a gift. Abraham humbly builds an altar for worship to the Holy One who appeared to him at Shechem. (Genesis 12:7; John 1:14)
The altar at Shechem is still a spiritual signpost within the land, even though we may not be able to see its physical remains today. Abraham’s altar is a memorial to the promises Yahweh spoke to Abraham and to his seed, this present generation included. That is why Shechem has been such a hotly contested area in Israel. As Abraham walked the land he literally confirmed Yahweh’s promises to him and to all his descendants after him. In doing this, he claimed the land and established it as an eternal inheritance for God’s people that no man can take away. This is an eternal word of truth established by Yahweh for His peoples and all nations that walk in His ways. Yahweh’s promise to Abraham stands firm and is for us today (Galatians 3:29).
The Gospel Given to Abraham
Galatians 3:8-9 “And the Scripture [Jesus], foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles [Yahweh’s people who were scattered throughout the Nations] by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the nations shall be blessed in you. So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.’”
What do we notice in this Galatians 3:8 scripture? Firstly, the Covenant that was given to Abraham in the Old Testament is mentioned in the New Testament. Secondly, the word Scripture in this verse is capitalized and ‘spoke’ to Abraham. This is a reference to Yeshua who is called The Word or Scripture in the Bible. He [Jesus] is The Scripture made flesh (John 1:1,14), and thirdly what did the Scripture preach to Abraham? The Gospel.
If this is true, then this scripture flies in the face of denominational Christianity which teaches a "doctrine" that the gospel was not introduced by Jesus Christ until what is called ‘the gospels’ Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
This "doctrine" also states that the Jews rejected the Giver of this gospel thus are rejected themselves. Hebrews ch 11. gives testimony of the patriarchs which God has prepared a City for them and was not ashamed of them. These believers knew Jesus [The Word] personally and followed Jesus whom John gives testimony as being the Word of God [His Voice].
When we read Galatians 3:8 and others we find the flawed dogma or doctrine. Long before there were Jews on the earth, Abraham (the father of the Jews and the father of the Christians) was taught the gospel by Jesus himself. Do we honestly think Abraham was only taught part of the gospel or was he given the full understanding of the gospel? If Jesus gave it to Abraham originally in the Old Testament/Tanakh then it would have been the full complete gospel since Jesus [The Word] Himself declares in the New Testament that "He" (The Word) is the "same yesterday, today and forever". In addition to Abraham having been told the full Gospel the writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that the mixed multitude at Mt. Sinai also received the very "same" Gospel that has been preached to us, and that it profited them not because they refused to obey it!
Hebrews 4:2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did[The mixed multitude who left Egypt]; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith [obedience].
Hebrews 4:6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience[lack of faith].
Hebrews 4:11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience[faithlessness].
Hebrews 4:11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience[faithlessness].
The Gospel that was first preached to Abraham, then to the mixed multitude was also confirmed by Stephen in acts ch. 6-7 where he was falsely accused and stoned to death. Our pastors today will not address the accusations against Stephen because it is actually exactly what they are preaching from the pulpit today! Stephen was falsely accused of saying speaking against the Law and preaching that Messiah came to change the Law's of Moses. Stephen's rebuttle clearly reveals the Gospel has not changed even after the death of Messiah.
Abraham, in covenant with Jesus/Yeshua, was the carrier of the gospel as was his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob after him. The old testament is full of men and women who lived by the gospel and risked their lives for the sake of the gospel. All of Israel is the carrier of the true gospel and we, who have come to believe in Yeshua have been grafted into sonship in Him through Abraham. After thousands of centuries it is believers who are the new ones on the block learning to walk in the gospel not the other way around (Hebrews 11; Romans 11).
Who then received the gospel? Was it not to the Jew first and then to the Greek minded coming in from the nations?
Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ/Messiah, for it is the power of God to salvation [deliver] for everyone who believes [obeys], for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
We have digested a mixed theology. A fruit containing good and evil. We all have a lot of repenting to do. First the Jews for not carrying the gospel and teaching it to the nations and secondly the Christians for thinking they are better than their brothers and for the atrocities Christianity has done to the Jews over the years because of arrogant piousness. We need to heal from this abusive critical behavior and stop the persecution – and all Israel will be saved (Romans 11).
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith [walking, by obeying the gospel] is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
continues tomorrow...