Sermon Genesis Chapter 21

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[2] The title of the sermon: “GENESIS CHAPTER 21.”

• In Genesis Chapter 20, we saw Abraham and Sarah journey to the south country and sojourned in Gerar.
• Abraham tells the king, Abimelech, that Sarah is his sister. Abimelech takes Sarah.
• God warns Abimelech in a dream that Sarah is a man’s wife. God suffers Abimelech not to touch Sarah.
• God commands Abimelech to restore Sarah to the prophet. And, if not, he and all his family will die.
• Abimelech calls all his servants and tells them all these things. They are now very afraid.

Abimelech calls to Abraham and asks him why he has done this thing?

• Abraham didn’t believe they had the fear of God there. Sarah was indeed Abraham’s sister.
• “She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife.”
• He didn’t lie about Sarah being his sister but he was deceiving in his answer.
• Abimelech then takes sheep, oxen, menservants, and womenservants and gives them to Abraham.
• He restores Sarah to Abraham. And he tells Abraham to dwell in his land wherever he wants.

He then speaks with Sarah. He tells her that he’s given her brother silver. He is to thee covering of the eyes.

• He reproves Sarah for saying that Abraham is her brother. Abraham then prays to God.
• He asks God to heal Abimelech, and God does so. He had previously shut up all the wombs of the women.
• They are now healed. Abimelech’s wife and maidservants now bare children.
• And that takes us to Genesis Chapter 21. Let’s start there in verse 1.

[3] Genesis 21:1-2 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

• At this point, Abraham and Sarah are old. Abraham is 100 years old and Sarah is 90 years old.
• Do you know anyone who is 100 years old? How about 90 years old? Think of them having a child.
• “And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.”
• When God says He will do something, He will do it. And He will do so with perfect timing.

God promised them a son in Genesis 17 and twice in Genesis 18. And the Lord fulfilled this promise right here.

• “For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”
• This promise from God is now fulfilled. Let’s see what Hebrews Chapter 6 says about this.

[4] Hebrews 6:12-15 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

• Abraham PATIENTLY ENDURED. We are living in this world right now. We need to be patient.
• We need to endure. God’s promises will be fulfilled so be patient and endure.
• We are the children of Abraham, as the stars of the sky and sand of the sea, so be like Abraham.
• Have faith in God’s promises. Have patience. Endure. God shows Himself strong always.

[5] Genesis 21:3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.

• God previously told Abraham, in Genesis Chapter 17, that “thou shalt call his name Isaac.”
• So Abraham does that here in Genesis Chapter 21 and names is son, with Sarah, Isaac.
• Does Abraham have any other children? Yes, but not with his wife, Sarah.
• This is very important to understand. Ishmael is his other son. But Ishmael is not his son with Sarah.

[6] Genesis 21:4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.

• Notice that Abraham circumcised Isaac when Isaac was 8 days old.
• Circumcision was first commanded by God to who? Was it Adam, Abel, or Noah? No, it was Abraham.
• When did God first give this commandment? Do you remember? Genesis Chapter 17.

[7] Genesis 17:10-12 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

• So Abraham does as God commanded him to do and circumcises Isaac at 8 days old.
• Have you ever questioned why circumcision was to be completed on males at 8 days old? Why 8 days?

[8] Leviticus 12:1-3 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

• The woman is unclean for seven days after the birth of a male.
• And on the eighth day he shall be circumcised.

[9] Exodus 22:29-30 Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. 30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

• The number is 8 days for giving a sacrifice of oxen or sheep to God.
• SEVEN DAYS it shall be with his dam or mother; on the eighth day thou shalt give it to God.
• Who was circumcised on the eighth day according to the Scriptures? Let’s see.
• We know Isaac was. Who else? This is important.

[10] Luke 1:59-63 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

• John the Baptist was circumcised on the eighth day.

[11] Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

• Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day.

[12] Philippians 3:4-5 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

• Paul was circumcised the eighth day. That brings us back to Isaac. We will see that Isaac is a child of faith.
• God foresaw this, but He didn’t make Isaac have faith. Isaac chose to have faith in God later in his life.
• We will continue where we left in Genesis Chapter 21 in verse 5.

[13] Genesis 21:5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

• We know for sure that Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.
• We also know he was not weak in faith. His body might have been weaker but not his faith.

[14] Romans 4:19-22 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

• Righteousness is not imputed to us when we perform a work such as circumcision in the Old Testament or water baptism in the New Testament.
• Righteousness is only given to us from God when we believe His promises. An actual work doesn’t save us.
• And Isaac is going to be the physical and spiritual child of Abraham through faith.

[15] Genesis 21:6-7 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

• Would anyone have thought this would happen? 100 years old and 90 years old.
• “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.”

[16] Genesis 21:8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

• We are moving along fast in time here. Isaac grew. He was weaned from his mother’s milk.
• Abraham has a great feast that same day. Feasts were used to celebrate.
• We do the same thing. We’ll have great feasts to celebrate in our lives.
• A child who hasn’t been weaned really needs his or her mother.

[17] 1 Samuel 1:22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.

• This is a time when a child is growing up. They can be without their mother now. It’s a celebration.
• The mother will now have more time too. The mother can now conceive another child much easier.

[18] Hosea 1:8 Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

• A nursing mother can get pregnant while nursing a child, but it’s less likely to happen.
• Remember, Isaac is now weaned from Sarah.

[19] Psalm 131:1-2 LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. 2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

• A weaned child has a soft and an open heart. They are not proud or arrogant.
• Isaac is at this point right now in Genesis Chapter 21 and Abraham has a great feast.

[20] Genesis 21:9-11 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

[21] Genesis 21:12-13 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. 13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.

• We’ve been through this in great detail before. But let’s talk about this a little more.
• Abraham already had a son before Isaac. His name is Ishmael. Hagar was his mother.
• Here we see Ishmael mocking. Sarah says to cast out this BONDWOMAN and her son.
• Ishmael is not going to be heir with her son, even with Isaac.

Ishmael was the physical son of Abraham. He represents the physical nation of Israel. Make sure you hear me.

• Ishmael represents the physical nation of Israel who is under bondage because of the law.
• Isaac represents the spiritual nation of Israel who is free from bondage because of faith in Jesus Christ.
• Isaac replaced Ishmael as the son of Abraham. This is the truth, and allow me to show you.

[22] Galatians 4:21-24 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? 22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

• There’s a bondwoman and a freewoman. There’s the old covenant and the new covenant.
• Ishmael was born after the flesh, and Isaac was born by promise. These are allegories.
• Mount Sinai is speaking of the law that God gave to Moses. The law brings us under bondage.
• If we think we are saved by our works, we are brought under bondage. This is physical Israel.
• They still believe that they are saved by their works. THIS IS BONDAGE. They are not saved.

[23] Galatians 4:25-28 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

• So, there are 2 Jerusalem’s. One is on earth, which is in bondage. It’s a wicked place.
• And the other Jerusalem is in heaven. This Jerusalem is free. There’s a physical and spiritual Jerusalem.
• We didn’t physically come from the Jerusalem on earth.
• We spiritually come from the Jerusalem in heaven.
• I am not making all of this up. It’s right there in the Scriptures.
• Many churches today, such as many Baptists, would call me a liar for saying what I just said. I don’t care.
• God said these things, and He said them very clearly. Which side are these Baptists on?

“Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.” He’s speaking to Gentiles.

• He’s speaking to the church, which includes physical Jews, such as Paul, and Gentiles.
• He’s speaking to all who believe, which includes Noah, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Sarah, Rahab, Joshua.
• This includes people from the old testament and the new testament. They are the people with faith.
• The children of faith replaced the children of the flesh. That’s what Genesis Chapter 21 is teaching.

[24] Galatians 4:29-31 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

• Just as Ishmael mocked Isaac. The physical children of Israel will mock Christians.
• Cast out the physical children of Israel who have no faith. They are under bondage.
• They will not be heir with the children of faith. This is what the Bible says DIRECTLY.
• And I don’t care what all of these other so-called “Christians” believe. I don’t care what they call me.

If you can’t read Galatians and understand this, then attack me, you are the one who has the problem.

• The physical children of Israel are replaced as God’s chosen people by people with faith.
• The physical children are not the children of God.
• It is people with faith who are the spiritual children of God.

People who want to work for salvation will be cast out. That’s what God teaches us in His words.

• Does it not say that Ishmael would be cast out? Physical Israel is cast out just like Ishmael.
• And Romans Chapter 11 explains all of this. I don’t have time to go there. This is an entire sermon.
• Let’s continue in Genesis Chapter 21 verse 14.

[25] Genesis 21:14-15 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

• Here is where Hagar and Ishmael are actually cast out.
• Abraham takes bread, a bottle of water, and puts it on her shoulder. The child, Ishmael, goes to.
• Ishmael was at least 13 to 14 years old PLUS the time it took to wean Isaac.
• This may have been a year or two. The Bible doesn’t say Abraham put Ishmael on her shoulder.
• People get tripped up over that. Abraham put the bread and water on her shoulder.

Hagar departs. She wanders in the wilderness of Beersheba. The children of Israel will do this later.

• Why? Because of the lack of faith. After everything God showed them, they didn’t believe.
• Not all of them but some of them. Hagar and Ishmael are now out in the wilderness.

[26] Genesis 21:15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.

• Hagar casts Ishmael under one of the shrubs. All the water is gone.
• They don’t have long to live without water. No one will live without the living water from God.
• God constantly finds water for the children of Israel when they are in the wilderness.

[27] Genesis 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

• She doesn’t want her child to die. She doesn’t want to see her child die.
• Abraham was very sad to cast Ishmael out. It was very grievous in his sight.
• God loves physical Israel too. He wants them to be saved. It’s very grievous in His sight.
• But, they won’t have faith in His words. They will be cast out if they are not spiritually of Israel.
• And yes, it is very sad to see this. Paul says so in the New Testament.
• Paul says, in Romans Chapter 9, that he could wish himself that he were accursed for his brethren.

[28] Genesis 21:17-18 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.

• God has mercy on people. He does good to the unsaved and to the saved. You can see this.
• God hears the call of Ishmael, and God saves Hagar and Ishmael from this situation.
• The angel of the Lord calls out to Hagar out of heaven. What’s wrong? Fear not. God has heard Ishmael.
• Hold Ishmael in thine hand. For I will make him a great nation.

God made the physical children of Israel a great nation. God made the children of Ishmael a great nation.

• Even though most of them don’t believe in Him, He still made them a great nation.
• God made Babylon a great nation. God made King Nebuchadnezzar a great king.
• He blesses this entire world if you would take a look around.

[29] Genesis 21:19-21 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. 20 And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. 21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

• The eyes of Hagar are opened so she can see the well of water. She goes and gets the water.
• She gives Ishmael the water. God was with Ishmael. And he grew. He dwelt in the wilderness.
• I am more on the side that Ishmael was saved. His story teaches us truths within the Bible.
• God didn’t cast away all of physical Israel. We don’t hate physical Israel. Why would we?

Paul is one of them. Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, Saul, David, Solomon, John, Peter.

• They are all physically of Israel. We don’t hate physical Israel. We don’t hate physical Ishmael either.
• God was good to him. God was with Him. Are you going to say that you hate him? Not me.
• His mother took him a wife out of Egypt. Yes, same with Joseph. He had a wife out of Egypt.

All of this race trash in this world is evil and wicked stuff.

• Some people, such as people in Israel, will hate the people in Iran. They love to kill innocent people.
• And, it goes the other way too. All of this hate comes from this so-called race trash.
• “Well, they are of this race. They are from Ishmael. All people descending from Ishmael are evil.”
• Oh, are they? Many of them are saved. They believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

I would say there are many more from physical Israel who are evil.

• The scribes and Pharisees are on example. All of physical Israel will not be saved.
• There are examples of people from physical Israel in the Bible who went to hell.
• Obviously, all of physical Israel was not saved and will not be saved.
• I don’t care what some false preacher says. The Holy Scriptures prove them wrong.
• Notice that the Bible says, in verse 21 there, that Ishmael dwelt in the wilderness of Paran.

[30] Numbers 10:11-13 And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony. 12 And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. 13 And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

• The cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. This is the same place Ishmael dwelt before this happened.
• Let’s keep going in Genesis Chapter 21 verse 22. We are now back to Abraham.

[31] Genesis 21:22-24 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest: 23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned. 24 And Abraham said, I will swear.

• They know that God is with Abraham. They want Abraham to do them right.
• And not only them but the generations after them.
• They are being kind to Abraham and they want that kindness back. Abraham says, “I will swear.”

[32] Genesis 21:25-26 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away. 26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

• Previously, Abimelech’s people had not been good to Abraham.
• They violently took a well of water from him. Abraham reproves Abimelech over this.
• Abimelech didn’t know about this. “I wot not who hath done this thing. Neither didst thou tell me.”

[33] Genesis 21:27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.

• Even though Abimelech’s people had taken a well from him, he still gives to Abimelech.
• When people do us wrong, we let things go. We move on. Abraham is doing that here.
• Both of them made a covenant. They would not harm each other. They would do good to each other.
• You can see that Abimelech believed in God. God warned him in a dream about Abraham.
• They know that God is with Abraham. Obviously, they believe in God. They feared God.
• So Abraham makes a covenant with them.

[34] Genesis 21:28-30 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves? 30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

• These seven lambs are for a witness unto Abraham that he has digged this well.
• If Abimelech accepts this, then he agrees that this is Abraham’s well of water.

[35] Genesis 21:31-32 Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba; because there they sware both of them. 32 Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.

• The place is called Beer-sheba. It wasn’t because they drank a beer together there. Didn’t happen.
• Beer signifies a well and sheba signifies seven. He called it Beersheba because they both sware there.
• The covenant between them was accepted. Did Abraham keep his side of the covenant? Yes, he did.
• Did the Philistines keep their side of the covenant?

[36] Genesis 26:18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

• Just five chapters later we see that the Philistines had stopped the wells of water that were Abraham’s.
• Abraham was now dead so the Philistines stopped them up.
• And then from there we know what happens with the Philistines.
• Abraham lived peaceably with the Philistines. We can see that.

[37] Genesis 21:33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

• Abraham plants a grove of trees most likely. He does this in Beersheba.
• He calls on the name of the Lord there who is the everlasting God. Jesus Christ is the Lord.
• He is the everlasting God. His Father is also the everlasting God. The Holy Spirit is also the everlasting God.
• This verse is confusing to some because of this commandment in Deuteronomy.

[38] Deuteronomy 16:21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.

• The Bible doesn’t say that Abraham built an altar under a grove of trees. Abraham was before Moses.
• He planted the trees there. It takes some time for trees to grow. It also doesn’t say he built an altar there.
• You don’t have to have an altar to call on God.
• Let’s finish up Genesis Chapter 21 with the last verse, verse 34.

[39] Genesis 21:34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.

• This was not Abraham’s permanent home. He was constantly moving around.
• Where is Abraham’s permanent home?
• If we study the Bible in regards to sojourning or temporarily living somewhere, what do we find?

[40] 1 Chronicles 29:14-15 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

• All of David’s fathers were sojourners. Our days on the earth are as a shadow.

[41] Psalm 39:12-13 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

• Where we live right now is not our permanent home.
• Sojourning is difficult. It’s not easy. It takes a lot of extra energy versus having a permanent home.

[42] Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

[43] Hebrews 11:11-12 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

[44] Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

• We are the same. We are strangers on this earth because we are God through faith in Him.
• This is not our permanent home or our permanent life.
• We desire a better country, and it’s not wrong to do do.

[45] Hebrews 11:14-16 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

• The heavenly Jerusalem awaits us because we love God.

[46] 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

• He beseeches us and strangers and pilgrims on this earth and in this flesh.
• Our flesh wars against our soul. Abstain from these fleshly lusts.
• For the works based salvation heretics, what would this Scripture mean if you were holy in your flesh?
• If you were already holy, you wouldn’t seek a better country. You wouldn’t be a sojourner.

But all of the spiritual children of Israel were sojourners. We are just like them.

• We will be finished one day on this earth, and we look and hope for a better place to live.
• We desire a heavenly place. And God will take us there because we believe in Jesus Christ.

Let’s pray.