Abraham's Thousand-Year Promise
A Tim Keller Sermon Summary
Three global religions consider Abraham as the father of their faith. Because of a call from God, he lived a life at odds with his family, society, and culture. Let’s learn about it in Genesis 11:27-12:9.
Genesis 1-11 described human’s spiritual decay. But one ray of hope, a single family, still passed on the knowledge of God: the family of Seth (Genesis 4:25), from whom came Noah and Terah, the father of Abraham. At that time, the culture was polytheistic; even Terah worshiped other gods (Joshua 24:2). Fortunately, his son Abraham followed God. But Abraham’s wife, Sarai, was barren. So, this ray was flickering out, spiritually and physically.
Then God called Abraham. It was a call of grace because Abraham didn’t deserve the call. Abraham wasn’t qualified. The call changed him.
The call was radical. God told Abraham to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household and go “to the land I will show you” (12:1). Note that at that time, there was no Google map. By faith, Abraham went, not knowing where (Hebrews 11:8).
God promised Abraham that he would be a great nation, and all peoples on earth would be blessed through him. But Abraham never witnessed this.
For his entire life, Abraham lived between God’s promises and the reality. He might have been more comfortable just staying back in his father’s land, but instead he listened to God.
Over thousands of years, all the promises gradually are coming true. Like Abraham, we follow God by faith. Our life is between God’s promise and the reality. We may be more comfortable just living our old life. But all of God’s promises eventually will come true.
God promised that through Christ (who left His Father’s house, came on earth to suffer and die for us), we can be welcomed back to the Father’s house, with all the glory and blessing.
God’s call does not fit into our agenda. God’s call probably challenges major aspects of our lives. God’s call probably will take us out of our comfort zone. But trusting God’s call provides real security and gives us entirely new lives with radical new purposes.
Trusting God will bring us to the ultimate promised-land.
Summarized from a Tim Keller’s sermon, titled, “God’s Thousand-Year Promises to Abraham”:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/real-security-and-the-call-of-god-5229/
Genesis 1-11 described human’s spiritual decay. But one ray of hope, a single family, still passed on the knowledge of God: the family of Seth (Genesis 4:25), from whom came Noah and Terah, the father of Abraham. At that time, the culture was polytheistic; even Terah worshiped other gods (Joshua 24:2). Fortunately, his son Abraham followed God. But Abraham’s wife, Sarai, was barren. So, this ray was flickering out, spiritually and physically.
Then God called Abraham. It was a call of grace because Abraham didn’t deserve the call. Abraham wasn’t qualified. The call changed him.
The call was radical. God told Abraham to leave his country, his people, and his father’s household and go “to the land I will show you” (12:1). Note that at that time, there was no Google map. By faith, Abraham went, not knowing where (Hebrews 11:8).
God promised Abraham that he would be a great nation, and all peoples on earth would be blessed through him. But Abraham never witnessed this.
For his entire life, Abraham lived between God’s promises and the reality. He might have been more comfortable just staying back in his father’s land, but instead he listened to God.
Over thousands of years, all the promises gradually are coming true. Like Abraham, we follow God by faith. Our life is between God’s promise and the reality. We may be more comfortable just living our old life. But all of God’s promises eventually will come true.
God promised that through Christ (who left His Father’s house, came on earth to suffer and die for us), we can be welcomed back to the Father’s house, with all the glory and blessing.
God’s call does not fit into our agenda. God’s call probably challenges major aspects of our lives. God’s call probably will take us out of our comfort zone. But trusting God’s call provides real security and gives us entirely new lives with radical new purposes.
Trusting God will bring us to the ultimate promised-land.
Summarized from a Tim Keller’s sermon, titled, “God’s Thousand-Year Promises to Abraham”:
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/real-security-and-the-call-of-god-5229/