The Plan of Redemption

Welcome to Southwest!

• The Godly Narrative: We are created in God’s image and designed to be in a relationship with Him and others. We are created for His purpose, and God’s ultimate desire is to dwell with us forever.
• The Counterfeit Narrative of the World: It’s all about me — my desires, my plans, my comfort. A story fixated on pride, power, and possessions.

Recap: Genesis 1-11

God’s Dilemma: Most people on Earth have chosen the counterfeit narrative. How do you rescue people who don’t realize they’re in danger or help people who don’t think there’s even a problem?

• The way God chooses to respond is by calling and sending a chosen people into the world who can embody a different kind of story about what life can be like with a person who seeks God with all their heart.
• See: Matthew 5:16 and 1 Peter 2:12 about being a light in a dark world.
• God’s plan of redemption begins with God calling Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 12.

Key Message from Abraham’s Story: God chose Abraham to be the father of a nation that would one day bring forth a Savior who would rescue the world from sin and death.

• If we start with Jesus and work backwards, we arrive in Genesis 12. God appeared to Abraham and announced His plan of redemption for the world.

God’s Promises to Abraham

Abraham is 75 years old, married, wealthy, and childless. Then in Genesis 12:1-4, God makes several incredible promises to Abraham:

• You will be a great nation.
• I will make your name great.
• You will be a blessing.
• All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Two Roads to Greatness

• In Genesis 11, people try to make a name for themselves by building a large tower. They are motivated by pride, vanity, and self-protection.
• In Genesis 12, God says he will make Abraham’s name great so he can be a blessing to others.

Key Point: In the world, people pursue greatness to protect their own interests. But in the Kingdom of God, God bestows greatness so that people can be a blessing to others.

• What are we doing with the blessings, privileges, and opportunities God has given us? Are we building God’s Kingdom, or our own?

God’s Additional Promises (Genesis 12-22):

• A son of his own, descendants like the stars (including kings), father of many nations.
• Fruitfulness, Promise Land.
• An everlasting covenant

Looking Ahead: How will God use Abraham and his numerous descendants to be a blessing to “all peoples on earth”? 

The Gospel in Genesis 12

In Galatians 3:7-16, Paul discusses the promises God gave to Abraham in Genesis and explains how Jesus is the key to the worldwide blessing God talked about.

• Galatians 3:8 — God will one day justify (declare righteous) the Gentiles, not just the Jews. 
• Galatians 3:8 — The Bible calls the promise of a worldwide blessing from Abraham “The Gospel” — which means the Good News. The Gospel typically refers to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus — and the salvation that comes from him. 
• Galatians 3:14 — We can receive the blessing God told Abraham about because of our faith in Jesus, even though we are not biological descendants of Abraham. 
• Galatians 3:16 — Jesus is the descendant God was talking about. Jesus is the key to the worldwide blessing from Genesis 12.

Summary & Application

Why was Abraham chosen by God? Why was Israel chosen as God’s special nation?

To bring forth the savior who would solve the problem of sin and reconcile sinners back to God:

“God chose Israel as the means by which all the other peoples of the earth could be reconciled to that same deity. That is the primary thrust of the biblical story of salvation.” -Frank Anthony Spina

Application:

1. Trust in God’s plan and God’s timing, because he doesn’t always act on our schedule. God waited centuries before bringing his promise to completion.

2. Use your life to embody a different story — God’s story.

3. Pray about how you can receive or share the blessing God is offering us through Christ.

Study & Reflection

Read 1 Peter 2:4-12.

• What does this passage teach us about the identity and purpose of Jesus Christ?
• What does this passage reveal about our identity as believers?
• What are we being called to do in this passage?
• Peter seems to be saying that some people will reject Jesus while others embrace him. Ultimately, our fate depends on our response to Jesus. Why do you think people have such differing opinions about who Jesus is in the world today?
• Abraham was chosen by God to form a nation that would one day bring Jesus into the world. In what way(s) is the church a continuation of that purpose?
• What does it mean that the church (collectively) is a royal priesthood? What was the role and purpose of the priests? 
• What do we learn about ourselves from the metaphor of Jesus being the cornerstone of a Temple and all of us being individual stones?
• What are some practical ways we can implement verse 12? How can we point people to Jesus through our daily lives?
• In your own words, what are the key points in the Biblical story that we have explored so far this summer? How would you tell this part of the story in your own words to someone who is new to the Bible?
• What is one way you feel God calling you to take action after this sermon and the passages we read?