Good News Bible Church

In chapter 17 of Genesis, we see a mixture of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. We see how God works to accomplish obedience in Abram’s life… and ours!

I will say of the LORD "He is my refuge and my fortress my God in whom I trust." Psalm 91:2

And he believed the Lord, and He count it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

Abram received a call from God: Leave your native country, your relatives, & your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. (1) His call came with some incredible promises or blessings (2-3): “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, & you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and al...

But you are a chosen race a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Paul’s strategy for passing on the faith is expressed in II Timothy 2:2 above: Invest in the lives of others! But not just anyone… to those who will entrust it to others.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Perhaps the Magi had heard about the Messiah from the Jews scattered throughout their country since the captivity. Somehow they had a knowledge of the Jewish Messiah, and through the special star, God had revealed to them Messiah's birth. We do know this, they responded to the light God gave them by seeking the Lord. They were clear in their purpose... "We've come to worship Him." But their words...

God, in his sovereign control over history, worked out his plan for salvation: “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son....” (Gal. 4:4). Christ’s birth fulfills Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” Luke 1:46-47

At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ our Savior. He pitched His tent among us...He lived among humanity. It is through His death that we can have forgiveness of sin and eternal life.

So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Genesis 11:8

After the flood, people might think that life was worthless to God since everyone and everything was killed in the flood. But, God’s commandments and covenant with Noah showed that life was very important! God makes it clear that man has a responsibility to produce and preserve life on earth. God blesses Noah as he did Adam in chapter one.

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Hebrews 11:7

Chapter five is a genealogy, often considered boring but we will see that it is filled with important information. We see ten generations starting with Adam and ending with Noah. The ten generations cover the time period from creation up to God’s judgment through the flood. It is a record of ten men who stand out as giants of the faith. We see the tremendous contrast with the genealogy of Cain’s d...

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD. Genesis 4:25-26

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:26

We see God’s design for marriage in Genesis 2:18-25. This passage is the basis for much of what the Bible says about marriage later. It explains God’s reason for designing marriage & gives several principles that enable us to build marriages that honor God and bring joy to us.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:15

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27

He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God... So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. Acts 1:3 & 6

In the first eleven chapters of Genesis, we find a record of the creation of the universe and of mankind, (chapters 1 & 2). We also find the origin of human depravity & sin in the “fall of man” shown in Genesis chapter 3. We see its devastating effects in the wickedness of mankind & its horrible consequences in the judgment of God in the curse (chapters 3 & 4), in the flood (chapters 6-9), and in...

We are to be Wise in Pursuing Peace! In the midst of life, it is hard to take time to know those around us. We are busy! Yet, it takes time and effort to know and understand others. Generally, the more we know about people and why they are the way they are and why they believe what they believe, the more compassionate we tend to be towards them right judgments lead us to treat others properly.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. Proverbs 9:10-11