Freedom is Good News Part 166

Sometimes we think that the New Testament is made up of “new” thoughts and words, when in truth much, if not all, consists of quotes and thoughts brought forth from the Old Testament.  For example; we have been considering the scripture from Revelation 22:12, “Behold, I am coming soon!  My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to his works”, but this is a quote from the book of Isaiah 62:11, “Behold, your Savior comes!  See, His reward is with Him and His recompense accompanies Him.” 

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, speaks the words that John the Revelator records so that we may see this connection.  It is important to understand that without the Old Testament, the New Testament loses some of its meaning.

And so it is with our understanding of our father, Abraham.  Jesus says, in John 8:39, “If you were Abraham’s children, then you would do the works that Abraham did.”  Paul tells us that if we are in Christ, “we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”  Oh!  Then maybe we should look to Abraham our father for instruction.  Follow along with me here: We will go back once again to Isaiah to read his instruction concerning Abraham, “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.  Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him.”  Isaiah 51:1-2

Are you one who pursues righteousness and seeks the LORD?

In the previous article I mentioned that father Abraham has much to teach us.  First of all he was faithful in all his ways.  Secondly, he was obedient in his service to God.  When God appeared to Abraham’s son, Isaac, He told him this; “Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.” (Gen. 26:5)  Now this is interesting!  This statement made to Isaac comes some 400 years before God gives the Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.  And here we find Abraham keeping God’s law!  Maybe we should also!!

Another thing that God commended Abraham for doing is found in Genesis 18:18-19, “Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him.  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.”

Are you a person of faith?  “Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.” (Gal 3:7)  And Abraham did many wonderful things.  Stay tuned, there is much more coming your way.