Outline
“Christmas in Genesis: A Future Sacrifice”
(Genesis 22)

Intro/Set-Up: Review from Previous Weeks

I. Laying the Groundwork
- Looking at Jesus’ Coming
+ The purpose behind Jesus’ coming
+ Matthew 1:20-21
+ John 1:29

II. Linking to Abraham (Gen. 22)
- Abraham and the First Advent
+ Gen. 15:6 → Luke 1:45
- Promises to Abraham
+ Luke 1:54-55; Luke 1:68, 72-73, 77-79
- The Gospel Preached to Abraham
+ Gen. 22:4 → John 8:56; Gal. 3:8
- Words of Abraham
+ Gen. 22:8, 14 → John 1:29
- Acting Out Prophecy
+ Gen. 22:2, 12 → John 3:16

II. Conclusion
- The Christmas Connection:
Christmas in the Shadow of the Cross

The theme/main idea we are going to be identifying this morning is:
“Why Christmas? The purpose behind Jesus’ 1st Appearance”

“We are not saved by making promises to God; we are saved by believing God’s promises to us.” –Warren Wiersbe

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” –Acts 16:31

“21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” –Matt. 1:21

“29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” –John 1:29

“We live by promises, not by explanations; Faith does not demand explanations; faith rests on promises.” –Warren Wiersbe

“54 He has helped His servant Israel,In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers,To Abraham and to his seed forever.” –Luke 1:54-55

(Words of Zacharias): “68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,For He has visited and redeemed His people…
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathersAnd to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham…
77 To give knowledge of salvation to His peopleBy the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of our God,With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; 79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,To guide our feet into the way of peace.” –Luke 1:68, 72-73, 77-79

“4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.” –Gen. 22:4

“56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” –John 8:56

“8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” –Gal. 3:8

“This was not so much a test to produce faith, as it was a test to reveal faith. God built Abraham slowly, piece by piece, year by year, into a man of faith. This test would reveal some of the faith God had built into Abraham.” –David Guzik

“This does not mean that Abraham somehow knew this was only a test and God would not really require this of him. Instead, Abraham’s faith was in understanding that should he kill Isaac, God would raise him from the dead, because God had promised Isaac would carry on the line of blessing and the covenant…
Abraham knew anything was possible, but it was impossible that God would break His promise. He knew God was not a liar. To this point in Biblical history, we have no record of anyone being raised from the dead, so Abraham had no precedent for this faith, apart from God’s promise. Yet Abraham knew God was able. God could do it.” –David Guzik

“God provided a ram instead of Isaac. This was sufficient for the occasion as a type; but that which was typified by the ram is infinitely more glorious. In order to save us God provided God. I cannot put it more simply. He did not provide an angel, nor a mere man, but God himself.” –Charles Spurgeon

“In Isaac’s case, a substitute died for him, but nobody could take the place of Jesus on the cross. He was the only sacrifice that could finally and completely take away the sins of the world. God provided a ram, but Isaac had asked about a lamb. The answer to the question, “Where is the lamb?’’ was given by John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world’’ (John 1:29).” –Warren Wiersbe

Supplemental Study Links:

(From wk. 1)

"What is the doctrine of substitution?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/doctrine-substitution.html

"What does Genesis 3:15 mean that “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/crush-head-bruise-heel.html

"What does it mean that Jesus became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21)?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-became-sin.html

"What does it mean that Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10)?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-is-the-propitiation-for-our-sins.html

"What does it mean that Jesus is the second Adam / last Adam?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-second-Adam.html

"Finding Jesus in Genesis"
https://answersingenesis.org/jesus/finding-jesus-in-genesis/

Devo Plan: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/1877-jesus-in-genesis

(For Wk. 2)

"What does it mean that hope that is seen is not hope (Romans 8:24)?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/hope-that-is-seen.html

"What was Abraham’s religion before God called him?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Abraham-religion.html

"How can you believe in salvation by faith alone when the only occurrence of “faith alone” in the Bible (James 2:24) says that salvation is not by faith alone?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/faith-alone.html

(For Wk. 3)

"What does it mean that those who are of faith are sons of Abraham?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/sons-of-Abraham.html

How did Abraham know that God will provide a lamb (Genesis 22:8)?
https://www.gotquestions.org/God-will-provide-the-lamb.html

What does it mean that God is Jehovah-Jireh?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Jehovah-Jireh.html

What is the Abrahamic Covenant?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Abrahamic-covenant.html

Why did God command Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?
https://www.gotquestions.org/Abraham-Isaac.html

**Homework** Share something you’ve learned from our study this week
Read Gen. 49:1-28 along with Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-5; Psalm 2; Rev. 19:11-16