The Gospel Preached Beforehand

Faith exists hope, assurance, and proof of things not seen.* In the Old Testament and New we see that faith guides the children of the promise.* A profound truth Paul states in Galatians 3:8, "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'In you shall all the nations be blessed.'"

The promise "In you shall all the nations be blessed" was given to Abraham before circumcision and the Law thus does not rest on earthly birth and lineage, nor the Mosaic Law, but is according to grace so that it comes to people of all nations (Romans 4:15-16). In the Old Testament the chosen people were of earthly descendants, of Israel, but even then Paul writes not all were of the children of the promise, some were unbelievers as they were destined to be.*

"the ones from belief, are blessed together with Abraham, of faith" -- Galatians 5:19

In the New Testament we see the chosen people of the promise, and gospel which was preached to Abraham beforehand, comes to fruition in Christ and all people of all nations who believe are blessed along with Abraham. Just as the scriptures say, "the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ."

This is a key principle in Christian theology, found in 2 Corinthians 1:20, signifying that Jesus Christ is the confirmation and fulfillment of all God's promises. Jesus is the "descendant" of Abraham through whom the promises would come. Thus Christians respond with "Amen" to affirm belief in God's promise and faithfulness to fulfill them in Christ who is the author and perfecter of our faith.

In the New Testament we see that the distinction of the children of God is that they are of the faith of Abraham, Galatians 3:7-9, and they are born of God, of the Spirit, so they receive the promised Holy Spirit. Jesus came to redeem mankind and be an atonement and propitiation for sin but he also came to give the children of the promise the authority to be born of God, John 1:12-14.

The chosen of God, are predestined for adoption as his own, Ephesians 1:4-5, and the Spirit is one of Adoption testifying we are his, Romans 8:15-17, we are sealed or marked by the Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14). Those of the Old Testament were counted righteous by their faith but were not born of the Spirit, which is what we are in Christ, a new creation. We of the new testament have a better covenant established by the death and blood of Jesus, and we receive the promises of God, including the promised Holy Spirit that is a guarantor of our inheritance.

"For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That man’s praise is not from men but from God." -- Romans 2:28-29.

Faith is more than mere belief; it is complete trust and confidence in God and His promises. Throughout Scripture, numerous examples illustrate faith. Abraham, known as the father of faith, demonstrated belief in God when he obediently left his homeland (Genesis 12:1-4) and was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18). His faith was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3).

Abraham also had unbelief, God promised to have a son through his wife Sarah but she was barren so he attempted to have a son outside of God's promise, to bring about the fulfillment of God's will on his own. But as Paul writes Abraham did not judge according to his unbelief but was strengthened in his faith until he was fully convinced in what God promised (Romans 4:20-21). This is a message for us when we have unbelief, do not focus on the unbelief but press on and be strengthened in faith. Paul writes;

"Brothers, I do not consider to have made it my own, but one thing I do; forgetting that behind me and reaching out to that ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" --Philippians 3:13-14

Faith is a belief in things unseen, of God’s existence, and also works to persuade us of God's promises so that we live according to His will. Faith and love roots us and establishes us in Christ.* Peter writes the goal of faith is the salvation of the soul (1 Peter 1:9). We are born of the Spirit which makes our spirit alive and also works with the truth to regenerate us, so we have this testimony from God.

If we are to walk by the Spirit and walk by faith, these would seem to be mutually agreeable. Jesus said his word exists Spirit and Truth. The Spirit guides us into truth, to abide in his words, thus we can discern between a spirit of error (often seen as pride) and Spirit of truth. Jesus emphasized the importance of faith, teaching His disciples that even a small amount of faith could accomplish great things (Matthew 17:20).

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body

The Tripartite Nature of Humanity: Spirit, Soul, and Body in Biblical Understanding The human being, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted creation, often understood through the distinct yet interconnected components of spirit, soul, and body. While some theological perspectives lean towards a bipartite view (soul and body), which we do see in the Old Testament, a careful examination of the New Testament scripture reveals a compelling case for a tripartite understanding, where each is divided into or composed of three parts. Let’s explore the biblical distinction between spirit, soul, and body. The Body: Our Earthly Vessel The body is the physical form that interacts with the material world. From the very beginning, Genesis 2:7 states, " Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being ." This verse clearly establishes the body's origin from the earth, emphasizing its connec...

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective

True Widows: A Biblical Perspective Throughout Scripture, God's compassion for widows is evident. He is portrayed as their defender, provider, and source of justice. The Bible repeatedly calls believers to care for widows, reflecting God's own heart for the vulnerable. However, in his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul provides a specific definition of a "true" widow, emphasizing the church's responsibility in supporting those who are genuinely in need. God's Compassion for Widows The Old Testament is rich with passages that reveal God's concern for widows. In Exodus 22:22, God commands, "You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child." This verse underscores His protective nature, ensuring that widows are not mistreated or neglected. Similarly, Deuteronomy 10:18 declares, "He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing." Here, God is depicted as a just and loving prov...

Stay In The Fold

I have other sheep which are not of this fold. These too I must bring in. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock, with one shepherd (John 10:16) Two becoming one speaks that there is only one fold in the new covenant, and being part of this fold is not based upon the fleshly birth but of the Spirit, so both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus will enter the fold where Jesus is the Good Shepherd. A sheepfold is a robust fenced enclosure to protect the sheep gathered within it. Figuratively Jesus uses the idea that we are sheep in his fold. When comparing God's children to a flock or sheep in his fold we see he calls them by their name, and they follow him because they know his voice (John 10:3). When he brings the sheep out [of the fold] he goes before them and they follow him because they know his voice (John 10:4). They will not follow a stranger's voice because they do not trust his voice, but they know the good shepherd will protect them and care for an...

My Rightousness

" Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb...

The Persuasion of Faith: Theological Foundations of Trust, Persuasion, and Transformation

The Persuasion of Faith: Theological Foundations of Trust, Persuasion, and Transformation Introduction The interconnectedness of faith and trust lies at the very heart of Christian theology, yet these terms are frequently conflated or oversimplified in both personal devotion and academic discourse. The Greek root of "faith," πείθω ( peithō ), meaning "to be persuaded," provides critical insight into biblical faith, suggesting that faith involves a process where conviction is formed through persuasion—one that originates from the trustworthy character and actions of God. Contrary to interpretations that require blind obedience or uncritical acceptance, the Christian Scriptures depict trust not as a demand, but as a relational response to God’s persuasive self-revelation. This dynamic is embodied in the ministry of Jesus, who consistently subverts authority structures by exalting humility, service, and self-giving love as prerequisites for true greatness—a recurr...

Law of the Heart

" The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him " (John 14:21). Most people think this means obeying the ten commandments or Mosaic law. While obeying the law is important there is a greater meaning. The commands are the ones God said he would write on our hearts. “ I will put my law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people " (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This is the new covenant, in which we are the heirs through Jesus Christ who is the first (Romans 8:23; Colossians 1:13-18). The heirs of Abraham are made righteous through faith, for if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is void and the promise nullified (Romans 4:13-14). The righteousness of God has been manifested, through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe (Romans 3:21-22). What the law could not do, in bringing right...

I Will Awake Like Him and Be Satisfied

I Will Awake Like Him and Be Satisfied Psalm 17:15 frames the believer’s hope as both present communion and future consummation: “ As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness .” This essay develops Charles Spurgeon’s reflection by adding the biblical emphases that we are being conformed to Christ now, that the Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies, and that our final awakening will reveal the full redemption of those bodies in Christ’s likeness. Present beholding and present transformation We already “behold the face of the Lord in righteousness” because Christ’s righteousness has reconciled us and opened intimate access to God. That beholding is not passive sight but an active, formative encounter: “We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Faith fixes our gaze ...

Word Of Life

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life. " 1 Jesus is the Word, He was in the beginning with God. 2 All things were made through Him. He is the Word and Light of men, the way, the path, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." 4 Thus we can say as the Psalmist, Jesus, the Word, is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path. 5 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." 6 Concerning the Word of Life, " the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life ," Proclaimed, that our joy may be complete, a glory like that in the beginning, fellowship with the Father, with one another, and with his Son Jesus Christ, the Word of Life. "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot...

Divine Persuasion

" I say to you there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner repenting. " 2 This word for repent is metanoéō (from metá, "changed after being with" and noiéō, "think.") Oh many have misused this word. We are changed after being with Jesus. The woman at the well was changed after being with Jesus. The Bible says repentance is of the will of God, without regret. This word for " without regret " means not to be repented of, about which no change of mind can take place. Repentance like faith, a Divine Persuasion. Repentance is a change of mind that we do not change our minds about, or repent of. We know that the mind regulates the heart and the word of God discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart thus it is through the mind the power of God is manifested in our hearts. Through the mind we are divinely persuaded or convinced of God. " Indeed, according to God the heart-sorrow repentance without regret produces salvation,...

Christ’s Liberation of the Seed of Abraham: Freedom from Slavery to the Fear of Death

Christ’s Liberation of the Seed of Abraham: Freedom from Slavery to the Fear of Death and the Written Code Introduction The claim that Jesus came to liberate the seed of Abraham from bondage—specifically not from the slavery of men, but from the slavery to the fear of death—touches deeply on the heart of New Testament theology. Hebrews 2:14–15 declares that Jesus partook of flesh and blood “ that through death he might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death .” This liberation motif intertwines several core biblical threads: the Mosaic Law and its ministry of death, the existential fear that shadowed Israel under the Law, the newness of life in the Spirit, and the identity of the seed of Abraham. This study will explore, in structured theological fashion, the approach and vocabulary of Hebrews 2:14–15, the broader New Testament’s witness to slavery to the fear of death, how the Mosa...

Love Fulfilled Ministry

Search This Blog