Beneficiaries of the Promise

We are the beneficiaries of the promise God made to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him. He is the only Old Testament Character Scripture says was introduced to the gospel in advance (GAL 3:8). If anyone was ever a religious fanatic, it was Abraham. If anyone ever had an excuse to disobey God, it was Abraham. He knew that when God speaks, you had better listen and obey.

It was hard enough to take his wife, servants, household belongings, and livestock through the wilderness, over the mountains and across the rivers to a land he had never seen. It was tough to be told by heaven's messengers, they would have a son in their old age and have to wait years and years while they grew older and older. But to kill this son on the altar, they had waited for so long, the very one that was to start the propagation of their descendants until they were as numerous as the stars . . . what kind of logic was that?

God's ways don't always make sense to mortals, but Abraham reasoned that the Creator could raise Isaac from the dead. No wonder he is called the father of the faithful!

This account serves as a preview of the cross. Abraham offered his only son of promise on the same mountain that God offered his only son. The ram caught in the thicket served as a substitute for Isaac, just as Christ is a substitute for us. God swore by himself that he would keep his promise because Abraham was willing to offer his son.

On that black day when the sun refused to shine, earthquakes shook the ground, the curtain in the temple was torn into, and people were raised from the dead to walk the streets . . . the lambs had been slaughtered, the same as always. They didn't realize that the real sacrifice was the one on the cross, between two thieves.

All the different sacrifices they offered for thousands of years were just substitutes for a substitute. They were substitutes until Christ was available to die to forgive their sins, He in turn was a substitute for us and them. Hebrews 9:15 states that for this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free, from the sins committed under the first covenant.

The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin, but God forgave them anyway, and charged their sins to Christ, looking forward to the cross. The people of the Old Testament knew nothing about the gospel, but since Jesus' blood redeemed them as it does us, they were a part of the gospel too. They just had a different law. Their gospel was to keep the law of Moses.

You have permission to publish this freely provided you don't charge for it, and you keep the resource box intact. It would be appreciated if you notify me when you do at lynn_b2@yahoo.com.

Lynn Bradley is the author of, "Climbing the Heavenly Stairs." Find out who this Jesus really is. Learn the role the Holy Spirit has in our salvation. Be aware that the church is a hospital for sinners. Learn how to fit in with your congregation. Find out how to restore your faith. Delve into the mystery of mountain moving faith. Read excerpts from the book by clicking on the following link. http://www.thelynnbradleybook.com

---

The Meaning of Life

Recently I was watching a re-run of "Everybody Loves Raymond".... Read More

Spirituality: Living the Whole

The words 'new age' and 'spirituality' can have people running... Read More

People Fail in Life Because They Do Not Plan

Life is growth. For many people life is like a... Read More

Should Christians Drink Alcohol?

Tea-totalling Texans? Them's fightin' words!I live in a small Texas... Read More

Pray Off Your Debts - in 10 Days or Less

It will all be clear in a minute, but first... Read More

Your Artistic Talent as a Weapon

Your creative gift has power.God was the first and still... Read More

Life as the Ultimate Psychedelic Experience

Life is just a journey. Princess DianaWhether we are... Read More

How Shall We Then Live?

Qohelet had grown old with time when he delivered his... Read More

The End of Guilt

What is the purpose of guilt?Well, let's look at it.Some... Read More

My Search for the Truth

I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. Maybe you've heard... Read More

Stress & Spirituality, Part 1

Stress & Spirituality ? How Spirituality Affects Stress LevelsTake a... Read More

Letting Go of Your Past

Once you become saved and born again, the Bible tells... Read More

Sacred Space, Sacred Time

We all need space, we all need time to ourselves.In... Read More

The Foundational Laws of Spiritual Physics

Over the past years, I have undergone a life-altering transition... Read More

Did You Know Everything In Your Dream Is About YOU?

Carl Jung, 20th century psycho analyst and dream researcher, said:... Read More

Whatd We Miss?

Did we just overlook the amount of love that God... Read More

Near Death Experiences: Is there a Logical Explanation?

In an edition of Reader's Digest, I stumbled upon a... Read More

Terrorists Again - 14 Prayers to Protect Your Family

In the last 2 weeks or so, I have been... Read More

Trailing Clouds of Glory

Most of us are familiar with the inner criticism and... Read More

A Servants Heart

Do you have a servant's heart? Has God blessed you... Read More

Life Gets Teejus, Don?t It?

Those five words are from a song that I remember... Read More

Daily Rituals as a Doorway to the Higher

If you have a longing to connect with something higher,... Read More

We Fall Down -- But We Get Up

When I first heard Donnie McClurkin's song, "We Fall Down... Read More

Gods Name... Creation and Undoing!

Over the past number of years, while going through my... Read More

Spiritual Spring Cleaning, Making Room for More

Do you ever get into those moods where you just... Read More

Anam Cara - Watching The River Flow

I love rivers. I have for many years lived away... Read More

The Traitor Within

Life is like an obstacle course in which we run... Read More

Fool for God

The following article is an exploration of the Spring holiday... Read More

Enlightenment Takes You to Selfishness

An act of selflessness is the highest expression of selfishness... Read More

Candle Burning to Petition the Male Saints

Last NAN I explained how to petition the female Saints... Read More

You Must Feel to Heal!

In my work with clients who have physical illnesses there... Read More

How to Test the Spirits

There is a specific technique that a Shaman uses to... Read More

Sinners by Choice

God said, "Thou shalt not?" and we continue to tell... Read More