God’s Unforgettable Call of Abraham – God’s Call and Promise

Sermon on the Call of Abraham — Sermon outline by Bill Jackson on God’s promise to Abraham and its ultimate fulfillment in Christ and the Gospel.

Introduction:

1. The call of Abraham — one of the Bible’s “mountain peak” events.

2. From this, the formation of the Jewish nation, and leading to Christ.

3. In the call, we find the promise of the seed, Savior and salvation.

I. In The Call of Abraham, Promise Of Great Blessing To Many.

A. Genesis 12:1-3

1. Of Abraham, a great nation to come.

2. More: All families of the earth to be blessed.

B. Genesis 15:2-6.

1. All of this, unclear to Abraham at the time.

2. But God promised (v. 5), and Abraham believed (v. 6).

A. They had great reliance upon fleshly descent from Abraham, and saw their salvation in that fact.

B. John saw them spurning his message, comforted in the fact that they were Abraham’s seed (Matt. 3:9-10).

C. Before the Lord, they made the same claim (John 8:33), needing not the freedom Jesus had offered (v. 32).

1. The blood line was there (v. 37), but they were not, in behavior, such as Abraham would bless (vv. 39-41).

2. Jesus showed intimacy with Abraham:

a. “Abraham rejoiced to see my day … and was glad” (v. 56).

b. On His Deity: “Before Abraham was I am” (v. 58).

D. By God’s truth, emphasis had been moved from Abraham’s line through blood to the Christ.

A. Jewish — Gentile distinction does not apply in Christ!

B. No benefit to the outward marks of Judaism (Rom. 3:28-29).

1. Connection with God not through the flesh.

2. Rather, a “circumcision” of the heart!

C. Abraham, the father of those who walk in the steps of faith (Rom. 4:12).

D. One in Christ is then Abraham’s seed, and an heir of the promise made in Genesis 12:3 (Gal. 3:29).

Conclusion:

1. One is baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27), and the baptism is preceded by faith, repentance and confession.

2. In Christ, then Abraham’s seed, and an heir.

3. Then, one is a part of God’s “Israel” (Gal. 6:16) of today.