Israel Arises Preview - Pastor Tom Loghry
Pastor Tom introduces the next sermon series tracing the history of God’s chosen people.
Transcript:
God starts with Abraham in order to ultimately encompass the whole globe, all people. And isn't it interesting that when you look at human history, that's pretty much how things have transpired. Yes, there are other religions. Yes, polytheism does exist in some places. You look especially like in India, many gods there.
But still, God is in India. The gospel is present in India. The gospel is going out to all places, making all people part of God's people.
God begins with Abraham, and God begins with the children of Abraham. God begins with Israel. But we have to understand that he begins with Abraham, and he begins with Israel, not because they're exceptional people, but because He is an exceptional God. On the other side of Israel exiting Egypt, we hear this reminder in Deuteronomy seven verses six through eight. It says, for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you, that is, Israel, out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you are more numerous than other people, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. So again, it's not because they're exceptional that they're chosen, it's because God is exceptional and God is working through Abraham, through Israel in order that all of us might become the children of God. Paul, in his letter to the Romans testifies to this reality. Romans 4: 16 - 18 says, therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham.
He is the father of us all. As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations. He's our father in the sight of God in whom he believes. The God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed, and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, So shall your offspring be.
Paul is testifying to the reality that all of us can become children of Abraham. All of us can become recipients, partakers of this promise, insofar as we have faith. But not just faith as like an idea, as a word, but a faith specifically in the person of Jesus Christ, the one who was promised, the one who would crush the head of the serpent.
In the next chapter, Paul says this, testifying to the saving work of Christ, juxtaposed with the rebellion of Adam. For if, by the trespass of the one man, Adam, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man, the many will be made righteous. This is what God has accomplished in giving us His Son, Jesus Christ.
He's making us, who are sinners, righteous in Him. But how do we get there? How do we get to Jesus? And what will we learn about God and ourselves along the way? This is what we're going to explore across Genesis 26 through 50. We will hear the stories of Jacob and Esau, we will learn the origins of the name of Israel and the 12 tribes.
We will follow the story of Joseph, a decisive figure for the future of Israel. A man whose ups and downs offer an example for us, even today. From all of this, we will gain a clearer picture of who God is. Better knowing the God we call upon in worship. This is our backstory and we should learn it well.
Hey there, Pastor Tom here. I hope you enjoyed this sermon I offered to Rockland Community Church. Rockland Community Church is located at 212 Rockland Road in North Scituate, Rhode Island, just around the bend from the Scituate Public High School. We invite you to join us in person or virtually this Sunday as we continue our series entitled Israel Arises. It's our joy to welcome you into our community.
Intro/Outro Song
Title: River Meditation
Artist: Jason Shaw
Source:http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/RIVER_MEDITATION___________2-58
License:(CC BY 3.0 US)