Walking with the Living Christ.

In Luke 24, our risen Lord shows mercy and patience to two unbelieving yet religious persons. Many in our day also do not understand the full story of Jesus. Religion always either takes away from Jesus or adds to Him. True Christianity believes that Jesus as revealed in the Bible is enough.

Cleopas and his friend had been taught by religion that Jesus would be an earthly king. He will rule on earth in the future, but his first coming was to be our Savior. Their understanding of the Scriptures was incomplete.

Given only part of the story of who Jesus was, these sincere men were left to rely on human reasoning. When Jesus was crucified, they lost hope.

God's Salvation Covenant with Abraham.

God gives the third unconditional covenant of the book of Genesis to Abram.

Tender Compassion Ministers to Compromise in Peril.

Abram’s life is a study in perseverance by grace.

Lot had formerly walked with the Lord, and he knew enough to be convicted of his compromise. Yet he did not act on this conviction or repent in the face of Abram’s merciful ministry.

Tender compassion ministers to compromise in peril

Genesis 14 takes a “compare and contrast” method to present truth. Lot’s story continues as a subplot in the Abram narrative, showing the life of a righteous person who does not persevere well as Abram did. Lot’s life demonstrates that the way of the transgressor is hard, and it doesn’t get easier.

In contrast, Abram dwells in stability, prosperity, hope, and peace. As we walk with the Lord, darkness around us will naturally be exposed.

The genuine walk of faith always includes more spiritual success than failure.

When studying narrative or story portions of the Bible, we will not find as many direct commands from God. We draw out spiritual principles from stories, and these are just as authoritative as direct commands.

We have observed several virtues in Abram so far, his spiritual discipline and patient obedience. The next section of narrative show Abram succumbing to temptation. Genesis records God speaking to Abram 7 times, and 3 times of Abram being tempted away from God’s truth. Here is our first principle: A saved person will never be sinless, but in the process of progressive sanctification, they will succeed more than they fail.

God continues to reveal His glorious plan of salvation for the ages and uses an ordinary man to do so.

The end of Genesis 11 records the descendants of Shem and focuses in on a man named Terah. We see that godly people were still alive at the time of the Tower of Babel as a small remnant. God provides salvation to His people and grace to persevere regardless of how dark a culture is.

Genesis 12 begins the “Regeneration” section of Genesis and the Patriarchal period of Bible history. God had doled out judgment on those who didn’t steward His Word, and is about to give more revelation.

God’s sovereign mercy on nations provides eternal opportunity for the Lord’s people — Part 2.

The Bible is not a history book, but it contains history. We can learn much from what the Holy Spirit chose to record.

God’s sovereign mercy on nations provides eternal opportunity for the Lord’s people.

Genesis 10-11 are the last 2 chapters in the “Degeneration” section. We have seen the effects of sin on individuals and the family; now we see what sin does to nations. These 2 chapters are not written chronologically but part of a simultaneous narrative. They layer over one another.

God’s Prevailing Promise and Man’s Frailty and Perseverance.

After Noah and his family exit the ark, they are granted a new beginning and an opportunity similar to Adam and Eve’s. They step out into a new world and a new era of time. God reaffirms his instructions for humanity and reestablishes his covenant.

Righteousness elevates true faith to new opportunities in a new world.

Genesis 8 continues the story of Noah, showing us what righteous people do and what God does to protect them. The whole chapter displays God’s faithfulness to His righteous people.