Berean Bible Church

Ready to Answer

Lesson III

August 13, 2006

 

Text  1 Peter 3:15-  a review

            Sanctify- set-apart a place in your heart for the Lord

            Be Ready – to give an answer

            Reason -  of the hope you have.

            We have hope because we believe in God.  Why do we believe in God?

I  We believe Because Creation, observable facts, Reveal God to us.

            Acts 17:22-28  God made ….all things

            Romans 1:19-20   clearly seen by the things that are made

II  We Believe because in Creation One Nation stands apart from all other Nations.

            This Nation, Israel has been separated from all other Nations

            Exodus 33:16  separated from all people on earth

            Leviticus 20:24  separated you from other people

            1 Kings 8:53  Thou didst separate them…from all people.

III  Observe what we know about Israel

            Genesis 32:27  to Jacob God said  thy name shall be Israel.

            2 Kings 17:34  children of Jacob whom He named Israel.

a)  As surely as God named the first man “Adam” God named Jacob “Israel”

b)  As one cannot deny the existence of creation, one cannot deny the existence of Israel

c)  Israel stands apart in the world and in the Word

d)  There is more in the Bible about Israel than any other subject, excepting Jesus Christ

e)  From their beginning to this day they have been and are the most hated of all Nations

f)  One of the greatest theological debates has been caused by replacement theology, teaching that the Church has replaced Israel.

IV  The First Facts Stated in the Bible about Jacob-Israel

            Genesis 25:19-23  notice four statements

1        Two Nations are in thy womb

Genesis 36:1  Esau is Edom

Genesis 32:28  Jacob is Israel

A true Israelite must come out of  Jacob after the flesh.  The children of Israel are clearly defined in Exodus 1:1

            2    Two manner of people

            Jacob was to be the father of a different people

                    Exodus 11:7  The Lord God put the difference

                    Numbers 23:9  Israel has not been reckoned among the Nations

       2 Samuel 7:23-24  what Nation is like Israel?

3  One Nation to be Stronger than the other

       The fact that God has fought for Israel in the past (Exodus14:25) and that He will do so again in the future (Zechariah 14:3) sets Israel apart as the stronger Nation.  Cf  Psalm 60:11,12,  Zechariah 12:8

4  The elder shall serve the younger.  Jacob the younger, to be the master

                        Isaiah 60:11,12   the kingdoms not serving Israel shall perish