That He Gave... Oct. 9 2016 - a podcast by VOX Community Podcast

Genesis 12 explains the historical backdrop to the phrase from John 3:16, “that he gave”, with the story of Abraham and Sarah. God promised Abraham ‘a great reward of land and descendants’. Abraham, in turn, was to promise that he and his descendants would remain blameless before God. God then called Abraham to perform a blood covenant, an Old Testament custom of slaughtering five animals lengthwise and laying the halves across from each other in a ditch where the blood pooled. The greater and lesser of the covenant parties walked the blood path, demonstrating that if either broke the covenant, this was their outcome. Abraham was terrified to be part of this covenant, knowing that being blameless before God would be impossible. At dark God walked the blood path as smoke and then again as a blazing firepot, signaling that Jesus will die a bloody death in fulfillment of the covenant. Over many years the Jews recreated this ceremony in the temple until the time of Jesus’s death. When Jesus called out that it was finished from the cross, the covenant was fulfilled from Abraham’s time. We have nothing to add to our salvation, God has fulfilled his part of the promise. We are simply to keep pursuing him.

Story by Justin Ibrahim - Listen for the whole story.

For years, Justin struggled with the negative self-image, due to a harsh, critical, angry father. Justin thought that if he tried hard enough, he would show his father he was wrong. He developed a sense perfectionism, unless things were perfect, he was worthless. Justin likened this to many churches that do not address the needs of the vulnerable, struggling members. Justin thought that if he did the right things, God would love and forgive him, which negated the message of holy love. Justin reminded us love needs to be genuine and that God’s grace is sufficient in all things.

Would love to see your comments and thoughts below!

Learn more about VOX Community:
www.voxoc.com

Like VOX Community on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/voxcommunity

Follow VOX Community on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/voxcommunity

Say Something!
info@voxoc.com

Join us Live on Sundays at 10am via LiveStream.com and App:
https://livestream.com/accounts/19123468

VOX Community is a church expression of the VOX Podcast with Mike Erre that began in the late spring of 2016. You can participate beyond the VOX Community by listening, commenting, and sharing the conversation happening on the VOX Podcast with Mike Erre at www.soundcloud.com/thevoxpodcast. Learn more about the VOX Podcasts at www.voxpodcast.com

Further episodes of VOX Community Podcast

Further podcasts by VOX Community Podcast

Website of VOX Community Podcast