Spiritual Gifts to Abraham, Part 2

This morning I'd like to speak about something as big as the universe. I began to speak about it a couple of weeks ago and the promises that God made to Abraham. And today I'd like to enlarge upon that just a bit and just show how huge these promises are and why we want to make sure that we ourselves don't miss out on those promises that God has given through Abraham or gave to Abraham. Let me just review very briefly a few things that we covered a couple of weeks ago. First of all, we read verses in Genesis that God promised Abraham that all families of the earth and all nations of the earth would be blessed through his seed. And we pointed out quite a number of verses that these spiritual promises actually came on through the tribe of Judah. Whereas the national birthright promises came to Joseph, the spiritual promises flowed through the tribe of Judah. And we read from Genesis 49 that Judah was the royal tribe. The scepter would not depart from Judah. And Shiloh, the one to whom the throne belongs, would come from Judah. And so we really showed the preeminence of the tribe of Judah. And even Judah himself, we read verses about how he was a spokesman for the other brothers.

It's very interesting that the scepter has not departed from Judah. We feel that to this day the throne of David is over in Great Britain and in the royal family. They don't even themselves realize that they would be from the tribe of Judah. But the scepter has not departed from Judah. And maybe it's not odd that the Jewish people have been the most, perhaps the most persecuted and hated of all people on the earth. And they're the ones that gave birth to the Savior, Jesus Christ. They're the ones through whom the spiritual promises flow. And if we are to realize ourselves the spiritual promises, we must become a Jew, as we also read last time.

We saw many Old Testament verses then about the great spiritual promises that God gave to Abraham and how that would come on down through the tribe of Judah. And then we begin to also read New Testament verses that it is evident that our Lord was from the tribe of Judah, Hebrews 7 and verse 14. And we also read from Matthew 1 and Luke 3 about the genealogy of Jesus Christ, which well documents that Jesus Christ was a Jew. He was from the tribe of Judah. But I'd like to pick up the story then this morning with the spiritual promises flowing on down to each and every one of us and how that is accomplished.

Let's go to Galatians chapter 3, and we did read some of these verses, not all of them. We're going to add some to it this morning. But these spiritual promises today, as we go through them, the promises that were made to Abraham, I think we all are going to understand them more deeply. We're going to appreciate them more deeply. And young people, did the spiritual promises to Abraham have anything to do with you?

Well, how would you like to someday go out into space in the universe and help to make all things new? We're going to see before the sermon is over that the spiritual promises to Abraham are more than just eternal life. It's getting out into the universe and helping to make all things new. That's going to be exciting. So I think all of us, young people and old, are excited to think about that. Boy, we'd all like to see what it's like out in space, wouldn't we? Someday we will. We will go out. But we won't be human. We'll be spirit beings by that time. Well, let's read then Galatians chapter 3 and beginning in verse 16. Galatians chapter 3 and verse 16. To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. And those are the promises that we're talking about this morning. The promises that were made to Abraham about Abraham's seed. To Abraham and his seed. He does not say, and to seeds as of many, but as of one, and to your seed, who is Christ? And so it is through Christ that we are going to be able to realize the spiritual promises given to Abraham. There's no other way. Jesus Christ is the way and the truth and the life. And the only name given among men by which we may be saved is Jesus Christ, the seed of Abraham from the tribe of Judah. And we read last time also verse 26, Galatians 3 and verse 26. And you are all. And Paul here is the writer. He's addressing the churches in Galatia. And he says, you are all sons of God. And by the all, he means Israelites, Jews, and Gentiles. You're all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is Jesus Christ who brings together Jews and Gentiles. If a Jew has faith in Jesus Christ and a Gentile has faith in Jesus Christ, guess what? That brings them together as one. They're brought together by the seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ. And he goes on to explain just a bit more, verse 27.

As many of you as were baptized, that means if we came to understand the truth, and we repented, and we committed ourselves, and were baptized, as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Christ comes to live in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. And he goes on to say, verse 28, there's neither Jew nor Greek, there's neither slave nor free, there's neither male nor female. And it doesn't matter what race, it doesn't matter what color your skin may be, what nation. It doesn't matter whether you're rich and famous, or if you're a slave or poor. Male or female doesn't matter either. It doesn't matter whether you're one or the other. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. So a male who believes in Christ, and a female who believes in Christ become one in Christ. Someone that's very rich, and someone that has nothing, someone that may even be a slave. They believe in Christ, they come together as one. So through the seed of Abraham, we all become one. And verse 29, if you are Christ, then you are Abraham's seed. Now this seed is in small letter S, and we become Abraham's children then. We become Abraham's descendants, and heirs according to the promise. And again, we're going to see that this promise branches out to the universe. It's not just eternal life. It's so great. The promises to Abraham are eternal life and more. Let's skip on down into chapter 4 and read just a few verses that we did not read last time. Galatians chapter 4 beginning in verse 4. When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. We know how Jesus was born of Mary, who was a virgin at that time. And thereby Jesus became human through His mother Mary, being in her womb and being born of her.

And why? Verse 5, to redeem those who were under the law, that they might receive the adoption as sons. And of course we were under God's law because we all broke it. And certainly needed to be redeemed. Redeemed means that a payment was made. The payment was the life of Jesus Christ. And by His life He has redeemed us. He's purchased us. A price has been paid. A very dear and precious price has been paid so that we can realize sonship.

And that's what becoming a seed of Abraham eventually means. It means sonship in God's kingdom. In verse 6, because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father.

Here's the heart and the core of the spiritual promises. We become the sons of God. We inherit eternal life. And we actually rise up right through the level of the angels. You know, the angels are at a lower spirit level of existence than God. Similar to like humans and animals.

You know, animals are flesh and blood. They breathe air. But they dwell at a lower level than the human level. They don't dwell at the human level. They're able to reason and think. Because human beings bear the image of God, but animals do not. So animals are at a lower...they're at the level of animal existence like humans, but they dwell at a lower level. Well, angels are also spirit beings, created spirit beings. They've not always existed. They had a beginning when God created them as spirit beings.

They dwell then as spirit beings. They then have...they exist in an everlasting life like God. But they are at a lower level of spirit existence than God. God is so much higher. God dwells at a much higher level, just like humans are at a much higher level than animals. So mankind has that potential then to rise up above the level of the angels to the level that God dwells.

And the promises to Abraham then, which we realize through Abraham's seed, Jesus Christ, helps us to rise up to sonship. That is what the promises are actually all about. Because your son's God has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father. Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. So we're seeing how these promises then function to ultimately bring us into sonship in the family of God.

And can we begin to imagine then how great this is? I mean, we ought to just stand in awe of it every day. That God has in mind that we become the sons of God. That ought to encourage us when we get down a little bit, shouldn't it?

Just to think about our destiny. Let's go to 1 John chapter 3 and read the first couple of verses here. It shows how awesome it is, sonship in the family of God. And John expresses it very well with a certain sense of awe. 1 John chapter 3 and verse 1, Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God.

Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him. You know, people in the world don't know that we are children of God. We're sons of God in the making. They don't realize that at all. Though one day they will. Verse 2, Beloved, now we are children of God.

Even now, in this stage of, let's say, growing and developing into sonship. We are even now the children of God. And it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. We will see Jesus Christ in His full brilliance and glory. He shines like the sun. He's described in Revelation 1. His eyes are like flames of fire. And we'll see Him in that same way.

Our lowly body will be changed to be just like His glorified body. Philippians 3, verse 21. So awesome, isn't it, when we think about how great the promises are. Let's read just a few verses. Again, are these promises to Abraham just something the older ones here should be interested in? What about the young people? Should they be interested?

Yes, they should. Because it's their destiny as well to become sons of God. And we'll have missed out on the very purpose for being here if we fail to become a son of God. We have that opportunity. And that's what the promises of Abraham are all about.

Becoming through Christ the seed of Abraham, then becoming the children of Abraham. And ultimately becoming a son of God. So how awesome that is. 2 Peter expresses how great these promises are. 2 Peter 1, verse 3. As his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life, eternal life, and godliness, through the knowledge of him who is called us by glory and virtue, by which we have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises.

Not great and precious only, but exceedingly great and precious promises. And those flow through those promises given to Abraham, the spiritual promises, through Abraham's seed, Jesus Christ, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature.

And so that is required before we can realize sonship. We have to have the divine nature. We have to think like God thinks, have the mind that God has, the mind of Christ. That's required to develop during this lifetime. And we may become a partaker of that divine nature by Christ in us. So it is exceedingly great. Let's go to just a few other verses here in the general epistles. James 1 and verse 12.

James 1 and verse 12. And here we read, Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life. And you know that when he has been proved is this lifetime. It may be for some 10 years, for others it may be 20, for others it may be 50 or more. So when he has been proved, each and every one of us is in that process right now. The process of being proved, tried and tested. And God's own nature and mind being developed.

But when we've been tested, if we go ahead and pass that test, we will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. Let's also read James chapter 2 and verse 5.

Listen, my beloved brethren, has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? So the promises of Abraham are a crown of life. They make us heirs of the kingdom of God. Let's also read 1 John 2 and verse 25. So these promises are awesome.

The spiritual promises given to Abraham in 1 John chapter 2 and verse 25. And this is the promise that he has promised us, and it's very simple, isn't it? Eternal life. So the spiritual promises given to Abraham are a crown of life. They're heirs of the kingdom of God. They are, simply put, eternal life.

Now, I'd like for us to consider a little bit more about how we can realize these promises, things that are going to be required of us in order to be granted eternal life in God's kingdom. You know, the promises were given to Abraham, right? They were passed on to Isaac. They were passed on down then to Jacob. Jacob's name was changed to Israel. In this consideration of the promises given to Abraham, to the fathers, then it would be good for us to consider Jacob and his name being changed to Israel. Because it does have a direct connection to us, and it has a direct connection to us realizing the promises that God gave to Abraham. Let's read then that the promises that God made to Abraham, as far as us things that we must do, they flow on down through Isaac to Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. The promises actually require that we become a spiritual Israelite. We must become a spiritual Israelite. Let's notice that in some verses, several verses, beginning in Romans 9. If we are to realize the promises given to Abraham, we must become, in the end, a spiritual Israelite. In Romans 9 and verse 3. Romans 9 and verse 3. Paul here says, I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ, for my brethren, my kensmen, according to the flesh. Paul was an Israelite. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. So he says something quite dramatic here. I could wish I were accursed from Christ for my kensmen. He loved his kensmen so much. My kensmen, according to the flesh. Verse 4. Who are Israelites? And that is in verse 4, some very important things. To whom? The Israelites then. To whom pertain the adoption? That actually means the sonship and entry into God's kingdom as sons. The glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God. All these things pertain to the Israelites. And the promises also. Of whom are the fathers, and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came. So the promises are to Israelites, the Israelites.

And we must become actually an Israelite in the spiritual sense of the word. A spiritual Israelite if we are to enter God's kingdom. Whether we are a flesh-borne Israelite or a Gentile doesn't really matter. As we have seen, it all comes together through the seed of Abraham, Christ. And we're going to see some more verses on that now. Let's go to Romans 11, a couple of chapters over. We have some very interesting chapters here. Chapters 9, 10, and 11. They go together and be good to study and to understand them. And how God is going to work it all out to bring Israel and the Gentiles together in the end. And chapter 11 begins to explain how He will do that. Romans 11, and well, let's read verse 11. I say then, have they stumbled, that is the Israelites, that they should fall? Certainly not. God did let them go in the captivity. They did fall, but not forever. But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. And so God has opened the door for the Gentiles to have salvation. And in verse 13, Paul says, I'm speaking to you Gentiles, and as much as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I'll magnify my office.

And skipping on to verse 17, if some of the branches were broken off, he now gets into this, well, the branches of an olive tree analogy to help us understand what's going on. If some of the branches were broken off, he's talking about the Israelite branches that God allowed to be broken off. And you, you the Gentiles, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and the fatness of the olive tree. He said, do not boast against the branches. So he chose, then, that the Gentiles are actually grafted into the, out of a wild olive tree.

They're broken off and grafted into a different olive tree. And it's actually called the good olive tree. It's the olive tree of Israel, spiritual Israel. And we see that as we, as we read on down in verse 23, it brings out that they also, and this would be the Israelites, the branches that were broken off from Israel, they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

So those branches of Israel that were broken off can be grafted into the spiritual olive tree of Israel, spiritual Israel. In verse 24, for if you were cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature, into a good olive tree, how much more will these, who are the natural branches, be grafted in, into their own olive tree?

And so there's some interesting things here showing that eventually everyone, whether a native born Israelite or Gentile, has to be grafted into the olive tree of spiritual Israel, the good olive tree, has to become an Israelite. In chapter 15, the Apostle Paul shows how the Gentiles then have had the door to this good olive tree opened up for them, and they can be, they can understand God's way and they can be a part of the Israel of God.

In verse 8, Romans 15, beginning in verse 8, Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God. They can be a part of those promises. They can be grafted into the tree of Israel, and through Christ they then can also participate in the promises given to Abraham.

The Gentiles might glorify God as it is written, For this reason I confess to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name. And again, he says, rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people. And again, praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, laud him, all you peoples. And again, there shall be a root of Jesse, he shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, to him the Gentiles shall hope. So Paul is quoting Old Testament verses to show how the Gentiles will be brought in to the promises that were made to Israel.

Let's notice more about how this actually works and is accomplished in Ephesians 2. In this chapter we have some verses that are very often misquoted, they're misunderstood, they are taken out of their context. But we will put them in their context and explain them briefly as we go along. Let's begin in Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 11. Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 11. Therefore remember that you who wants Gentiles in the flesh, Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, you Gentiles, Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, made in the flesh by hands.

So the Jews call the Gentiles then uncircumcision. That at that time you were, when you were back in the world before being called to be a part of God's church, at that time you were without Christ being aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel. You were foreigners to the Commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. You see, the Gentiles, just like the Israelites, all have to come to the seat of Abraham to be made one.

The native-born Israelites are just as lost as the Gentiles without Christ, without the seat of Abraham. And just as far away from the promises. But once God brings us all together with His calling, and He explains that in verse 13, Now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off, you Gentiles, you were far away, He had no hope. Once far off had been made near by the blood of Christ. The seat of Abraham has brought you near. For He Himself, Jesus Himself, is our peace who has made both one. You see what He's talking about? The Gentiles and Israelites have been made one. The uncircumcision and the circumcision have been made one. And He's broken down the middle wall of division between us. Circumcision did divide the Jews from the Israel, or from the Gentiles. Having abolished, and here's a verse that is very often misused, to try to show that God's commandments have been done away. And it's not even talking about God's commandments here, is it? Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, which is the law of commandments. Well, there was a law that required circumcision, all right? Contained in ordinances so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, from the Gentiles and the Israelites, thus making peace. And that He might reconcile them both to God, both uncircumcision and circumcision, both Gentiles and Israelites to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you, you Gentiles, who were far off, and to those who were near. For through Him both, both the Israelites and the Gentiles, have access by one Spirit to the Father. So you see, this is talking about then how the Gentiles and the Israelites are brought together as one through Jesus Christ, the seed of Abraham.

And that, as we read in Romans 11, the Gentiles actually then are grafted in to the tree of Israel, of spiritual Israel. Let's notice in Galatians 6 that the church of God, made up of many different nations and many different races all around the world, is the spiritual Israel of God. Galatians 6, in verse 15 and 16.

Galatians 6, in verse 15. In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. So this is referring to the church of God, composed of Israelites and Gentiles who have been brought together as one through Christ, the blood of Christ, through the seed of Abraham.

And both then share of the good olive tree, and both then become heirs of the promises given to Abraham. And once they have Abraham's faith, they become the children of Abraham, who is the Father of us all, as it says in Romans 4.

So we, brethren, are the Israel of God. I don't know if we think about that, but we are. We're Jews, as we read last time in Romans 2. We might read that again. But through Christ, we become a spiritual Jew. Just put that down. We read it last time, Romans 2, verses 28 and 29. And there it says, circumcision outwardly and being a Jew outwardly is nothing. It's being a Jew inwardly and circumcision in the heart that matters. And Jesus said to the woman at the well, salvation is of the Jews.

And you know, even in the millennium, people are going to realize they will need to become a spiritual Jew. In Zechariah it brings out, Zechariah 8, verse 23, that nations will come up to a Jew and take hold of a Jew's coat and say, we're going to go with you. We hear that God is with you. They'll realize they need to become a spiritual Jew. They need to become an Israelite. So even in the millennium, you know, people will come to understand about the promises and becoming a spiritual Israelite.

Do you realize the significance of becoming a spiritual Israelite? It helps us to understand it more deeply, to go back to when Jacob had his name changed, which we should now do. Let's go back to Genesis 32. And here's an interesting and rather odd account in many ways. We remember, I would imagine most of us, that Jacob wrestled with an angel all night. It was probably the God of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ, because later he even named the place the face of God. In Genesis 32, verse 22, He is talking of Jacob here, rose that night and took his two wives and two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed over the fort of Jabach.

He took them and sent them over the brook and sent over what he had. Now verse 24, this is Genesis 32 and verse 24, Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when he saw that he did not prevail against him, Jacob was a good wrestler. He prevailed with this man who was undoubtedly the Lord and the God of the Old Testament. Did not prevail against him. He touched the socket of his hip, and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as he wrestled with him.

And he said, let me go, the Lord said to him, let me go for the day breaks. But he said, I will not let you go unless you bless me. And so he said to him, what is your name? And he said, Jacob. And here was Jacob even with his joint out of socket, the socket of his hip. He still wouldn't let go until he received the blessing. He just hung on.

And so he said, what is your name? And he said, Jacob. Verse 28, he said, Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and men, with men, and have prevailed. And so this is when Jacob's name was changed to Israel. Israel, I looked at my margin down below here, means Prince with God. I did just a bit more looking up, and it also goes back part of the root of part of the name Israel goes back to a Hebrew word, Sarah, S-A-R-A-H, that means to prevail, to prevail.

You know, prevail is the same thing as overcome. In fact, the new international version translates this here in verse 28, that you have struggled with God and men, and have overcome. You have overcome. I'd like to quote from the Expositor's Bible commentary. I think it's very important that we understand the meaning of the name Israel, and why we must become a spiritual Israelite ourselves if we are to inherit the promises.

The Expositor's Bible dictionary says that the picture of Jacob's struggle with God is meant to epitomize the whole of Jacob's narratives. And this is so true. I did not realize this until I read this commentary. Of all the patriarchs, Jacob had more struggles than any of the others. He struggled here, he struggled there. Jacob's life was characterized by struggle, it goes on to say here. Jacob struggled with his brother, even before they were born in the womb. He struggled with his father to get the birthright promises. He struggled with his father-in-law, Laban, and he struggled with God.

So this man struggled, he struggled. But here, on this night, he struggled again, and he prevailed, he overcame. This commentary, Expositor's Bible commentary, goes on to say, most significant, Jacob had emerged victorious in his struggle. And they quote the NIV, New International Version, you have struggled with God and man and have overcome. Isn't that what has to be said of each of us? We have to struggle, in a sense, with man, and hang in there with God, and what he has in mind for us, if we're to become members of God's families.

I think it's significant that to inherit and realize the promises given to Abraham, we must become an Israelite, a spiritual Israelite. We must overcome. That's an important part of the story, I think. In our struggle, we must prevail also with God and man. We must overcome. There are things that we must do. I'd like to get into that near the end of our sermon here. We must have faith in Jesus Christ, absolute, complete faith in Jesus Christ, in His sacrifice, and in Him living His life in us.

It's no longer me, the Apostle Paul said, but Christ who lives in me. We must have Jesus Christ living in us. Brother, we need more of that, don't we? I do, and you do. We all need more of Christ in us. Of course, we must begin by believing the gospel. We must begin by repenting and being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.

And at that time, Christ does come to live in us. And then we must grow and overcome and attain godly nature and character.

There are things that we must do. Yes, there are conditions to the promises. They're not going to be given to us unless we meet those conditions. At the very top of the list, perhaps, is obedience. We must obey God's law and God's will. Turn back a few chapters, if you're still in Genesis, to Genesis 26, verses 1-5. We, like Abraham, must be obedient. We must obey God. Genesis 26. These verses here are talking to Isaac. There was a famine in the land. And God told him not to go down to Egypt. Verse 3, stay in this land, right here in the land of Canaan. And I will be with you and bless you. For to you in your descendants I give these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven. I will give you in your descendants all these lands. And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. And why? Because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. And so we must also be obedient to God like Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. We must have faith, the faith that Abraham had. Let's read just a little bit about that faith in Romans 4. It tastes amazing. This was truly a man of faith, and we must have that same faith he had. And if our faith begins to waver, we just ask God to shore us up, strengthen us, keep our faith strong. So we are to be children of faith if we are to realize the promises. Our faith has to be strong. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. If we begin to doubt, then we will begin to let down. We have to keep our faith strong in God and in the promises, and that He is with us. And we have trying times in the days ahead. We can see the handwriting on the wall. Maybe we should talk about it just a bit more, and no doubt will in the new year. But we will need a strong faith as we go on into 19...or into 2014 and beyond. In Romans 4 and verse 16, Therefore it is of faith. Yes, our faith must be strong, that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only of those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the Father of us all. It's kind of talking about the Jews and some of their sacrificial laws, like the ceremonial laws, like circumcision. But, you know, everyone, whether Gentile or Israelite, must have faith. They must have faith that is strong, like Abraham. It goes on down to describe Abraham's faith in verse 18, Who contrary to hope, in hope, believed, so that he became the Father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendants be. And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body already dead, since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. So we must keep our faith strong also, like Abraham's. The third thing we must do, we must have obedience, we must have a strong, enduring faith. And the fourth thing is endurance. We have to have patience and endure the trials and difficulties, the trying and the testing. Hebrews, let's read a couple of different chapters in Hebrews. Hebrews, chapter 6, and verses 11 and 12.

If we are to realize the promises to Abraham, we must then endure to the end, as Jesus said. Hebrews, chapter 6, and verse 11. We desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Yes, it does take faith, and it takes patience and endurance. Let's also read from the faith chapter, Hebrews 11, about Abraham's faith and the faith of the other patriarchs. Hebrews, chapter 11, and verse 6, by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive for an inheritance. He went out not knowing where he was going, but faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. That's not an easy life, dwelling in tents. When I go camping for two or three days, I'm ready to get back home. How about you? But Abraham stayed a hundred years, and Isaac stayed all of his life, Jacob most of his. Verse 10 goes on to say, what kept them then there in Canaan, dwelling in tents. For he waited for a city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God. He was looking for a city that God was going ultimately to bring. Verse 13 says, these all died in faith, not having received the promises. But they saw them afar off, and were assured of them, embraced them. They confessed they were strangers in pilgrims.

Verse 14, those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. You know, we do too. And it's not here on this earth. It is God's kingdom. Ultimately, it's that city that Abraham sought, and we'll have more about that in just a moment. In verse 15, truly, if they had called to mind that country from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better that is a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. So we must then have the same endurance they had. They endured hardship, and they did not go back to that homeland. They didn't go back to the old ways. In the end, the condition for entering God's family, the condition for realizing the promises to Abraham, in the end, it is that we overcome. Let's read just a couple of verses in Revelation. We must become a real spiritual Israelite then. That's what a spiritual Israelite means. One who overcomes, one who prevails in his struggle.

So we must be a spiritual Israelite and overcome. Revelation 2 and verse 7, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. And you know, each of the seven churches is to him that overcomes. That means to him who prevails, to him who becomes a spiritual Israelite.

So we must have faith, we must have obedience, we must have endurance, and we must prevail. We must overcome. Brother, let's set the promises given to Abraham as our goal in life. And the promises to Abraham are eternal life through Jesus Christ, but they are more than eternal life.

They're also... Well, let's go to Hebrews chapter 2. And this is where the promises really, you might say, you can magnify them out to their fullest extent. Eternal life, of course, means never-ending life. So that's life that just goes on and on and on and on and never ends and gets better all the time. But then it's more than that. It's actually described here in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 8. You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all things in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. Talking about man, we don't see all things put under man. The Greek, rather, for all things simply means the all. The all. A-L-L. That God is going to put the all. And that means the universe. All that God has created will be put under man, ultimately. And we read more about that in Revelation 21. Revelation chapter 21.

And here, in verses 5 through 7, not only is it eternal life, and that's great enough, but it's inheriting the universe. That's what the promises to Abraham mean. Inheriting the universe with eternal life. How wonderful! It doesn't get any better than that, does it? In Revelation 21 and verse 5, He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. This is when God the Father comes down to the earth with the heavenly city. I make all things new. And He said to me, Right, for these words are true and faithful. And He said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. In other words, God's plan with mankind has been brought to a completion. His family plan is now complete. We can go on out into the future. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to Him who thirsts. And verse 7 just summarizes the promises to Abraham in this short little verse. He who overcomes, He then that becomes a spiritual Israelite and prevails. He who overcomes shall inherit all things. And I will be His God, and He shall be my Son. So the promises to Abraham in this sense then are twofold. They are sonship, eternal life, and they are inheritance of the universe, inheriting all things. How exciting that is going to be. And we'll be dwelling in this majestic city that Abraham looked for. Here's the city that Abraham was seeking. In verse 1 it describes it, verses 1 and 2, the new heaven and the new earth. And verse 2, I John saw the heavenly city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. So through the seed of Abraham we become citizens of this kingdom, and of this city, the new Jerusalem. And there will be glorious sonship, inheriting the universe. I want to read. I'll tell you, this is exciting. I hope the young people are still tuned in. But if you would like to get out into the universe and explore, you'd like to be able to see what's out there. And maybe do something about it. Not just go to the moon, or go to... We've not been to Mars yet. I don't know if we will ever do that. But not just go there, but do something about it. How about, instead of Star Wars, having a cosmic development program, a galactic renewing and beautification project. That's what the Father has in mind. I want to read from our booklet, What is Your Destiny?, the last couple of pages. Revelation 21 talks about the new Jerusalem, the capital of the universe.

At last, God the Father, as well as Jesus Christ, will live with humanity, now glorified as God's divine children. Verse 7 encourages us with these awesome words, He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son. All things means the entire universe and spirit realm. We will have a permanent dwelling with God in the new Jerusalem, but we will not be confined there or to the earth, or even to this galaxy.

Rather, we will have the freedom to enjoy the entire cosmos, which we will then possess along with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the rest of the divine family. The glorified members of God's family may have different regions of oversight throughout the universe. With more than 100 billion galaxies, and of 100 billion stars, there will be plenty of responsibility to go around. In any case, we will be able to travel anywhere within the universe, instantaneously, at the speed of thought, just as God can, and beautify and expand on it under the direction of the Father and Christ.

For we will share their infinite power and mind. To quote the words of the Apostle Paul, No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. The future is so transcendent in its magnitude and meaning that it is impossible to really get our minds around it. The truth is that we don't know all that we will experience when we at last dwell in resplendent glory with God and all repentant humanity in the age to come, as God has not revealed it, and we probably would not be able to comprehend it with our finite minds.

But we can rest assured that life will never be dull and uninteresting. It will always be filled with new opportunities and joyful living. In Psalm 16, 11, King David prayed to God, You will show me the path of life.

In Your presence is fullness of joy. At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Do you know these two chapters here summarize the great destiny of mankind, but they also summarize the promises that were made to Abraham. They are awesome, aren't they, when you put it into that context? So in conclusion, I would like to have a turn to Revelation 5 and once again read that it is through the promises of Abraham and it's through the spiritual promises that flow through the tribe of Judah down to Jesus Christ.

And that is how we're able to realize, ultimately, the awesome promises that God has given to Abraham. In Revelation 5, we read some of these verses last time. I won't repeat them, but there was this scroll with seven seals. Nobody could open it. John wept. But then in verse 5, one of the elders said to me, Do not weep, behold the lion of the tribe of Judah. The root of David has prevailed to open the scroll and lose its seven seals.

And I read this because we've emphasized that salvation is of the Jews. It does come through a Jew, Jesus Christ. And we must become a Jew. We must become an Israelite if we are to realize the promises. The lion of the tribe of Judah shows strength, the strength of Jesus Christ. It also shows that his lineage came through David as prophesied. And it also shows that he prevailed. Jesus Christ said, Be of good cheer, I've overcome the world. Guess what? He, in the human flesh, was an Israelite.

He overcame. He prevailed. And we must become an Israelite as well. In conclusion, I hope that we all, when we realize the greatness of the promises to Abraham, will do what the angels of God did in this chapter. Let's read very quickly on down in verse 8. When Jesus Christ took that scroll, the four living creatures and 24 elders fell down. And in verse 9, they sang, You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals.

They're talking to Jesus Christ. For You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth. It shows the greatness, then, of the promises given, in this case, to the first fruits who are going to reign with Christ.

So the angels of God praised Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. We're not done yet with the angels here. Verse 11, He saw all these other angels. The number was 10,000 times 10,000. Multiply that out. That's 100 million. And then thousands and thousands and other thousands. And what did they say? Verse 12. Worthy is the Lamb who is slain, to receive power and riches and glory and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Brethren, as I read what these angels said in these passages, I thought, well, let that be my words also.

And finally, in verse 13, every creature in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth, such as were in the sea, I heard them saying, blessing and honor and glory and power to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever. So, you know, as the angels of God, let us also give honor and glory and praise to God. And always give thanks and praise to God our Father and the Lion of the tribe of Judah for the spiritual promises to Abraham.