Tag Archives: Abraham

Daily Bible Reading “The Children of Promise” (Galatians 4:21-31)

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The Children of Promise

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Galatians 4:21-31. As we continue in the book of Galatians with the letter that Paul wrote to the Galatians. Paul inquires of them asking, “Those of you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?”

Under the law, it is what you do, the rules you follow, that makes you right with God, but under grace it is what God did through His Son, Jesus Christ that makes us right with God. If you fail under the law, you are out of fellowship with God, but through grace and faith you can be forgiven.

Paul compares the law and faith to the difference between Abraham’s two sons. Paul says, “It is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by a bondmaid and the other by a freewoman. Abraham’s son Ishmael who was born of a bondwoman, was born of the flesh, but his son Isaac, who was born of the freewoman, was born by the promise.”

If you remember in Genesis Sarah was barren for many years so she gave her handmaiden Hagar to Abraham who bore him a son called Ishmael. Sarah was impatient and tried to fix the problem on her own, but in God’s time Sarah gave birth to Isaac, who was the son God promised her.

Paul talks about the two covenants and compares them. Paul says that Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, the same mount where Moses received the law, answers to Jerusalem which is now in bondage with her children. However, Jerusalem above, which is Sarah is free, and is the mother above us all. Paul is speaking of the New Jerusalem.

Paul says, “It is written, rejoice those of you who are barren, cry out those of you that are not giving birth, the desolate have many more children than she which has a husband.” Paul was saying that there would be more people born of the flesh than Christians, who are born of the promise.

Paul says that, we are like Sarah’s son Isaac, the children of promise. Like Isaac those who are born of the promise will be persecuted by those who are born of the flesh. Paul reminds them that the Scripture says to cast out the bondwoman (Hagar) and her son (Ishmael). The son of the bondwoman won’t be an heir with the son of the freewoman (Sarah). Likewise, we aren’t sons of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Do you get the picture of how Paul is comparing Isaac and Ishmael to the law and faith? As Christians we aren’t under the bondage of the law, but we are free through faith in Jesus Christ. Look at this Scripture in Romans 4:13-16

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Daily Bible Reading:

Galatians 4:21-31

21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

 

Things to think about:

  • Why would anyone prefer to live under the law or by grace? Do you have a preference?
  • Why do we try to put ourselves back under the law when Jesus died to set us free from the law?
  • What does it mean to be children of the promise?
  • What does it mean to you to live free from bondage?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this Scripture in the book of Galatians where Paul explains to the Galatians about the difference of living in bondage and being free. Help us to accept the free gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus. Help us to keep ourselves out of bondage, and live in grace and faith. Thank You for loving us and giving us this special gift of freedom. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. – Galatians 4:28

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– This is an excerpt from my book:

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia

Click the link above to get your copy now!

 

Christian Music Video:

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia

By Deborah H. Bateman

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Galatians. The book of Galatians is in the New Testament and is one of Paul’s letters. He wrote this letter to the churches of Galatia.

Paul is concerned that the people of Galatia are being taught something different than the true gospel, which he taught them earlier. Paul goes to great lengths to make sure they understand the difference between living under the law and living under the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia contains sixteen Daily Bible Reading lessons. Each lesson consists of a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer for the day. This book is great to use for both personal Bible study and group Bible studies.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

 

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive
Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “God’s Promise to Abraham” (Galatians 3:15-20)

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God’s Promise to Abraham

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Galatians 3:15-20. We see in this Scripture in the book of Galatians that Paul continues to talk to the churches of Galatia about the law and faith. Paul tells the brethren that the promise God made to Abraham which we studied about in the previous lesson, is irrevocable. Nobody can do away with it or add to it. It was a promise between God and Abraham to be handed down throughout the generations to come.

God didn’t say the promise was to Abraham and his seeds, but he said it was to his seed, which is one particular descendent of Abraham: Jesus Christ. This covenant was not only made with Abraham, but it was also made with Christ. The covenant that God made to Abraham four hundred and thirty years prior to God giving the law to Moses couldn’t be annulled by the law.

If the inheritance is received by keeping the law, then it wouldn’t be the result of the promise, but instead would be determined by our ability to keep the entire law or not. Paul asks them what the purpose of the law is. The law was added, or given to people to follow, because of our disobedience. The law was given to show us what God’s standard was. Because God’s standard is so high and man is sinful it also shows us our need for the Savior. The law was sent to man until the coming of the Savior.

Jesus wasn’t sent to this earth by God to die on the cross in order to destroy the law, but His purpose was to fulfill the law, as mentioned in Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Therefore, the keeping of the Law of Moses is no longer how we gain access to God. We come to God through faith in Jesus Christ. The law was given to Moses by angels; they were his mediator. We can go directly to God through Jesus, who is our mediator with God.

Jesus dying on the cross doesn’t give us a permission to do as we please. We still must act responsibly and treat each other and God with respect. We do this as a way of honoring God and acting out our faith, not because we think that obeying all the rules gets us to heaven.

Daily Bible Reading:

Galatians 3-15-20

15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

 

Things to think about:

  • To who was the covenant made?
  • Who is considered to be the seed of Abraham?
  • What was the promise that God gave to Abraham?
  • How does this promise apply to us today?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Galatians where Paul talks to the churches at Galatia about the promise to Abraham. Help us to see how it still applies to us today. Speak to the hearts of those who haven’t yet accepted the promise. Help us to continue to study the Bible to learn about You and grow a deeper, more intimate, relationship with You through Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to …

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seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

– Galatians 3:16

 

– This is an excerpt from my book:

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia

Click the link above to get your copy now!

 

Christian Music Video:

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia

By Deborah H. Bateman

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Galatians. The book of Galatians is in the New Testament and is one of Paul’s letters. He wrote this letter to the churches of Galatia.

Paul is concerned that the people of Galatia are being taught something different than the true gospel, which he taught them earlier. Paul goes to great lengths to make sure they understand the difference between living under the law and living under the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia contains sixteen Daily Bible Reading lessons. Each lesson consists of a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer for the day. This book is great to use for both personal Bible study and group Bible studies.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

 

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive
Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Recipe for Life

Daily Bible Reading “Abraham Believed God” (Galatians 3:6-14)

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Abraham Believed God

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Galatians 3:6-14. We see in this Scripture that Paul speaks to the churches of Galatia about Abraham. What did Abraham have to do with the churches of Galatia?

Paul tells them that Abraham’s righteousness was accounted to him because Abraham believed God. He didn’t just believe there was a god. When the Scripture says Abraham believed God it means he trusted and had complete faith in God. Abraham believed the promise that God made to him.

Abraham was promised by God when God appeared to Abraham in Genesis 17:1-5 that all nations would be blessed.

1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Man was not able to keep the law and the Scripture says that every man who breaks the law of God is cursed. Therefore, man is not justified by the law in the sight of God, but can only be justified by faith through Jesus Christ.

I once heard someone say that justified means just if I had never sinned. When Jesus covers your sin with His blood, God sees you just as if you had never sinned. We were redeemed from the curse of the law by Christ. Jesus was made a curse for us by being hanged on the cross. We no longer had to be under the bondage of trying to keep the laws of the Old Testament, because Jesus redeemed us when He took the punishment for our sins.

Jesus’ death on the cross was orchestrated by God so that the Gentiles through Jesus might receive the blessing of Abraham and the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith as stated in this Scripture in Romans 11:25, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.”

Our faith is not in Abraham, but our faith is in God through Jesus Christ. Look at this Scripture in Matthew 3:9, “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”

The Apostle Paul is trying to tell the Galatians not to rely on the fact that they were Jews and the descendants of Abraham; what is important is their faith in Jesus. By the same principle we can’t rely on the belief that if we were born and raised in a Christian family we will automatically get to go to heaven. We all must have our own faith in God. It is an individual thing; nobody else can have faith for you. It is imperative that you have your own faith. You must accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Nobody else can do it for you. It’s a personal decision.

Daily Bible Reading:

Galatians 3:6-14

6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

 

Things to think about:

  • Do you believe God like Abraham did? Why or why not?
  • What was the promise God made to Abraham?
  • How did Jesus fulfill the law?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Galatians where Paul continues to explain to the churches of Galatia about faith. Help us as we study this Scripture to understand what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. Help us to put our faith in You and Your Son, Jesus Christ, and not in man. Help us to continue to study our Bible so we will know the truth of the gospel. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for …

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us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

– Galatians 3:13

 

– This is an excerpt from my book:

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia

Click the link above to get your copy now!

 

Christian Music Video:

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia

By Deborah H. Bateman

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Galatians. The book of Galatians is in the New Testament and is one of Paul’s letters. He wrote this letter to the churches of Galatia.

Paul is concerned that the people of Galatia are being taught something different than the true gospel, which he taught them earlier. Paul goes to great lengths to make sure they understand the difference between living under the law and living under the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia contains sixteen Daily Bible Reading lessons. Each lesson consists of a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer for the day. This book is great to use for both personal Bible study and group Bible studies.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

 

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive
Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Bible Verse Tweet

Recipe for Life