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Promise Kept Week Two: God's Grand Story of Redemption The Promises of God...There is nothing greater, nothing more trustworthy. We know that the promises of God are complete and fulfilled in Jesus. Redemption is God's Promise. Before the world began, God planned HIs payment for our redemption. He became the ransom price, the payment that would buy our freedom. And so we'd understand His plan and recognize His Son Jesus as the Promised Messiah, He gave us His Word. In it we see pictures and types of the Redeemer. We see redemption and deliverance illustrated for us through the hand of God in the lives of His people. We see God's Promise foretold and His Promise fulfilled. We see JESUS. Look for Him as you study this week. Rejoice because our Redeemer lives! "For all of the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 2 Corinthians 1:20 Day One: Last week, we started at the cross and went back to the beginning of Creation. Today, we'll go to a passage that begins in Creation and moves to the cross. Our goal is to see the connection between them. We see in today's passage that the message of redemption, the purpose of the cross, was planned in Christ all along. 1) Let's read Colossians 1:15-22. What do you discover about Jesus from verses 15-16?

2) Paul uses a key phrase that will be our focus for the week. Copy verse 17 and circle the words "in Him."

What do you find in Him?

3) From this passage, we are reminded that Jesus is "preeminent" or "before" all things. Even as believers, it is easy to put our "self" in that position of preeminence in our mind. Why do you think that happens?

What steps can we take to ensure Christ is before everything in our lives, including self?

Day One: (continued) 4) Verses 19-23 give us the purpose for the cross, the reason for His blood. According to verse 20, Jesus made peace through His blood. Think back to Genesis 3, what happened between God and His creation as a result to Adam's sin?

5)

Where there had been peace, chaos invaded. Where there once was harmony and fellowship, separation severed relationship and isolation was the outcome. Read again Paul's beautiful description of the reason Jesus became the sacrifice for you and me. (Verses 21-22) Think about that. Where were you apart from Jesus? Where are you now? And how does God see you in Christ? Doesn't that just take your breath away?? Why not take some time to tell God just how you feel about your place in Jesus?

Day Two: For the rest of the week, we're going to explore the connection between the cross and a very familiar event in the Old Testament. Remember, all Scripture is given to point us to Jesus and to make God known to us. (John 5:37-39) 1) Journey with me back to Genesis chapter five. Let's read the whole chapter and consider the recurring theme. What is repeated over and over throughout this chapter?

2) John MacArthur says, "Two recurring phrases carry redemption history forward... 'and he had sons and daughters,'...'and he died.' These lines, which get repeated for each successive descendent of Adam, echo two contrasting realities. God had said, 'You shall surely die; but He also commanded them to 'Be fruitful and multiply.'" If you have read Genesis 4, you know that Adam and Eve had three sons altogether. Jump back to Genesis 4:25. What happened to their other sons? What is said about Seth's descendants? (Verse 26)

Day Two: (continued) 3) It is through the line of Seth that the Promise of God continues. As a matter of fact, let's take a closer look at the connection. Go back through chapter 5 of Genesis and underline all of the names of the sons mentioned (Including Noah's sons, there should be 13.) Now, keep your place there and run over to Luke 3:3638. What do you find there?

Take a look at both lists side by side: God Adam Seth Enosh Hainan Mahalalel Jared Enoch Methuselah Lamech Noah Shem Shem Noah Lamech Methuselah Enoch Jared Mahalalel Cainan Enosh Seth Adam God

Ten generations are listed. Of course, we know that there were more than ten generations between Adam and Jesus. These genealogies are representatives of all the generations, but the point is, God made a promise concerning the Seed of Eve. When we lay these lists side by side, we see a vivid picture of God's Promise progressing through the generations of man, all the way to His Son, Jesus.

Day Two: (continued) 4) There are several outstanding names in this genealogical list; but one stands out as being most unusual. Go back to verses 21-24. Enoch was a man who had a vibrant relationship with God. Verse 22 says, "Enoch walked with God three hundred years." Can you imagine? Day after day, Enoch walked with God for three hundred years. The word "walked" implies "continual" and "conversation". He had a continual conversation with God! Verse 24 is one of those mindblowing verses: "Enoch walked with God; and he was not for God took him." The Hebrew word for "took" is "laqach". It means to "carry away," "fetch," or "take up". When Enoch was 365 years old, God fetched him up to be with Him. Amazing! God loved Enoch. Enoch loved God. One day, in the twinkling of an eye, God took him from the dust of this earth to the glory of Heaven! Enoch is mentioned in the great "hall of faith"- Hebrews 11. Verse 5 says, " By faith, Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Enoch pleased God by his faith. He also prophesied to the people saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." (Jude 14-15) God, in His goodness, allowed Enoch to hear and to proclaim a message of warning to the people who were growing increasingly ungodly. The theme of redemption runs through the life of Enoch, showing God's desire to reach out to humanity through the prophecies of His man, Enoch. We also see God's redemption in the "fetching up" deliverance of Enoch before the destruction of the world. How does the life of Enoch serve as a picture of the coming deliverance of the Rapture of the Church? (1 Thessalonians 4:17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

The Holman Christian Standard Bible notes put it this way: "Enoch's experience, like Elijah's later (2 Kings 2:11) anticipates an experience reserved for Christians living at the end of time."

5) God's redemptive work can be seen in His production, progression and protection of the line of Christ. Knowing that God took such great care to raise up a generation of believers, men who followed after Him, what hope does that give you for the redemptive work He will do in your own life?

Day 3 Genesis chapter six is one of astounding accomplishment by man through the enabling of God's Holy Spirit. There really is no way for us to comprehend the scope and sheer engineering of the construction of the ark, apart from the realization that it truly was a work of God through man. As you explore chapter six today, consider the mystery of God's grace in His willingness to use man as a productive part of His redemption plan. 1) As man multiplied on the earth, so did the sinful spirit of Cain. Verse 5 of Genesis 6 tells us that God not only saw the actions of wickedness, but He also saw what within the people?

2) Genesis 6:6 describes the deep sorrow in God's heart concerning the evil depths to which humanity had fallen. What does Ephesians 4:30 warn us about concerning the Holy Spirit?

With grief in His heart, God moved toward destruction. (Gen. 6:7) Yet, who found grace in His sight and why? (Hebrews 11:7)

3) How is Noah described in Genesis 6:9? How do these 3 words seem to indicate a progression in his spiritual growth?

4) God had a conversation with Noah beginning in verse 13 and continuing through verse 21. Summarize His instructions.

Why do you think God's instructions were so detailed?

5) What did God promise Noah in verse 18? Noah obeyed God and was delivered. In Noah, we see faith with the ability to grow, even in the most hostile and wicked of all societies. What hope does Noah's example of faith give you concerning your relationship with God in the midst of your daily circumstances? 5

Day Four: Chapter 7 contains one of the most familiar "stories" of all of Scripture. It is also one of the most misconstrued. Contrary to pictures found in children's books of a floating zoo, complete with cheerful animals poking smiling faces from portholes, the ark was a vessel of enclosed protection from the greatest destruction of all time. As we read chapter 7, we'll gain a realistic picture of the ark and its inhabitants. Then, we'll take a closer look at how God uses the salvation of one man and his family to teach us about Himself and His plan of redemption. 1) Let's read chapter 7 all at once. What does God do in this chapter?

2) What did God say to Noah in verse 1?

God called Noah into the ark, the only safe place, the only place of salvation. What does Jesus say about God's call to "come" in John 6:44.

3) According to Genesis 7:2-3, what types of animals did God instruct Noah to bring?

Why did He say He was bringing them into the ark?

4) Take a closer look at verse 4. Remember, these people had never seen rain before. They did not listen to the prophecy of Enoch and of Noah. They may not have understood the giant boat Noah was building; but when they witnessed Noah entering the boat with his family and a herd of animals, they had to wonder if what Noah said about judgment was true. After calling Noah into the ark, God gave 7 more days for the people to repent before the rain began...Seven more days of grace, after hundreds of years of warning. Choosing not to turn to God was willingly choosing to walk into the judgment God poured out on earth. And the rains came, a rain unlike any other ever experienced on earth. How long did the rain last?

Day Four: (continued) 5) Noah obeyed. He was saved. His family was saved along with him. The animals were saved through a representative pair of their species. God placed them all in the ark of deliverance. What does Genesis 6:16 tell us about God's hand in their salvation from the flood of judgment?

How many doors did God include in His blueprint for the ark?

The Lord shut Noah and his family in--not out. Think about that. Go back to what we learned about Jesus in Colossians 1:15-19. How does Noah's salvation in the ark resemble our salvation in Jesus? Do you see Jesus there? How amazing is that??

Day Five: God's deliverance is always complete. He never delivers anyone halfway. God's Word is solid, true and faithful. In your life, there may come times when you are waiting to be delivered and you feel like God is never going to come, never going to rescue you. It may feel as if you've missed His voice in the raging storm. Never fear. He hears. He is working. He will deliver you. He always keeps His promises. 1) Genesis 8 is a beautiful chapter filled with hope and new life. What a great way to end our week of study! Let's read the chapter and take note of God's heart of promise. What did God do when He remembered (meaning, He was mindful of) Noah and the inhabitants of the ark?

2) How long did the flood last? How do you think Noah and his family felt during that time?

3) Summarize Noah's methods used to discover dry land:

After God called Noah from the ark, he built an altar, and using the animals God had preserved for the offering, he worshiped God.

Day Five: (continued) 4) What was God's response to Noah's offering? Verse 22 is such a beautiful promise of God's faithfulness. Look at the phrasing. During the work of planting, the rejoicing of harvest, the bitterness of cold and the blister of heat...During the harshness of winter and the gentle breeze of summer, the light of day and the dark of night, God is present. His faithfulness remains. His promise comes from deep within His heart. As the words of a once popular song tell us, "When you can't see God's hand, trust His heart." We can always trust God's heart. Have you found this to be true in your own life?

5) Take a look at Genesis 9. God brought Noah and his family out, blessed them and gave them instructions to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth, just as He had instructed Adam and Eve. He gave the animals to be as food for man and explained the justice required for murder. Verses 9-17 describe God's promise, His covenant with Noah and his descendants. What did God promise and what is the symbol of His promise?

God's redemption of man through salvation in the ark is such a vivid picture of our redemption in Jesus. Just as Noah was saved from drowning in the waters of destruction, we are saved from drowning in the destructive flood of our sin. A reminder of God's deliverance can be seen in every rainbow. His faithfulness remains. It is only fitting that a rainbow follows a storm. When the darkness parts and light shines through, we can look up and see the beautiful Truth that God is still in control. What an amazing God we serve! One Who would paint His promise across the sky and Who would hang His Promise on a tree--all to show us how very much He loves us. Amen and amen.